Target Disambiguation and Correction

• US 20120304061A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoover, Paul Armistead, Patten, Michael J., Pittappilly, Theresa B., Markiewicz, Jan-Kristian, Garside, Adrian J., Mazeev, Maxim V., Lombardo, Jarrod
• Granted Patent: US 9,389,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/711
• 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 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

Abstract

Various embodiments enable target disambiguation and correction. In one or more embodiments, target disambiguation includes an entry mode in which attempts are made to disambiguate one or more targets that have been selected by a user, and an exit mode which exits target disambiguation. Entry mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, acquisition of multiple targets, selection latency, a combination of multiple target acquisition and selection latency, and the like. Exit mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, movement of a target selection mechanism outside of a defined geometry, speed of movement of the target selection mechanism, and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via an application, a selection that is ambiguous with respect to whether one of two or more items has been selected;

displaying visual indicia associated with one of the items;

receiving input associated with an item designated by a user; and

performing a selection-related action responsive to receiving the input associated with the item designated by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a selection is performed by way of touch-screen functionality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said application comprises a web browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said input associated with an item designated by the user comprises input that completes an item selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises performing an associated navigation via the application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a highlight.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a tool tip.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a magnified user interface element.

9. One or more computer readable storage media embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

receiving, via an application, a selection that selects one or more items;

ascertaining whether selection completion has exceeded a time threshold;

responsive to the time threshold being exceeded, displaying visual indicia associated with at least one of the one or more items;

receiving input associated with an item designated by the user;

responsive to receiving input associated with an item designated by the user, performing a selection-related action.

10. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein said receiving a selection is performed by way of touch-screen functionality.

11. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein said application comprises a web browser.

12. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein said input associated with an item designated by the user comprises input that completes an item selection.

13. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein said performing comprises performing an associated navigation via the application.

14. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the visual indicia comprises a tool tip.

15. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, implement a web browser configured to implement a method comprising:

receiving a touch selection input;

defining a target point associated with the touch selection input;

defining a geometric shape associated with the target point;

ascertaining whether multiple items are contained within a boundary of the geometric shape;

responsive to multiple items being within the boundary of the geometric shape, initiating a target disambiguation technique to ascertain which of the multiple items is intended for selection;

detecting movement of the touch selection input, the movement causing the target point to move;

ascertaining whether the target point is within the boundary of the geometric shape;

responsive to the target point being within the boundary of the geometric shape, continuing the target disambiguation technique; and

responsive to the target point not being within the boundary of the geometric shape, terminating the target disambiguation technique.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a circle.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a circle having a radius from between about 6-8 millimeters.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape has a dimension that can be set on a per-user basis, based on a size of a corresponding area that is physically engaged by a user'"'"'s finger.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the target disambiguation technique comprises displaying visual indicia associated with one of the items.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising, after terminating the target disintegration technique enabling panning functionality.