Enhanced zooming functionality

• US 8,839,154 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bestle, Nikolaj Heiberg, Kraft, Christian Rossing
• Primary Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US12/347,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 715/788, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method includes detecting an image presented on a display area of a device; detecting a pointing device input on a touch sensitive area of a device; determining that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive area; and activating a zoom functionality of the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a touch sensitive keypad area providing associated keypad functionality to be presented on a touch sensitive area of a device;

determining whether an image is being presented on a display area of the device;

detecting a pointing device input on the touch sensitive area of the device;

determining whether the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area;

determining whether the input corresponds to a keypad input; and

in an instance in which it is determined that an image is being presented on the display area of the device, that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area, and that the input does not correspond to a keypad input;

activating a zoom functionality of the device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting movement of the pointing device on the touch sensitive area and wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising deactivating the zooming function when the pointing device is released from the touch sensitive area.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area, wherein activating the zoom functionality comprises activating the zoom functionality in an instance in which the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising that the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area are two fingers of a user.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising detecting a movement of the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area, wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising detecting that the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area are released and deactivating the zooming function of the device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the keypad area and associated keypad functionality to be removed and deactivated from the touch sensitive area of the display in an instance in which it is determined that an image is being presented on the display area of the device, that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area, and that the input does not correspond to a keypad input.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising causing the keypad area to be re-presented and re-activated on the touch sensitive area of the display when the pointing device is removed from the touch sensitive area for at least a pre-determined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the display area is separate from the touch sensitive area.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising that the detected contact is a short press or a press and hold of the pointing device for a pre-determined period.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a notification when the zoom function is activated.

13. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code portions, the computer program code portions being configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to at least:

cause a touch sensitive keypad area providing associated keypad functionality to be presented on a touch sensitive area of a device;

determine whether an image is being presented on a display area of a device;

detect a pointing device input on the touch sensitive area of the device;

determine whether the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area;

determine whether the input corresponds to a keypad input; and

in an instance in which it is determined that an image is being presented on the display area of the device, that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area, and that the input does not correspond to a keypad input;

activate a zoom functionality of the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to detect movement of the pointing device on the touch sensitive area and wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to deactivate the zooming function when the pointing device is released from the touch sensitive area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to:

determine whether the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area, and activate the zoom functionality in an instance in which the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to cause the keypad area and associated keypad functionality to be removed and deactivated from the touch sensitive area of the display in an instance in which it is determined that an image is being presented on the display area of the device, that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area, and that the input does not correspond to a keypad input.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to cause the keypad view and functionality to be re-presented and re-activated on the touch sensitive area of the display when the pointing device is removed from the touch sensitive area for at least a pre-determined period of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising that the display area of the apparatus is separate from the touch sensitive area.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer program code portions therein, the computer program code portions being configured to, upon execution in a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

cause a touch sensitive keypad area providing associated keypad functionality to be presented on a touch sensitive area of a device;

determine whether an image is being presented on a display area of the device;

detect a pointing device input on the touch sensitive area of the device;

determine whether the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area;

determine whether the input corresponds to a keypad input; and

in an instance in which it is determined that an image is being presented on the display area of the device, that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive keypad area, and that the input does not correspond to a keypad input;

activate a zoom functionality of the device.