MODE-BASED GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICES

• US 20120293440A1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bas Ording, Brian Huppi, Duncan Kerr, Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Jonathan P. Ive, Joshua A. Strickon, Steve Hotelling
• Original Assignee: Bas Ording, Brian Huppi, Duncan Kerr, Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Jonathan P. Ive, Joshua A. Strickon, Steve Hotelling
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve, Huppi, Brian Q., Strickon, Joshua A., Kerr, Duncan Robert, Ording, Bas, Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Ive, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,606,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A user interface method is disclosed. The method includes detecting a touch and then determining a user interface mode when a touch is detected. The method further includes activating one or more GUI elements based on the user interface mode and in response to the detected touch.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for initiating floating controls via a touch sensitive device, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of an object at a first location on the touch sensitive device;

generating a first user interface element on the touch screen in the vicinity of the object in response to the detected presence of the object at the first location, the first user interface element associated with a first user interface mode;

detecting movement of the object, without breaking contact with the touch sensitive surface, to a second location on the touch sensitive device; and

deactivating the first user interface element and activating a second user interface element in the vicinity of the second location in response to the change of location of the object, the second user interface element associated with a second user interface mode different from the first user interface mode.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first user interface element includes one or more control options that can be selected by a user of the touch sensitive device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising generating a control signal when one of the control options is selected by the object.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the control signal modifies the functionality of the computer.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the control signal modifies a user interface element.

6. The method as recited in claim 1-5 wherein the object is a finger or a stylus.