Multiple, moveable, customizable virtual pointing devices

• US 5,790,104 A
• Filed: 06/25/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Menh-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/672,520
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/145, 345/333, 364/927.64, 364/961.2, 323/904, 463/37, 395/358
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and memory direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create multiple, moveable virtual pointing devices. The method includes the steps of detecting at least two hands placed on the touchscreen, creating a virtual pointing device under at least a portion of each hand positioned on the touchscreen, in response to detecting a first hand no longer being positioned on the touchscreen, determining if at least one of the other hands is no longer being positioned on the touchscreen, and in response to two or more of the hands not concurrently being positioned on the touchscreen and detecting at least one of the hands being re-positioned on the touchscreen, determining which virtual pointing device belongs to the re-positioned hand.

Claims

1. A method for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create multiple, moveable virtual pointing devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting at least two hands placed on the touchscreen;

(b) creating a virtual pointing device under at least a portion of each hand positioned on the touchscreen;

(c) in response to detecting a first hand no longer being positioned on the touchscreen, determining if at least one of the other hands is no longer being positioned on the touchscreen; and

(d) in response to two or more of the hands not concurrently being positioned on the touchscreen and detecting at least one of the hands being re-positioned on the touchscreen, determining which virtual pointing device belongs to the re-positioned hand.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

detecting sound, heat, or pressure from the hands.

3. A computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, for creating multiple, moveable virtual pointing devices, comprising:

(a) means for detecting at least two hands placed on the touchscreen;

(b) means for creating a virtual pointing device under at least a portion of each hand positioned on the touchscreen;

(c) means for determining if at least one of the two hands is no longer being positioned on the touchscreen, in response to detecting a first hand no longer being positioned on the touchscreen; and

(d) means for determining which virtual pointing device belongs to a re-positioned hand, in response to two or more of the hands not concurrently being positioned on the touchscreen and detecting at least one of the hands being re-positioned on the touchscreen.

4. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to detect at least two hands placed on the touchscreen;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to create a virtual pointing device under at least a portion of each hand positioned on the touchscreen;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system to, in response to detecting a first hand no longer being positioned on the touchscreen, determine if at least one of the other hands is no longer being positioned on the touchscreen; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system to, in response to two or more of the hands not concurrently being positioned on the touchscreen and detecting at least one of the hands being re-positioned on the touchscreen, determine which virtual pointing device belongs to the re-positioned hand.