Interfacing with a computing application using a multi-digit sensor
First Claim
1. A method performed by a computing device comprising a display and an input device, the method comprising:
- monitoring discrete unbroken strokes inputted by a user of the computing device to detect, among the strokes, first unbroken strokes and second unbroken strokes, each discrete unbroken stroke comprising an uninterrupted input inputted by the user providing input from only a single finger;
the monitoring detecting the first strokes by analyzing features of the strokes to determine that the first strokes have features that correspond to the first strokes;
(i) having been inputted by only a single finger, and (ii) having ended with the single finger having moved substantially in only two predefined directions, and (iii) having never been accompanied by input from any other fingers, the two predefined directions comprising a first direction and then a second direction, the first direction different than the second direction;
each time a first stroke is detected, responding by automatically activating a first function on the computing device;
the monitoring detecting the second strokes by analyzing features of the strokes to determine that the second strokes have features that correspond to (i) having been inputted by only a single finger, and (ii) having ended with the single finger having moved substantially in only the two directions, and (iii) having been accompanied by input from only one other finger that moved substantially in only the second direction; and
each time a second stroke is detected, responding by automatically activating a second function on the computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technology is described for interfacing with a computing application using a multi-digit sensor. A method may include obtaining an initial stroke using a single digit of a user on the multi-digit sensor. A direction change point for the initial stroke can be identified. At the direction change point for the initial stroke, a number of additional digits can be presented by the user to the multi-digit sensor. Then a completion stroke can be identified as being made with the number of additional digits. A user interface signal to can be sent to the computing application based on the number of additional digits used in the completion touch stroke. In another configuration of the technology, the touch stroke or gesture may include a single stroke where user interface items can be selected when additional digits are presented at the end of a gesture.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed by a computing device comprising a display and an input device, the method comprising:
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monitoring discrete unbroken strokes inputted by a user of the computing device to detect, among the strokes, first unbroken strokes and second unbroken strokes, each discrete unbroken stroke comprising an uninterrupted input inputted by the user providing input from only a single finger; the monitoring detecting the first strokes by analyzing features of the strokes to determine that the first strokes have features that correspond to the first strokes;
(i) having been inputted by only a single finger, and (ii) having ended with the single finger having moved substantially in only two predefined directions, and (iii) having never been accompanied by input from any other fingers, the two predefined directions comprising a first direction and then a second direction, the first direction different than the second direction;each time a first stroke is detected, responding by automatically activating a first function on the computing device; the monitoring detecting the second strokes by analyzing features of the strokes to determine that the second strokes have features that correspond to (i) having been inputted by only a single finger, and (ii) having ended with the single finger having moved substantially in only the two directions, and (iii) having been accompanied by input from only one other finger that moved substantially in only the second direction; and each time a second stroke is detected, responding by automatically activating a second function on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method performed by a computing device comprising a display and an input device, the method comprising:
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receiving strokes inputted by a user using the input device, the input device detecting presentation of fingers for input and detecting movement of fingers presented for input; analyzing the strokes inputted by a user with the input device to identify single unbroken strokes substantially having an “
L”
shape, such single unbroken “
L”
shaped strokes having a first segment and a substantially perpendicular second segment, wherein for each of the strokes only a single finger inputs the first and second segments, for first of the strokes no other finger accompanies the single finger when inputting the corresponding second segments, and for second of the strokes another finger accompanies the single finger when inputting the corresponding second segments;for the unbroken “
L”
shaped strokes, determining whether another finger accompanied the single finger when inputting the second segment; andeach time an unbroken “
L”
shaped stroke ends, automatically selecting, from among a first function and a second function according to whether another finger was determined to accompany the single finger. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method performed by a computing device comprising a display and an input device, the method comprising:
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analyzing features of discrete unbroken strokes, inputted by a user presenting a single finger to the input device, to identify target strokes substantially having a shape consisting of a first segment inputted by only the single finger before the single finger inputs a second segment, the first segment connected at an angle with the second segment, the first segment having a different direction than the second segment; each time a target stroke is identified by the analyzing, determining a count of fingers newly presented via the input device substantially at a time when the target stroke'"'"'s second segment is completed by the user via the input device, wherein the one or more newly presented fingers are associated with the target stroke; and whenever a target stroke ends, performing a first step or a second step according to the corresponding determined count of fingers for the ending target stroke, wherein at least some of the target strokes have a count of a first number, and at least some of the target strokes have a count of second number, and wherein when the count of a target stroke is the first number the first step is performed, and when the count is the second number the second step is performed and the first step is not performed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification