CONTROL AREA FOR A TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20130067397A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kirschner, Douglas R., Reid, Paul J., Humphrey, Brett David, Karr, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,318,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/799
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A touch screen computing device with an easy to use user interface. The computing device provides on the touch screen a control area associated with a content viewing area. Touch inputs that initiate in the control area, even if they extend into the viewing area, are interpreted as commands that manipulate the display of content. Other touch inputs are interpreted as interactions with displayed content. The control area may be formatted to allow easy access by a user holding the computing device. Through such an interface the user may input commands specifying direct manipulation of the content, to without frustration that can occur from the computing device incorrectly interpreting those commands as interaction with the content.

Claims

1. A method of displaying content on a computing device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:

displaying a control area and a viewing area on the touch screen;

displaying a first portion of the content in a viewing area of the touch screen;

receiving, through the touch screen, a touch input, the touch input indicating an initial contact in the control area and a subsequent motion across the touch screen; and

in response to the touch input, performing a direct manipulation of the content in the viewing area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying the control area comprises displaying the control area as a frame circumscribing the viewing area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying the control area comprises displaying the control area as at least two portions, a first of the at least two portions being disposed along a first side of the touch screen and a second of the at least two portions being disposed along a second side of the touch screen, the second side being opposite the first side.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the touch input comprises a swipe; and

the direct manipulation comprises displaying an alternative portion of the content in the viewing area, wherein the content is panned in the viewing area in response to the touch input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the swipe is a drag; and

the content is panned in the viewing area without inertia.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the swipe is a flick; and

the content is panned in the viewing area with inertia.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the touch input comprises a pincer touch; and

the direct manipulation comprises altering a magnification of the content in the viewing area in response to the touch input.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the pincer touch is a pinch; and

altering the magnification of the content in the viewing area comprises zooming out in the viewing area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the pincer touch is a spread; and

altering the magnification of the content in the viewing area comprises zooming in in the viewing area.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the touch screen, a second touch input, the second touch comprising a tap on a control button in the control area; and

altering a magnification of the content in the viewing area in response to the second touch input,

wherein displaying the control area comprises displaying the control button in the control area.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, at the touch screen, a second touch input, the second touch comprising a tap in the control area;

panning the content in the viewing area, in response to the second touch input.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, at the touch screen, a second touch input, the second touch comprising a press in the control area;

panning the content in the viewing area, in response to the second touch input and for a duration of the press.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

wherein the subsequent motion is in the viewing area.

14. At least one computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to implement a method comprising:

receiving content from an application executing on the computer;

displaying at least a portion of the content in a viewing area on the touch screen;

displaying a control area on the touch screen;

receiving, from the touch screen, a touch input comprising an initial contact and subsequent motion across the touch screen;

when the initial contact is in the control area, processing the touch input as a command altering an appearance of the content in the viewing area; and

when the initial contact is in the viewing area, providing the touch input to the application.

15. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the control area on the touch screen comprises a plurality of bands, each band being disposed adjacent an edge of the touch screen.

16. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the control area on the touch screen comprises a region circumscribed by the viewing area.

17. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the initial contact is in the control area; and

altering the appearance of the content in the viewing area comprises panning to display an alternative portion of the content in the viewing area.

18. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

receiving, from the touch screen, the touch input comprises receiving the touch input at an operating system of the computer, the operating system determining whether the initial contact is in the control area or in the viewing area.

19. A tablet computing device configured to display content, the computing device comprising:

a touch screen;

a processor;

a non-volatile storage device holding computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to;

display a frame adjacent a periphery of the touch screen;

display, within the frame on the touch screen, at least a portion of content received from a component executing on the tablet computing device;

receive a touch input from the touch screen,

when the touch input comprises an initial contact on the frame, process the touch input as a command manipulating presentation of the content in the viewing area; and

when the touch input comprises an initial contact inside the frame, process the touch input as an input to the component.

20. The tablet computing device of claim 19, wherein:

the touch input is a swipe;

the initial contact is on the frame; and

manipulating presentation of the content in the viewing area comprises panning to display an alternative portion of the content in the viewing area.