MULTI-TOUCH-MOVEMENT GESTURES FOR TABLET COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20130201113A1
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hinckley, Kenneth P., Pahud, Michel, Buxton, William A. S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,902,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Functionality is described herein for detecting and responding to gestures performed by a user using a computing device, such as, but not limited to, a tablet computing device. In one implementation, the functionality operates by receiving touch input information in response to the user touching the computing device, and movement input information in response to the user moving the computing device. The functionality then determines whether the input information indicates that a user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement (MTM) gesture. The functionality can then perform any behavior in response to determining that the user has performed an MTM gesture, such as by modifying a view or invoking a function, etc.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a tablet computing device, for detecting gestures, comprising:

receiving touch input information from at least one touch input mechanism, in response to a user touching the computing device;

receiving movement input information from at least one movement input mechanism, in response to movement of the computing device;

determining whether the touch input information and the movement input information indicate that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture,

where the multi-touch-movement gesture entails;

establishing two or more contacts with a surface of the computing device by a user who grasps the computing device with two hands during use; and

moving the computing device to establish at least one of;

a prescribed path; and

a prescribed static posture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said two or more contacts correspond to two hand contacts placed at two respective points along a peripheral region of the surface of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the two hand contacts are placed on or near two corners of the computing device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the peripheral region includes two opposing edges have respective lengths, and wherein the two hand contacts are placed on or near points that are midway along the respective lengths of the two edges.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said two or more contacts include at least a first contact placed on a first surface of the computing device, and a second contact placed on a second surface of the computing device, the first surface and the second surface having normals pointed in generally opposite directions.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the prescribed path corresponds to a tilting movement whereby the computing device is rotated about an axis that runs generally through the two hand contacts.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the prescribed path corresponds to a flipping movement whereby the computing device is rotated about an axis that runs generally along an edge of the computing device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the prescribed path corresponds to a pivoting movement whereby the computing device is rotated in a plane that is generally parallel to the surface of the computing device.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the two hand contacts correspond to a first hand contact and a second hand contact, wherein the prescribed path corresponds to a twisting movement whereby the first hand contact is moved towards a reference point and the second hand contact is moved away from the reference point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-touch-movement gesture is defined, at least in part, based on a manner in which the computing device is moved over the prescribed path, as characterized by one or more of:

a speed of the computing device;

an acceleration of the computing device; and

a deceleration of the computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescribed static posture defines a prescribed tilt of a display surface of the computing device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device includes at least a first second section and a second section,

wherein said two or more contacts correspond to two hand contacts, a first hand contact placed on a surface of the first section, and a second hand contact placed on a surface of the second section,

wherein said moving involves moving the first section with respect to the second section.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking a view in response to determining that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture, where the view shows individual items in a layered collection of items.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking an interaction experience in response to determining that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture, where the interaction experience facilitates interaction with the computing device for a condition that is assumed to affect the user in a current state.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking a toolbar selection in response to determining that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking an interface page in response to determining that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking an application or an operating system function in response to determining that the user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture.

18. A computer readable storage medium for storing computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions providing an interpretation and behavior selection module (IBSM) when the instructions are executed by one or more processing devices, the computer readable instructions comprising:

logic configured to receive touch input information from at least one touch input mechanism of a tablet computing device, in response to a user touching the computing device;

logic configured to receive movement input information from at least one movement input mechanism, in response to movement of the computing device;

logic configured to determine whether the touch input information and the movement input information indicate that the user has made or is making a multi-touch-movement gesture by;

determining that the user has applied at least two hand contacts at two respective points along a peripheral region of a display surface of the computing device, using two hands that are also used to grasp the computing device; and

determining that the user has rotated the computing device in a prescribed manner while touching the display surface with said at least two hand contacts; and

logic configured perform an action in response to determining that the user has performed a multi-touch-movement gesture.

19. A booklet computing device, comprising:

at least a first section and a second section;

a coupling mechanism for movably coupling the first section to the second section;

at least one touch input mechanism configured to receive touch input information in response to a user touching the first section or the second section, or both the first section and the second section;

at least one movement input mechanism configured to receive movement input information in response to movement of the booklet computing device, including;

movement applied to both the first section and the second section; and

movement of the first section relative to the second section; and

a gesture matching module configured to;

receive the touch input information from said at least one touch input mechanism, and the movement input information from said at least one movement input mechanism; and

determine whether the touch input information and the movement input information indicate that a user has performed or is performing a multi-touch-movement gesture,

where the multi-touch-movement gesture entails;

establishing two or more contacts with the booklet computing device, using two hands that are also used to grasp the booklet computing device; and

moving the booklet computing device to achieve at least one of;

a prescribed path in which the first section is moved relative to the second section; and

a prescribed orientation of the first section relative to the second section.

20. The booklet computing device of claim 19, wherein the gesture matching module is configured to detect different multi-touch-movement gestures for different static poses that achieve different respective angular separations between the first section and the second section.