TOUCH-ENABLED COMPLEX DATA ENTRY

• US 20140092030A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp. (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp.
• Inventors: Van der Velden, Alexander Jacobus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for touch input via a multi-touch surface includes displaying an input widget via the multi-touch surface, wherein the input widget includes at least one control field and at least one element bar. A finger contact is detected along the multi-touch surface and substantially within the control field or the element bar. In response to detecting the finger contact, the contents of the element bar are adjusted.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for touch input via a multi-touch surface, said computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying an input widget via the multi-touch surface, the input widget including at least one control field and at least one element bar;

detecting a finger contact along the multi-touch surface and substantially within one of the at least one control field and the at least one element bar; and

in response to detecting the finger contact, adjusting the contents of the at least one element bar.

2. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein displaying an input widget comprises displaying an input widget having a plurality of control fields, including a first control field and a second control field.

3. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least one element bar is a value bar having a value, and wherein:

said detecting a finger contact comprises detecting a finger contact along the multi-touch surface and substantially within one of the first control field and the second control field; and

said adjusting the contents of the at least one element bar comprises;

decreasing the value displayed in the value bar if the finger contact is detected within the first control field; and

increasing the value displayed in the value bar if the finger contact is detected within the second control field.

4. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one element bar is a value bar, said computer-implemented method further comprising:

detecting a finger contact along the multi-touch surface and substantially within the at least one element bar;

displaying a plurality of touch keys via the multi-touch surface;

receiving, via the plurality of touch keys, a value; and

adjusting the contents of the value bar according to the received value.

5. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting the contents of the at least one element bar comprises one of maximizing the contents of the at least one element bar and minimizing the contents of the at least one element bar.

6. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one element bar is a value bar, said adjusting the contents of the at least one element bar comprises, in response to detecting the finger contact, adjusting a value displayed in the value bar.

7. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting the contents of the at least one element bar comprises one of unlocking and locking the at least one element bar such that contents of the at least one element bar are adjustable when unlocked and not adjustable when locked.

8. A computer device comprising:

a multi-touch surface configured to receive user input via touch and to display information based on the user input; and

a processor operatively coupled to said multi-touch surface, said processor configured to;

cause said multi-touch surface to display an input widget that includes at least one control field and at least one element bar;

detect a finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within one of the at least one control field and the at least one element bar; and

in response to detecting the finger contact, adjust the contents of the at least one element bar and cause said multi-touch surface to display the adjusted contents.

9. A computer device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one control field includes a first control field and a second control field.

10. A computer device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one element bar is a value bar having a value, and wherein said processor is configured to:

detect the finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within one of the first control field and the second control field;

decrease the value if the finger contact is detected within the first control field and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the decreased value; and

increase the value if the finger contact is detected within the second control field and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the increased value.

11. A computer device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the input widget includes a value bar, and wherein said processor is configured to, in response to detecting the finger contact, adjust a value displayed in the value bar and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the adjusted value.

12. A computer device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one element bar is a value bar, and wherein said processor is further configured to:

detect the finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within the at least one element bar;

cause said multi-touch surface to display a plurality of touch keys;

receive, via the plurality of touch keys, a value; and

adjust the contents of the value bar according to the received value and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the received value.

13. A computer device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to one of maximize the contents of the at least one element bar and minimize the contents of the at least one element bar in response to detecting the finger contact.

14. A computer device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to unlock and lock the at least one element bar such that contents of the at least one element bar are adjustable when unlocked and not adjustable when locked.

15. A computer device comprising:

a multi-touch surface configured to receive user input via touch and to display information based on the user input; and

a processor operatively coupled to said multi-touch surface, said processor configured to;

cause said multi-touch surface to display an input widget that includes at least one control field and a value bar;

detect a first finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within the at least one control field; and

in response to detecting the first finger contact, adjust the value bar to select a desired value of the selected element.

16. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one control field includes a first control field and a second control field, and wherein said processor is configured to:

decrease the value if the first finger contact is detected within the first control field and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the decreased value; and

increase the value if the first finger contact is detected within the second control field and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the increased value.

17. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is configured to one of maximize the value and minimize the value in response to detecting the first finger contact.

18. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to:

detect the first finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within the value bar;

cause said multi-touch surface to display a plurality of touch keys;

receive, via the plurality of touch keys, a new value; and

adjust the contents of the value bar according to the new value and to cause said multi-touch surface to display the received new value.

19. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is configured to unlock and lock the input widget such that contents of the value bar are adjustable when unlocked and not adjustable when locked.

20. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the input widget includes a plurality of elements, each element including at least one control field and a value bar.

21. A computer device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the input widget further includes a label bar, and wherein said processor is further configured to:

detect a second finger contact along said multi-touch surface and substantially within the at least one control field; and

in response to detecting the second finger contact, adjust the label bar to select a desired element.