TOROIDAL FLEXIBLE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20150332036A1
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: JENKINS, JANA H., BREEDVELT-SCHOUTEN, ILSE M., KUSNITZ, JEFFREY A., LENTZ, JAMES L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,778,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity

Abstract

A method and/or computer program product receives computer inputs from a toroidal flexible input device. Physical contact between a toroidal flexible input device and a display on a computer is detected. The toroidal flexible input device is authenticated, and a communication session between the toroidal flexible input device and the computer is established. The computer then receives inputs from the toroidal flexible input device while the toroidal flexible input device is in physical contact with the display on the computer.

Claims

1. A method of receiving computer inputs from a toroidal flexible input device, the method comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, a physical contact between a toroidal flexible input device and a display on a computer;

authenticating, by one or more processors, the toroidal flexible input device as being authorized to provide inputs to the computer;

establishing, by one or more processors, a communication session between the toroidal flexible input device and the computer; and

receiving, by the computer, inputs from the toroidal flexible input device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating, by one or more processors, the toroidal flexible input device by matching a user identifier within the toroidal flexible input device with an authorized user name, wherein the user identifier identifies a user of the toroidal flexible input device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating, by one or more processors, the toroidal flexible input device by matching a universally unique identifier (UUID) within the toroidal flexible input device with an authorized input device name, wherein the UUID identifies a particular input device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating, by one or more processors, the toroidal flexible input device by detecting a placement of the toroidal flexible input device over an authentication icon on the display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating, by one or more processors, the toroidal flexible input device by detecting a placement of a user'"'"'s fingers on predetermined positions on the toroidal flexible input device while the toroidal flexible input device is held against the display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal flexible input device being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a rotational movement of the toroidal flexible input device; and

in response to detecting the rotational movement of the toroidal flexible input device, rotating, by one or more processors, the image on the display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal flexible input device being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a pinching movement of the toroidal flexible input device, wherein the pinching movement is caused by a user pressing against edges of the toroidal flexible input device;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, a movement of the toroidal flexible input device while pinching the image, wherein the image is pinched if the image is within an interior of the toroidal flexible input device while the toroidal flexible input device is placed against the display; and

in response to detecting the movement of the toroidal flexible input device while pinching the image, moving, by one or more processors, the image on the display to a new position.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal flexible input device being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a tapping against the toroidal flexible input device by a user; and

in response to detecting the tapping against the toroidal flexible input device, activating, by one or more processors, a function represented by the image on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal flexible input device being positioned over an image on the display; and

in response to detecting the toroidal flexible input device being positioned over the image on the display, enlarging, by one or more processors, an appearance of the image on the display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, a break in the physical contact between the toroidal flexible input device and the display on a computer;

in response to detecting the break in the physical contact between the toroidal flexible input device and the display on a computer, generating, by one or more processors, a toroidal icon representing the toroidal flexible input device;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a movement of the toroidal flexible input device while not in contact with the display; and

moving the toroidal icon on the display according to the movement of the toroidal flexible input device while not in contact with the display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal icon being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a rotational movement of the toroidal flexible input device;

generating, by one or more processors, a rotational movement of the toroidal icon that correlates to the rotational movement of the toroidal flexible input device; and

in response to detecting the rotational movement of the toroidal flexible input device, rotating, by one or more processors, the image on the display.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors, the toroidal icon being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a pinching movement of the toroidal flexible input device, wherein the pinching movement is caused by a user pressing against edges of the toroidal flexible input device;

in response to detecting the pinching movement of the toroidal flexible input device, linking, by one or more processors, the toroidal icon to the image on the display;

detecting, by one or more processors, a movement of the toroidal icon while linked to the image on the display; and

in response to detecting the movement of the toroidal flexible input device while linked to the image on the display, moving, by one or more processors, the image to a new position on the display.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more sensors, the toroidal icon being positioned over an image on the display;

detecting, by one or more hardware sensors within the toroidal flexible input device, a tapping against the toroidal flexible input device by a user; and

in response to detecting the tapping against the toroidal flexible input device, activating, by one or more processors within the computer, a function represented by the image on the display over which the toroidal icon is positioned.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more sensors, the toroidal icon being positioned around an image on the display; and

in response to detecting the icon being positioned around the image on the display, enlarging, by one or more processors, an appearance of the image on the display.

15. A computer program product for receiving computer inputs from a toroidal flexible input device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

detecting a physical contact between a toroidal flexible input device and a display on a computer;

authenticating the toroidal flexible input device as being authorized to provide inputs to the computer;

establishing a communication session between the toroidal flexible input device and the computer; and

receiving, by the computer, inputs from the toroidal flexible input device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method performed by the processor executing the program code further comprises:

authenticating the toroidal flexible input device by matching a universally unique identifier (UUID) within the toroidal flexible input device with an authorized input device name, wherein the UUID identifies a particular input device.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method performed by the processor executing the program code further comprises:

authenticating the toroidal flexible input device by detecting a placement of the toroidal flexible input device over an authentication icon on the display.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method performed by the processor executing the program code further comprises:

authenticating the toroidal flexible input device by detecting a placement of a user'"'"'s fingers on predetermined positions on the toroidal flexible input device while the toroidal flexible input device is held against the display.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method performed by the processor executing the program code further comprises:

detecting a break in the physical contact between the toroidal flexible input device and the display on a computer;

in response to detecting the break in the physical contact between the toroidal flexible input device and the display on a computer, generating a toroidal icon representing the toroidal flexible input device;

detecting a movement of the toroidal flexible input device while not in contact with the display; and

moving the toroidal icon on the display according to the movement of the toroidal flexible input device while not in contact with the display.

20. A toroidal flexible input device, comprising:

a toroidal shell;

a touch sensor within the toroidal shell, wherein the touch sensor detects a position and level of pressure exerted by a user'"'"'s fingers against edges of the toroidal shell;

an accelerometer within the toroidal shell, wherein the accelerometer detects lateral and rotational movement of the toroidal shell;

a strain gauge within the toroidal shell, wherein the strain gauge detects compression deformation of the toroidal shell;

a universally unique identifier (UUID) generator, wherein a UUID identifies a particular input device;

a user identifier generator, where a user identifier identifies an authorized user of the toroidal flexible input device; and

a wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless transceiver sends and receives data between a computer and the touch sensor, the accelerometer, the strain gauge, the UUID generator, and the user identifier generator.