Computing device and method for selecting display regions responsive to non-discrete directional input actions and intelligent content analysis

• US 8,291,348 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Shiplacoff, Daniel, Simon, Gregory, Raju, Renchi
• Primary Examiner(s): Queler, Adam M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, ANDREA NATAE
• Application Number:
  US12/347,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/864, 715/204
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computing device includes a display surface, a human interface feature, and processing resources. The human interface features enables a user of the computing device to enter a non-discrete directional input action. The processing resources execute to: (i) provide content on the display surface; (ii) detect the user performing the input action; (ii) determine a vector from the input action; and (iv) select a region of the display surface based on the vector.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display surface;

processing resources that are configured to;

present content on the display surface, including a plurality of selectable data items on a sub-region of the display surface;

analyze at least a portion of a content on the display surface that includes the plurality of selectable data items to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items, the spacing being determined by performing a density calculation based, at least in part, on a number of data items in the sub-region; and

responsive to determining, based on the density calculation, that the spacing between the selectable data items is less than a pre-determined threshold, redisplay at least a portion the content to enhance the user'"'"'s ability to select a desired data item and not inadvertently select an undesired data item.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources are configured to analyze at least a portion of a content by determining, for individual selectable data items, a proximity of a nearest selectable data item.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the selectable data items correspond to individual links.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources determine the spacing by using document object model information provided by a browser that runs on the computing device.

5. A method for operating a computing device, the method being performed by one or more processors of the computing device and comprising:

presenting content on a display surface of the computing device, including a plurality of selectable data items on a sub-region of the display surface;

analyzing at least a portion of a content on the display surface that includes the plurality of selectable data items to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items, the spacing being determined by performing a density calculation based, at least in part, on a number of data items in the sub-region; and

responsive to determining, based on the density calculation, that the spacing between the selectable data items is less than a pre-determined threshold, redisplaying at least a portion the content to enhance the user'"'"'s ability to select a desired data item and not inadvertently select an undesired data item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein analyzing at least a portion of a content on the display surface includes determining, for individual selectable data items, a proximity of a nearest selectable data item.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the selectable data items correspond to individual links.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein analyzing at least a portion of a content to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items includes using document object model information provided by a browser that runs on the computing device.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

presenting content on a display surface of a computing device, including a plurality of selectable data items on a sub-region of the display surface;

analyzing at least a portion of a content on the display surface that includes the plurality of selectable data items to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items, the spacing being determined by performing a density calculation based, at least in part, on a number of data items in the sub-region; and

responsive to determining, based on the density calculation, that the spacing between the selectable data items is less than a pre-determined threshold, redisplaying at least a portion the content to enhance the user'"'"'s ability to select a desired data item and not inadvertently select an undesired data item.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to analyze at least a portion of a content on the display surface by determining, for individual selectable data items, a proximity of a nearest selectable data item.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the selectable data items correspond to individual links.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to analyze at least a portion of a content to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items by using document object model information provided by a browser that runs on the computing device.