Reshapable pointing device for touchscreens

• US 5,856,824 A
• Filed: 06/25/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/672,518
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/177, 345/178, 345/127, 395/339, 395/342, 395/348, 395/354
• 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

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a reshapable pointing device. The method includes the steps of displaying a pointing device on the touchscreen and, in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the pointing device, reshaping the pointing device in accordance with the size of the finger.

Claims

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

displaying a single pointing device on the touchscreen;

in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the pointing device, determining an identity of a user having said at least one finger, said step of determining an identity further including the steps of;

determining measurements of a hand of said user;

comparing said measurements with a plurality of stored measurements, each of said plurality of stored measurements being associated with a different user; and

in response to said determined measurements being approximately equal to one of said plurality of stored measurements, determining an identity of said different user associated with said stored measurements; and

in response to determining said identity of said user, reshaping the pointing device in accordance with predetermined customization features associated with said user for the pointing device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said determined measurements include a measurement of a palm of said user.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said determined measurements include a measurement from a palm of said user to said at least one finger.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of continuing to utilize said predetermined customization features while said user is utilizing said touchscreen.

5. A computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a reshapable pointing device, comprising:

means for displaying a single pointing device on the touchscreen;

means responsive to detecting at least one finger placed on the pointing device, for determining an identity of a user having said at least one finger said means for determining an identity of a user further comprising;

means for determining measurements of a hand of said user;

means for comparing said measurements with a plurality of stored measurements, each of said plurality of stored measurements being associated with a different user; and

means responsive to said determined measurements being approximately equal to one of said plurality of stored measurements, for determining an identity of said different user associated with said stored measurements.;

means responsive to determining said identity of said user, for reshaping the pointing device in accordance with predetermined customization features associated with said user for the pointing device.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising means for continuing to utilize said predetermined customization features while said user is utilizing said touchscreen.