Edge gesture

• US 20120304107A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Nan, Jennifer, Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Matthews, David A., Russo, Thomas P., Jarrett, Robert J., Zhao, Weidong, Harris, Jensen, Sareen, Chattanya Dev
• Application Number:
  US13/118,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304107A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an edge gesture. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through an edge gesture that is easy-to-use and remember.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a gesture made through a gesture-sensitive display presenting one or more user interfaces;

determining that the gesture has a start point at an edge of the gesture-sensitive display and a later point not at the edge; and

responsive to the determining, passing the gesture to an entity or other user interface other than the one or more user interfaces presented on the gesture-sensitive display.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the other user interface is a start menu, application-selection interface, or an option interface for the computing device.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the entity is not associated with one of the one or more user interfaces.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining a region of multiple regions of the edge, and wherein passing the gesture to the entity indicates the other user interface based on the region.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining that the gesture is a first length or a second length, and wherein passing the gesture passes the gesture to the entity if the gesture is determined to be the first length or to the other user interface if the gesture is determined to be the second length.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining whether the gesture is a single-finger gesture or a multi-finger gesture and wherein passing the gesture passes the gesture to the entity or the other user interface is responsive to determining whether the gesture is a single-finger gesture or a multi-finger gesture.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein passing the gesture to the entity causes the entity to present the other user interface enabling interaction with a system of a computing device associated with the gesture-sensitive display.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 7, wherein the second user interface is at least partially transparent.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 7, wherein passing the gesture to the system entity is responsive to determining that the edge is a top edge or a bottom edge of the gesture-sensitive display.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining that a line from the start point to the later point of the gesture is within about twenty degrees of a predetermined angle from the edge.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, further comprising, prior to determining that a line from the start point to the later point of the gesture is within about twenty degrees of a predetermined angle from the edge, determining the later point of the gesture based on the later point being received a preset distance from the edge or the start point.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, further comprising, prior to determining that a line from the start point to the later point of the gesture is within about twenty degrees of a predetermined angle from the edge, determining the later point of the gesture based on the later point being received a preset time after receipt of the start point.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining that the gesture is a swipe gesture oriented approximately perpendicular to the edge.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein passing the gesture causes the other user interface to be displayed and further comprising:

receiving a second gesture made through the gesture-sensitive display;

determining that the second gesture has a start point in the other user interface and a later point at the edge; and

responsive to determining that the second gesture has a start point in the other use interface and a later point at the edge, causing the other user interface to cease to be displayed.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein passing the gesture to an entity or other user interface is based on one or more factors of the gesture.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining, based on a successive point of the gesture, that the gesture includes a reversal, and wherein passing the gesture to an entity or other user interface is based on determining that the gesture includes the reversal.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein passing the gesture causes the other user interface to be displayed and further comprising:

determining, based on a successive point of the gesture, that the gesture includes a reversal; and

responsive to determining that the gesture includes the reversal, causing the other user interface to cease to be displayed

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising determining, based on a successive point of the gesture, that the gesture extends a preset distance from the edge or the later point, and wherein passing the gesture to an entity or other user interface is based on determining that the gesture extends the preset distance from the edge or the later point.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a gesture made through a gesture-sensitive display presenting one or more user interfaces;

determining whether a start point of the gesture is received at an edge of the gesture-sensitive display;

responsive to determining that the start point is not at the edge of the gesture-sensitive display, passing the gesture to one of the one or more user interfaces over which the start point of another point of the gesture is received;

or

responsive to determining that the start point is at the edge of the gesture-sensitive display, determining whether a line from the start point to a later point of the gesture is within about thirty degrees of perpendicular from the edge, and

responsive to determining that the line is not within about thirty degrees of perpendicular from the edge, passing the gesture to the one of the one or more user interfaces;

or

responsive to determining that the line is within about thirty degrees, presenting a system interface enabling interaction with a system entity.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 19, wherein one of the one or more user interfaces is an immersive interface and another of the one or more user interfaces is a windows-based interface.