Virtual pointing device for touchscreens

• US 6,067,079 A
• Filed: 06/13/1996
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/664,036
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/178, 382/124, 382/125
• 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, memory, and apparatus, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, for creating a virtual pointing device. The method includes the steps of displaying a non-activated virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the virtual pointing device, activating the virtual pointing device, and moving the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the at least one finger.

Claims

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

(a) displaying a non-activated virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, said non-activated virtual pointing device being a translucent, shaded area on the touchscreen, whereby objects and text can be seen through the shaded area;

(b) in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the virtual pointing device, activating the virtual pointing device by bringing the virtual pointing device out of hibernation, such that reactivating the virtual pointing device causes a command to be executed, said virtual pointing device being reactivated in response to a detection of a removal and then replacement of said at least one finger; and

(c) moving the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the at least one finger, such that the virtual pointing device is positioned under the finger.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

positioning a pointer on the touchscreen such that movement of the virtual pointing device in a first direction causes the pointer to move in the first direction.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

in response to reactivating the virtual pointing device, executing at least one command on an object or text positioned substantially under the pointer.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of:

detecting whether the finger positioned over the virtual pointing device has been lifted and replaced on the virtual pointing device, thereby reactivating the virtual pointing device.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises the following step:

displaying at least two translucent, non-activated areas on the touchscreen.

6. The method according to claim 5 comprising the following steps:

assigning at least one command to each translucent area of the virtual pointing device; and

in response to detecting one finger being placed on either of the areas, activating the area having the finger placed thereon, whereby a reactivation of the area causes the corresponding command to be executed.

7. A computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, for creating a virtual pointing device comprising:

(a) means for displaying a non-activated virtual pointing device on the touchscreen said non-activated virtual pointing device being a translucent, shaded area on the touchscreen, whereby objects and text can be seen through the shaded area;

(b) in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the virtual pointing device, means for activating the virtual pointing device by bringing the virtual pointing device out of hibernation, such that reactivating the virtual pointing device causes a command to be executed, said virtual pointing device being reactivated in response to a detection of a removal and then replacement of said at least one finger, said virtual pointing device being reactivated in response to a detection of a removal and then replacement of said at least one finger; and

(c) means for moving the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the at least one finger in response to moving the finger along the touchscreen, such that the virtual pointing device is positioned under the finger.

8. The computer system according to claim 7 further comprising the step of:

means for positioning a pointer on the touchscreen such that movement of the virtual pointing device in a first direction causes the pointer to move in the first direction.

9. The computer system according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

in response to reactivating the virtual pointing device, means for executing at least one command on an object or text positioned substantially under the pointer.

10. The computer system according to claim 9 further comprising the step of:

means for detecting whether the finger positioned over the virtual pointing device has been lifted and replaced on the virtual pointing device, thereby reactivating the virtual pointing device.

11. The computer system according to claim 7 wherein step (a) comprises the following step:

means for displaying at least two translucent, non-activated areas on the touchscreen.

12. The computer system according to claim 11 comprising the following steps:

means for assigning at least one command to each translucent area of the virtual pointing device; and

in response to detecting one finger being placed on either of the areas, means for activating the area having the finger placed thereon, whereby a reactivation of the area causes the corresponding command to be executed.