METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING INSTANT HANDWRITTEN INPUT

• US 20130082937A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edward Stanley Iv Ott
• Inventors: Liu, Eric, Marti, Stefan J., Kim, Seung Wook, Wong, Alison, Ott, Edward Stanley IV
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for enabling instant handwriting input on a mobile computing device. According to one embodiment, while the mobile device is in an inactive state and identity-protected, an activation event associated with a writing tool operated by a user is detected. In response to the activation event, the mobile computing device is switched from the inactive state to a low power state in which the mobile computing device is configured to accept and store handwritten input while remaining identity-protected.

Claims

1. A method for providing instant handwritten input on a mobile computing device having a touch-enabled display, the method comprising:

detecting an activation event via a writing tool operated by a user while the mobile device is in an inactive state and identity-protected; and

switching the mobile computing device in response to the activation event from the inactive state to a low power state,

wherein when in the low power state the mobile computing device is configured to accept and store handwritten input while remaining identity-protected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching from an inactive state to a low power state further comprises:

activating the touch-enabled display, and

displaying both a first user interface for accepting handwritten input and a second user interface for unlocking the mobile device via a pin code or gesture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

saving the handwritten input in a secure location that cannot be accessed until the device is placed in an unlocked state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing biometrically information associated with the handwritten input so as to identify a permitted operating user, and

switching the mobile computing device from identity-protected to an active state upon correctly identifying the operating user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation event is the removal of the writing tool from a housing within the mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the writing tool includes an interface button for triggering the activation event via a wireless communication protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the writing tool includes a short-range communication element and the activation event is detected based on a proximity of the communication element near a sensing area along a surface of the mobile computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a dedicated sensing detection region associated with the display and configured to poll for a lower power signal from the writing tool, and

wherein the activation event is detected based on movement of the writing tool across the detection region associated with the display.

9. A system for providing instant handwriting input, the system comprising:

a pen stylus used to trigger an activation event; and

a mobile computing device having a touch-enabled display and configured to switch from an inactive and security-locked state to a low power state based upon detection of the activation event,

wherein when in the low power state the mobile computing device is configured to accept and store handwritten input while remaining security-locked.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when the mobile computing device is security-locked a password or gesture for establishing the identity of the user is necessary to unlock the mobile device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the activation event is the removal of the pen stylus from a housing within the mobile computing device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the pen stylus includes an interface button for triggering the activation event.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the pen stylus includes a short-range communication element and the activation event is detected based on a proximity of the communication element near a predetermined sensing region along a surface of the mobile computing device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device includes a dedicated sensing detection region associated with the display and configured to poll for a lower power signal from the pen stylus, and

wherein the activation event is detected based on motion of the pen stylus along the detection region of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein when in the low power state, the mobile computing device is configured to display both a first user interface for accepting handwritten input and a second user interface for unlocking the mobile device via a pin code or gesture.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein when in the low power state, handwritten input from the pen stylus is saved in a secure location that cannot be accessed until the device is placed in an unlocked state.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein handwriting recognition is used to biometrically identify a user and place the mobile computing device in an active state.

18. A method for providing instant handwritten input on a mobile computing device having a touch-enabled display, the method comprising:

detecting an activation event via a pen-based stylus operated by a user while the mobile device is in an inactive mode and password-protected; and

switching the mobile computing device in response to the activation event from the inactive mode to a low power mode, wherein the low power mode activates the display of the mobile device,

wherein the activation event is based on removal of the pen stylus from a compartment of the mobile computing device, depression of an input button of the pen stylus, proximity of the pen stylus near a predetermined location on the mobile computing device, or physical movement of the pen stylus across a detection sensing region associated with the display, and

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to accept handwritten input while remaining identity-protected when in the low power mode.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein when in the low power mode, the mobile computing device is configured to display both a first user interface for accepting handwritten input and a second user interface for unlocking the mobile device via a password or gesture.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein when in the low power mode, handwritten input from the pen stylus is saved in a secure location that cannot be accessed until the device is placed in an unlocked state.