METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A SELECTION OPTION

• US 20130285931A1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: KENNARD, Glenn Eric, ENGDAHL, Gustav
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes, displaying a plurality of selection options on a touch-sensitive display, detecting a touch at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display, determining a touch area based on the touch location, determining an overlap value based on a size of the touch area that overlaps a selection area associated with a selection option, and on a size of the selection area, and identifying a selection option based on the determined overlap value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a plurality of selection options on a touch-sensitive display;

detecting a touch at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display;

determining a touch area based on the touch location;

determining an overlap value based on a size of the touch area that overlaps a selection area associated with a selection option, and on a size of the selection area;

identifying a selection option based on the determined overlap value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlap value for the selection area is weighted when the touch location is within the selection area.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an overlap value is determined for each selection area that at least partially overlaps the touch area.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an overlap value is determined for each selection area associated with one of the plurality of selection options.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identified selection option has a largest overlap value.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection areas for the plurality of selection options have different sizes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first selection area partially obscures a second selection area, further comprising excluding the obscured area of the second selection area when determining an overlap value for the second selection area.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch area is a virtual touch area.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the virtual touch area is centered on the touch location.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual touch area is variable.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display to receive a touch;

at least one processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display and configured to;

display a plurality of selection options on a touch-sensitive display;

detect a touch at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display;

determine a touch area based on the touch location;

determine an overlap value based on a size of the touch area that overlaps a selection area associated with a selection option, and on a size of the selection area;

identify a selection option based on the determined overlap value.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to weight the overlap value for the selection area when the touch location is within the selection area.

14. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine an overlap value for each selection area that at least partially overlaps the touch area.

15. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine an overlap value for each selection area associated with one of the plurality of selection options.

16. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify the selection option having a largest overlap value.

17. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to display selection options having at least two different sizes.

18. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the touch area is a virtual touch area.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the virtual touch area is centered on the touch location.

20. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the virtual touch area is variable.