EDGE GESTURE

• US 20120304133A1
• 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: Nan, Jennifer, Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Jarrett, Robert J., Harris, Jensen, Sareen, Chaitanya Dev, Matthews, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,658,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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:

determining that a gesture has a start point at an edge of a user interface or display and a later point not at the edge;

determining a second user interface of multiple user interfaces to present based on one or more factors of the gesture; and

responsive to determining a second user interface of multiple user interfaces to present, presenting the second user interface.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the factors include gesture lengths, further comprising determining a length of the gesture, and wherein presenting the second user interface is responsive to determining that the length of the gesture is associated with the second user interface.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the factors include single-point and multi-point, further comprising determining that the gesture is a multi-point gesture, and wherein presenting the second user interface is responsive to determining that the gesture is multi-point.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the factors include regions of the edge, further comprising determining a region of the edge in which the start point resides, and wherein presenting the second user interface is responsive to determining the region.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the second user interface enables gesture-based interactions with a system entity.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the second user interface enables gesture-based interactions with an application that presents the first user interface.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 6, wherein the interaction enabled by the second user interface enables interaction with the application not enabled by the first-mentioned user interface.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the edge is an edge of the user interface, the user interface presents visual media, and the second user interface enables selection to control the visual media being played.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein presenting the second user interface presents the second user interface over the visual media and the second user interface is at least partially transparent.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a gesture has a start point at an edge of a gesture-sensitive display or user interface presented within the gesture-sensitive display and a later point not at the edge;

responsive to the determining, causing a second user interface to be presented;

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 second user interface to cease to be presented.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein determining that the gesture includes a reversal includes determining that the successive point of the gesture is within the edge.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein determining that the gesture includes a reversal includes determining that the successive point of the gesture is closer to the edge than the later point or a prior-received successive point.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a gesture has a start point at an edge of a gesture-sensitive display or a first user interface presented within the gesture-sensitive display and a later point not at the edge;

responsive to the determining, causing presentation of a second user interface;

determining, based on a successive point of the gesture, that the gesture extends a preset distance from the edge or the later point; and

responsive to determining that the gesture extends, causing an expansion of the second user interface or presentation of a third user interface.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein the preset distance is greater than an interface limit of the second user interface.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein the third user interface is presented adjacent to or partially overlapping the second user interface.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein causing the expansion of the second user interface adds selectable controls.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein causing the presentation of the third user interface presents selectable controls not presented in the second user interface.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein causing the expansion of the second user interface or the presentation of a third user interface is performed progressively as the gesture is received.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, further comprising, following causing the expansion or the presentation, receiving a second successive point indicating a reversal in the gesture, and, responsive to the reversal, causing the expansion of the second user interface or the presentation of the third user interface to cease.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 19, further comprising receiving a third successive point received at the edge and, responsive to receiving the third successive point at the edge, causing the second user interface to cease to be presented.