METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A GESTURE

• US 20130314331A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: RYDENHAG, Daniel Tobias, JOHANSSON, Per Ake Daniel, ANDERSSON REIMER, Nils Roger
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method includes detecting a swipe gesture from an initial touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device; determining touch attributes for the swipe gesture; and performing a lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a stored swipe gesture associated with the lock function. Further lock functions may be activated by detection of attributes of a further stored swipe gesture.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a swipe gesture from an initial touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

determining touch attributes for the swipe gesture;

performing a lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a stored swipe gesture associated with the lock function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial touch location is substantially at or substantially adjacent to a perimeter of the touch-sensitive display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch attributes for the stored swipe gesture include the initial touch location, and a lock function activation touch location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock function activation touch location is defined by a location threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising performing a first lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a first stored swipe gesture.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising performing a second lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a second stored swipe gesture.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually altering a graphical output of the touch-sensitive display as the swipe gesture proceeds, to provide a visual indication of the impending activation of the lock function.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a release of the swipe gesture activates a first lock function.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a first lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a first stored swipe gesture; and

performing a second lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a second stored swipe gesture.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first stored swipe gesture comprises a swipe gesture having a first length, and the second stored swipe gesture comprises a swipe gesture having a second length.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first lock function comprises a screen lock.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second lock function comprises a device lock.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second lock functions comprises at least one of:

locking a service, locking an application, a device lock, a partial device lock, or a perimeter lock.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a lock function indicator on the display if at least one stored swipe gesture is detected.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating a lock function upon receiving a touch input at the lock function indicator.

16. An electronic device configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving a swipe gesture from an initial touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

determining touch attributes for the swipe gesture;

performing a lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a stored swipe gesture associated with the lock function.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the initial touch location is substantially at or substantially adjacent to a perimeter of the touch-sensitive display.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the touch attributes for the stored swipe gesture include the initial touch location, and a lock function activation touch location.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the lock function activation touch location is defined by a location threshold.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the method comprises performing a first lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a first stored swipe gesture.

21. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the method comprises performing a second lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a second stored swipe gesture.

22. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises visually altering a graphical output of the touch-sensitive display as the swipe gesture proceeds, to provide a visual indication of the impending activation of the lock function.

23. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein detecting a release of the swipe gesture activates a first lock function.

24. The electronic device of claim 16, the wherein the method further comprises:

performing a first lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a first stored swipe gesture; and

performing a second lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a second stored swipe gesture.

25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the first stored swipe gesture comprises a swipe gesture having a first length, and the second stored swipe gesture comprises a swipe gesture having a second length.

26. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the first lock function comprises a screen lock.

27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the second lock function comprises a device lock.

28. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first and second lock functions comprises at least one of:

locking a service, locking an application, a device lock, a partial device lock, or a perimeter lock.

29. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises presenting a lock function indicator on the display if at least one stored swipe gesture is detected.

30. The electronic device of claim 29, further comprising activating a lock function upon receiving a touch input at the lock function indicator.

31. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform a method comprising:

receiving a swipe gesture from an initial touch location on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

determining touch attributes for the swipe gesture;

performing a lock function if the touch attributes correspond to a stored swipe gesture associated with the lock function.