Simulating Input Types

• US 20130201107A1
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rossi, Jacob S., Rogers, Justin E., Furtwangler, Nathan J.E.
• Application Number:
  US13/368,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201107A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A timer is utilized in an input simulation process that simulates an input of one type when an input of a different type is received. In at least some embodiments, when a first type of input is received, a corresponding timer is started. If, before passage of an associated time period, a first input scenario is present, then one or more actions associated with the first input type are performed. If, on the other hand, after passage of the associated time period, a second input scenario is present, then one or more actions associated with a second input type are performed by using the first input type to simulate the second input type.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving input of a first input type;

responsive to receiving the input, starting a timer;

ascertaining that a time period associated with the timer has passed;

after the time period has passed, ascertaining that an input scenario is present;

responsive to ascertaining that the input scenario is present, performing one or more actions associated with a simulated second input type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input type comprises a touch input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input type comprises a mouse input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein ascertaining that the input scenario is present comprises detecting removal of the input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein ascertaining that the input scenario is present comprises detecting removal of the input, and wherein the first input type comprises a touch input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is between 100 ms and 1 second.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period is 300 ms.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing one or more actions comprises dispatching at least some script events and omitting at least some other script events effective to persist a CSS hover format that was applied to an element relative to which the input was received.

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

receiving a touch input;

responsive to receiving the touch input, starting a timer;

ascertaining that a time period associated with the timer has passed;

after the time period has passed, ascertaining that an input scenario is present; and

responsive to ascertaining that the input scenario is present, performing one or more actions associated with a simulated mouse input.

10. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein ascertaining that the input scenario is present comprises detecting removal of the touch input.

11. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the time period is between 100 ms and 1 second.

12. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the time period is 300 ms.

13. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein performing one or more actions comprises dispatching at least some mouse script events and omitting at least some other mouse script events effective to persist a CSS hover format that was applied to an element relative to which the touch input was received.

14. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein performing one or more actions comprises:

dispatching at least some mouse script events;

omitting at least some other mouse script events; and

omitting script events that signal activation of an element.

15. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to implement a method comprising:

responsive to ascertaining that the time period has not passed and that the touch input has been removed, performing one or more actions associated with the touch input.

16. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer readable instructions reside in the form of a web browser.

17. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the computer readable instructions reside in the form of an application other than a web browser.

18. A system comprising:

a timer; and

a module configured to use the timer to simulate an input of one type when an input of a different type is received.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said input of one type comprises a mouse input.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said input of a different type comprises a touch input.