Function selection systems and methods

• US 8,477,107 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Chiang, Chi-Pang
• Primary Examiner(s): MERCEDES, DISMERY E
• Application Number:
  US12/558,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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

Function selection system and method for use in an electronic device are provided. The system includes a display unit and a processing unit. The display unit has a display area, and displays a specific region within the display area. The processing unit selects one of a plurality of functions according to a position of the specific region in the display area. The specific region is removable, and used to display data generated by the selected function.

Claims

1. A function selection system for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a display unit having a display area and a touch-sensitive screen, and displaying a specific region within the display area, the specific region is determined by detecting a contact at the touch-sensitive screen within the display area; and

a processing unit selecting one of a plurality of functions according to a position of the specific region in the display area, and displaying a control interface corresponding to the selected function in a region of the display area except the specific region via the display unit in response to the contact detected,

wherein the specific region is removable, and used to display data generated by the selected function,

wherein the processing unit further determines whether the position of the specific region in the display area has been moved, and when the position of the specific region in the display area is moved, re-selects one of the functions according to the position of the moved specific region.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further displays a figure corresponding to the selected function via the display unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines whether the position of the specific region in the display area has been moved by determining whether at least one second contact corresponding to at least one specific position of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen is detected, and whether the second contact is moved.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit further comprises a sensor to detect a position of an input tool, and the processing unit determines whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved by determining whether the detected position of the input tool is moved.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further determines whether contacts respectively corresponding to two edges of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen are detected, and determines whether the contacts have moved closer to each other, and when the contacts are detected and have moves closer to each other, the processing unit locks the display unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit further adjusts a size of the specific region according to the positions of the contacts.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit further determines whether contacts respectively corresponding to the two edges of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen are detected, and determines whether the contacts have moved apart, and when the contacts are detected and does moved apart, the processing unit unlocks the display unit.

8. A function selection method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

detecting a contact on a specific region within a display area of a display unit comprising a touch-sensitive screen;

selecting one of a plurality of functions according to a position of the specific region in the display area;

displaying a control interface corresponding to the selected function in a region of the display area except the specific region via the display unit in response to the contact detected,

wherein the specific region is removable, and used to display data generated by the selected function;

determining whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved; and

when the position of the specific region in the display area is moved, re-selecting one of the functions according to the position of the moved specific region.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a figure corresponding to the selected function via the display unit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved is performed by determining whether at least one second contact corresponding to at least one specific position of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen is detected, and whether the second contact is moved.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one specific position comprises any position on the specific region or at least two edges of the specific region.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved is performed by determining whether a second contact corresponding to a scroll bar displayed in the touch-sensitive screen is detected, and whether the second contact is moved.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved is performed by determining whether a control key is operated, wherein the control key is used to determine the position of the specific region in the display area.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether the position of the specific region in the display area has moved is performed by determining whether a position of an input tool detected by a sensor is moved.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the display unit comprises a touch-sensitive screen, and the method further comprises the steps of:

determining whether contacts respectively corresponding to two edges of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen are detected;

determining whether the contacts have moved closer to each other; and

when the contacts are detected and does move closer to each other, locking the display unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether contacts respectively corresponding to the two edges of the specific region on the touch-sensitive screen are detected;

determining whether the contacts have moved apart; and

when the contacts are detected and does moved apart, unlocking the display unit.