Hover-over gesturing on mobile devices

• US 8,255,836 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gildfind, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Distefano, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US13/249,677
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/808, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

Aspects of the disclosure may relate to detecting, by a computing device, a first user input comprising a first gesture to interact with a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device. Aspects may also include detecting a second user input comprising a second gesture using the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device. Aspects may also include, responsive to detecting the first user input, initiating a hover mode of interaction in a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, a first gesture received at a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the first gesture comprises a contact with the touch-sensitive screen;

initiating, in response to detecting the first gesture, a hover mode in a graphical user interface displayed at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the hover mode allows a user to trigger an interactive user interface event that comprises displaying graphical information associated with at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface;

in response to detecting the first gesture and while the contact is maintained with the touch-sensitive screen, detecting, by the computing device, a second gesture received at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the second gesture is distinct from the first gesture; and

displaying, at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device during the hover mode and in response to detecting the second gesture, the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface without activating the at least one user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the first user input and detecting the second user input comprises detecting the second user input before the first user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture comprises contacting the touch-sensitive screen in a predefined area of the graphical user interface displayed by the touch-sensitive screen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined area of the graphical user interface comprises a corner region of the graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the predefined area according to a physical orientation of the touch-sensitive screen.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the predefined area according to a selection of a user.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising graphically indicating the location of the predefined area on the touch-sensitive screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the interactive user interface event comprises identifying the at least one user interface element based on a physical location of the second gesture associated with a location of the at least one user interface element displayed in the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein triggering the interactive user interface event comprises identifying the at least one user interface element as a perceptually closest user interface element based on an identified location in the graphical user interface that is associated with a physical location of the second gesture.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating that the hover mode is active to a user in response to initiating the hover mode.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element comprises at least one of an alteration in appearance of the at least one user interface element and a graphical pop-up window that provides information about content associated with the at least one user interface element.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the hover mode comprises initiating the hover mode after maintaining the contact of the first gesture with the touch-sensitive screen for a predetermined duration.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when detecting the second gesture and upon termination of the first gesture, terminating the hover mode with the at least one user interface element.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when detecting the second gesture and upon termination of the first gesture, activating the at least one user interface element.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the hover mode comprises graphically pinning content displayed on the graphical user interface, such that the second gesture does not cause movement of the content in the graphical user interface.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element comprises displaying the graphical information a predefined distance at least one of above, below, and to a side of an identified location in the graphical user interface that is associated with a physical location of the second gesture.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive user interface event comprises providing new content associated with the hover mode.

18. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing one or more programmable processors of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, a first gesture received at a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the first gesture comprises a contact with the touch-sensitive screen;

initiating, in response to detecting the first gesture, a hover mode in a graphical user interface displayed at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the hover mode allows a user to trigger an interactive user interface event that comprises displaying graphical information associated with at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface;

in response to and after detecting the first gesture and while the contact is maintained with the touch-sensitive screen, detecting, by the computing device, a second gesture received at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the second gesture is distinct from the first gesture; and

displaying, at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device during the hover mode and in response to detecting the second gesture, the graphical information associated with at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface, without activating the at least one user interface element.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the interactive user interface event comprises providing new content associated with the hover mode.

20. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

touch-sensitive screen,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

detect a first gesture comprising a contact with the touch-sensitive screen and a second gesture that is distinct from the first gesture;

initiate, in response to detecting the first gesture, a hover mode in a graphical user interface displayed at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the hover mode allows a user to trigger an interactive user interface event that comprises displaying graphical information associated with at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface;

in response to and after detecting the first gesture and while the contact is maintained with the touch-sensitive screen, detect a second gesture received at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device, wherein the second gesture is distinct from the first; and

display, at the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device during the hover mode and in response to detecting the second gesture, the graphical information associated with at least one user interface element in the graphical user interface without activating the at least one user interface element.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the interactive user interface event comprises providing new content associated with the hover mode.