SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MULTI-TOUCH INTERACTION WITH VIRTUAL OBJECTS

• US 20120274585A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 2343127 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: XMG Studio, Inc.
• Inventors: Chowdhary, Yousuf, Brunet, Jeffrey, Telfer, Adam William, Watkins, Oliver ("Lake") Jr., Sharma, Ravinder ("Ray")
• Application Number:
  US13/421,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method is provided for enabling user interaction with virtual objects in a virtual world using a touchscreen device. A touch input within or across a region of the display is detected from the touchscreen device. After determining that the touch input exceeds a predetermined threshold, and further determining whether the touch input is of a single touch or multi-touch type based on a number of contacts detected in the touch input, a multi-touch type input is interpreted as a multi-touch attract or repel command with respect to a virtual object displayed on the display. The virtual object is then visibly moved or changed on the display in response.

Claims

1. A method of enabling user interaction with virtual objects in a virtual world using a touchscreen device having a display, comprising:

detecting a touch input received from the touchscreen device, the touch input being detected within or across a region of the display on the touchscreen device;

determining that the touch input exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining whether the touch input is of a single touch or multi-touch type based on a number of contacts detected in the touch input; and

if the touch input is of multi-touch type, interpreting the touch input as a multi-touch attract or repel command with respect to a virtual object displayed on the display, and visibly moving or changing the virtual object on the display in response to the multi-touch attract or repel command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to visibly move the virtual object away from the region of the touch input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to visibly rotate the virtual object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to visibly compress, stretch or deform the virtual object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of virtual objects, and the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to corral or bring together the virtual objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of virtual objects, and the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to disperse the virtual objects.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second touch input received from the touchscreen device, the second touch input being detected within or across a non-overlapping second region of the display;

determining that the second touch input exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining whether the second touch input is of single touch or multi-touch type based on a number of contacts detected in the second touch input; and

if the second touch input is of multi-touch type, interpreting the second touch input as a second multi-touch attract or repel command.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second multi-touch attract or repel commands are used to visibly move the virtual object between the first and second regions.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second multi-touch attract or repel commands are used to visibly move the virtual object away from the first and second regions.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second multi-touch attract or repel commands are used to visibly compress, stretch or deform the virtual object.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein there is a plurality of virtual objects, and the first and second multi-touch attract or repel commands are used to corral or bring together the virtual objects.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein there is a plurality of virtual objects, and the first and second multi-touch attract or repel commands are used to disperse the virtual objects.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual world comprises a virtual game.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the virtual object is a game object.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the multi-touch attract or repel command is used to score points or advance the game.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual world comprises a graphical editor.

17. A touchscreen device having a display and a processor, the touchscreen device operable to:

detect a touch input, the touch input being detected within or across a region of the display on the device;

determine that the touch input exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determine whether the touch input is of a single touch or multi-touch type based on a number of contacts detected in the touch input; and

if the touch input is of multi-touch type, interpret the touch input as a multi-touch attract or repel command with respect to a virtual object displayed on the display, and visibly move or change the virtual object on the display in response to the multi-touch attract or repel command.

18. The touchscreen device of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen device has a resistive touchscreen.

19. The touchscreen device of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen device has a capacitive sensing touchscreen.

20. The touchscreen device of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen device is a game device.

21. The touchscreen device of claim 17, wherein the touchscreen device is a mobile device.