Techniques for interactive input to portable electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method for providing input to multiple executable application programs configured to run at the same time on a mobile device, comprising:
- providing an input area, the input area at least partially spanning a touch surface or button associated with the input device;
receiving at at least one first location of the input area an input provided in a particular manner, the manner comprising at least one of a positional input, a directional input, a rubbing input, a pressing input and a pushing input;
determining whether the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to a first executable application program running on the mobile device or a second executable application program running on the mobile device, the manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program being different from the manner designated for providing input to the second executable application program;
then providing the input to the first executable application program running on the mobile device if determined that the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program; and
thereafter providing the input to a second executable application program running on the mobile device if the input is not provided to the first executable application program,wherein the at least one first location of the input area can be used to provide input to multiple applications running at the same time on the mobile device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for providing input to interactive and multitasking applications are disclosed. A game input area (surface or plane) receives input for multiple applications including an interactive application executed in connection with a scene. The input received is directed to the appropriate application based on one or more locations (e.g., points, positions, regions, portions) of the input area effectively identified when input is received (or entered). In addition, the manner in which input is received (or entered) can be used to determine which application should receive the input. The input area can additionally resemble or approximate the shape of a scene (e.g., game scene) to allow a person to provide input in a more intuitive way. Accordingly, input can be provided in a simple and more intuitive manner by effectively allowing the user to interact with the input area in a way that mimics or approximates a desired action (e.g., moving a ball or bat around by inputting a rotational movement). Examples of such interaction include positional, directional (e.g., rotational), press or pressure input (or movement) which can easily be provided by a thumb or a finger, for example, on a touch screen.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for providing input to multiple executable application programs configured to run at the same time on a mobile device, comprising:
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providing an input area, the input area at least partially spanning a touch surface or button associated with the input device; receiving at at least one first location of the input area an input provided in a particular manner, the manner comprising at least one of a positional input, a directional input, a rubbing input, a pressing input and a pushing input; determining whether the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to a first executable application program running on the mobile device or a second executable application program running on the mobile device, the manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program being different from the manner designated for providing input to the second executable application program; then providing the input to the first executable application program running on the mobile device if determined that the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program; and thereafter providing the input to a second executable application program running on the mobile device if the input is not provided to the first executable application program, wherein the at least one first location of the input area can be used to provide input to multiple applications running at the same time on the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computing device configured to provide input to multiple executable application programs configured to run at the same time on a mobile device using an input area, the input area at least partially spanning a touch surface or button associated with the computing device, the computing device being further configured to:
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receive at at least one first location of the input area an input provided in a particular manner, the manner comprising at least one of a positional input, a directional input, a rubbing input, a pressing input and a pushing input; determine whether the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to a first executable application program running on the mobile device or a second executable application program running on the mobile device, the manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program being different from the manner designated for providing input to the second executable application program; then provide the input to the first executable application program running on the mobile device if determined that the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program; and thereafter provide the input to a second executable application program running on the mobile device if the input is not provided to the first executable application program, wherein at least one first location of the input area can be used to provide input to multiple applications running at the same time on the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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providing an input device having an input area configured to enter input for at least a first active application and a second active application, the input area being configured to receive input associated with the first and second applications at substantially the same time and control the first application while the second application is in progress and control the second application while the first application is in progress, entering input in a particular manner and in connection with at least one first location of the input area, determining, based on the manner of entering the input and the at least one first location of the input area effectively identified by the input, which one of the first and second applications is to receive the input, and providing input to the appropriate application. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification