User interface for a portable device including detecting close proximity of an ear to allow control of an audio application with a touchscreen

• US 8,655,416 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US13/691,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/556.1, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2477 for selecting a function from a menu display H04M1/2474 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

In a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone with a touchscreen display and a camera, if the camera detects that the user'"'"'s ear is near the touchscreen (indicating that the user is using an audio application such as a phone call, radio player, music player, etc.) then the touchscreen can accept a touch or swipe from the user'"'"'s ear, head, cheek or adjacent area. The adapted input can allow the user to control the audio application such as by swiping to change the volume, channel, song, etc.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting that an ear is in proximity to a portable electronic device;

determining that an audio function is being executed on the portable electronic

device; and

accepting a signal from a touch screen on the portable electronic device to control the audio application, wherein the signal is generated at least in part by the ear touching the touch screen, wherein enabled controls for a detected ear control mode of the audio application are different from a non-ear control mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a camera on the portable electronic device to take a picture of the ear; and

analyzing the picture to conclude that the ear is within a predetermined distance of the portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device includes a mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio function includes a phone call.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control of the audio application in response to the ear touching the touch screen includes ending the phone call.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the control of the audio application in response to the ear touching the touch screen includes muting the phone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio function includes a radio.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control of the audio application in response to the ear touching the touch screen includes changing to a different radio program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio function includes audio playback.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control of the audio application in response to the ear touching the touch screen includes changing the audio playback to a new song.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal from the touch screen is used to control an audio volume.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting the audio volume according to a hardness of pressing of the ear against the touchscreen.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting the audio volume according to a swipe of the ear against the touchscreen.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal from the touch screen is used to control a channel selection.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a portable electronic device;

a digital processor included in the portable electronic device, wherein the digital processor is responsive to instructions for;

detecting that an ear is in proximity to a portable electronic device;

determining that an audio function is being executed on the portable electronic

device; and

accepting a signal from a touch screen on the portable electronic device to control the audio application, wherein the signal is generated at least in part by the ear touching the touch screen, wherein enabled controls for a detected ear control mode of the audio application are different from a non-ear control mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions include:

adjusting a volume of the audio function according to a hardness of pressing of the ear against the touchscreen.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions include:

adjusting a volume of the audio function according to a swipe of the ear against the touchscreen.

18. A processor-readable non-transitory medium including one or more instructions for:

detecting that an ear is in proximity to a portable electronic device;

determining that an audio function is being executed on the portable electronic

device; and

accepting a signal from a touch screen on the portable electronic device to control the audio application, wherein the signal is generated at least in part by the ear touching the touch screen,

wherein enabled controls for a detected ear control mode of the audio application are different from a non-ear control mode.

19. The processor-readable non-transitory medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more instructions includes:

adjusting a volume of the audio function according to a hardness of pressing of the ear against the touchscreen.

20. The processor-readable non-transitory medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more instructions includes:

adjusting a volume of the audio function according to a swipe of the ear against the touchscreen.