INPUT CONTROL METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE SUPPORTING THE SAME

• US 20140267022A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Jinyong
• Application Number:
  US14/211,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20140267022A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L

Abstract

An input control method and an electronic device supporting the same are provided. The method includes activating a plurality of input signal collection units supporting a multi-modal input, collecting at least one input signal from the input signal collection units, and outputting feedback information corresponding to the at least one input signal.

Claims

1. An input control method of an electronic device, the input control method comprising:

activating a plurality of input signal collection units supporting a multi-modal input;

collecting at least one input signal from the input signal collection units; and

outputting feedback information corresponding to the at least one input signal.

2. The input control method of claim 1, wherein outputting the feedback information comprises at least one of:

outputting the feedback information in an indicator form in a status bar region of the electronic device;

outputting the feedback information in a voice guide sound form;

outputting the feedback information as haptic information corresponding to vibration having a specific pattern;

implementing the feedback information based on control of a lamp; and

outputting the feedback information to at least one external device connected with the electronic device.

3. The input control method of claim 1, wherein outputting the feedback information further comprises outputting, when the input signal includes an error, an error feedback.

4. The input control method of claim 3, further comprising outputting, when the input signal includes an error, a guide feedback for performing a specific function.

5. The input control method of claim 1, wherein outputting the feedback information further comprises outputting a processing feedback corresponding to processing results of the input signal.

6. The input control method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing an application (App) function in response to the input signal; and

sequentially processing, when a plurality of input signals are received, the plurality of input signals based on a time at which a reception of each of the input signals is completed.

7. The input control method of claim 1, further comprising applying a specific input signal to at least one foreground task.

8. The input control method of claim 7, further comprising at least one of:

if a plurality of foreground tasks is present,

applying the input signal to a foreground task that has been most recently manipulated;

applying the input signal to a foreground task having a highest frequency of user use; and

outputting a list of foreground tasks to which the input signal is to be applied.

9. The input control method of claim 1, further comprising applying the input signal to at least one background task.

10. The input control method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of:

if a plurality of background tasks is present,

applying the input signal to a background task that has been most recently manipulated;

applying the input signal to a background task having a highest frequency of user use or a highest frequency of access; and

outputting a list of background tasks to which the input signal is to be applied.

11. The input control method of claim 1, further comprising processing an App function in response to the input signal,

wherein the processing of the App function comprises applying at least one input signal to the App function according to priorities of a plurality of input signals based on priorities set to the input signal collection units or priorities assigned by a user designation when the plurality of input signals is received.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a multi-modal input unit configured to comprise a plurality of input signal collection units supporting a multi-modal input; and

a control unit configured to activate the plurality of input signal collection units, to collect at least one input signal from the input signal collection units, and to feedback information corresponding to the at least one input signal.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

a display unit configured to output the feedback information in an indicator form in a status bar region of the electronic device;

a speaker configured to output the feedback information in a voice guide sound form;

a vibration unit configured to output the feedback information as haptic information corresponding to vibration having a specific pattern;

a lamp unit configured to implement the feedback information based on control of a lamp; and

an access interface configured to output the feedback information to at least one external device connected with the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to output, when the input signal includes an error, an error feedback.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured to output, when the input signal includes an error, a guide feedback for performing a specific function.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to output a processing feedback corresponding to processing results of the input signal.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to sequentially process, when a plurality of input signals is received, the plurality of input signals based on a time at which a reception of each of the input signals is completed.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to apply a specific input signal to at least one foreground task.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein if a plurality of foreground tasks is present, the control unit is further configured to at least one of:

apply the input signal to a foreground task that has been most recently manipulated;

apply the input signal to a foreground task having a highest frequency of user use; and

output a list of foreground tasks to which the input signal is to be applied is output.

20. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to apply the input signal to at least one background task.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein if a plurality of background tasks is present, the control unit is further configured to at least one of:

apply the input signal to a background task that has been most recently manipulated;

apply the input signal to a background task having a highest frequency of user use or a highest frequency of access; and

output a list of background tasks to which the input signal is to be applied is output.

22. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to apply at least one input signal to an App function according to priorities of the plurality of input signals based on priorities set to the input signal collection units or priorities assigned by a user designation, when the plurality of input signals is received.