Self-healing and diagnostic screen

• US 8,860,681 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Arnold, Nicole M., Do, Lydia M., Nesbitt, Pamela A., Seacat, Lisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US13/944,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-186, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

A device and computer program product for determining a level of cleanliness of a multi-touch screen display, characterizing objects that make contact with the screen, and initiating a specific maintenance action on the screen, based on screen cleanliness and the object(s) characterization(s). A screen diagnostic and maintenance (SDM) utility initiates a number of procedures to determine the type of object(s) and a set of characteristics of object(s) that make contact with the touch screen. Based on the results of the procedures, the SDM utility characterizes/identifies the object(s). In addition, the SDM utility initiates maintenance screen check(s) based on information stored in maintenance configuration file(s). Based on the results of the maintenance check(s), configuration file(s) data and type and characterization of the object(s) that have made contact with the screen, the SDM utility determines the type of maintenance that is performed and the timing/schedule of the maintenance action(s).

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory system coupled to the processor and which stores one or more of a maintenance configuration file, a maintenance records file, and an object recognition facility that facilitates characterization of objects;

a multiple detection touch screen;

a screen maintenance facility executing on the processor and which provides a number of maintenance actions, including one or more notifications; and

a screen diagnostic and maintenance (SDM) utility which when executed by the processor enables the electronic device to;

detect an occurrence of a contact by the object with the touch screen;

automatically determine a set of characteristics of the object following the occurrence of the contact with the touch screen;

dynamically activate a set of maintenance actions to enhance a level of cleanliness of the touch screen, based on one or more determined factors from the set of characteristics; and

display a list of maintenance tasks to be completed by a user to execute one or more of the maintenance actions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the SDM utility further enables the electronic device to:

store data pertaining to the set of characteristics of the object; and

perform a number of maintenance checks at specific time intervals based on one or more of;

(1) a set of configuration data; and

(2) a set of data stored in one or more files of maintenance records and results.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein to automatically determine the set of characteristics the SDM utility enables the electronic device to:

identify the set of characteristics of the object with an application of one or more of;

(1) a temperature measurement of the object;

(2) a weight measurement of the object;

(3) a determination of a location of the object on the screen;

(4) an image capture of the object;

(5) determining a type of the object with an aid of a set of applications which set includes one or more applications based on an object recognition technology;

(6) a determination of a set of physical dimensions of the object;

(7) a determination of a physical state of the object;

(8) a determination of a mobility of the object;

(9) a determination of a viscosity of the object; and

track one or more of a set of dynamic characteristics of the object with an update of values from one or more of said procedures.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

detecting an occurrence of a contact includes simultaneously detecting multiple objects at one or more areas of the touch screen with the aid of a multi-detection mechanism; and

determining the set of characteristics includes determining the set of characteristics of the multiple objects.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said activating further comprises the SDM utility enabling the electronic device to:

trigger the set of maintenance actions as a result of one or more of the following factors;

(1) a characteristic of a detected object;

(2) a threshold level attained following the occurrence of the contact, wherein said threshold is based on a number of factors contained within a maintenance configuration file;

(3) an elapsed time interval since a last maintenance action;

(4) an identified level of screen cleanliness that is determined by one or more procedures, including utilization of opacity sensors;

(5) a time of day;

(6) a level of interaction between a user and the touch screen; and

(7) a set of configuration data.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a screen maintenance facility, which provides a number of maintenance actions, including one or more of the following;

(1) a visual highlighting notification;

(2) a sound notification; and

(3) a sensory and temperature notification;

wherein the SDM utility further enables the electronic device to;

apply the set of maintenance actions, including one or more of the following;

(1) a visual change in a particular screen location;

(2) an audio alert;

(3) a usage restriction of the screen area;

(4) a temperature alert;

(5) a modification of a pixel resolution around the particular area;

(6) a constant indicator, wherein said constant indicator includes one or more of and is not limited to the following;

(a) a visual effect that includes a highlighting mechanism facilitated by a display of one or more of icons and arrows on the screen at a location within a preset range of distances to the affected area;

(b) a touch sensory mechanism that includes one or more of a heating and cooling of an affected screen area when touched by the object; and

(c) an audio sensory mechanism that includes a sound that increases in sound level when an object is positioned within a defined proximity of the affected area;

(7) an application of a transparent film to the screen surface; and

(8) a utilization of a wiper mechanism that dispenses cleaning material across the screen surface.

7. The device of claim 6, said SDM utility further enables the electronic device to:

execute the maintenance action via the displayed list, wherein a user is able to interact with said list to indicate a completion of one or more tasks on the list;

provide a maintenance action via an external screen protection device, wherein said screen protection device has a blue-tooth capability, which enables communication between the protection device and the electronic device in order to provide an appropriate set of details of the affected area of the screen to the protection device; and

detect one or more defects in one or more display screen pixels; and

in response to detecting a defect in one or more display screen pixels, trigger a set of maintenance actions based on the defect of the display screen pixels;

wherein a discovery of said defect of the screen pixels is facilitated by one or more maintenance actions which include a cleaning action of the touch screen, wherein said maintenance actions enable an identification of a persistent problem with the screen display, which is not attributable to the level of cleanliness of the screen; and

wherein said defect of the screen pixels is confirmed by a set of results obtained by a test of the screen pixels.

8. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable device; and

program code on said computer readable device that when executed by a processing device having a touch screen display (touch screen), enables the processing device to perform the functions of;

receiving data indicating a detection of an occurrence of a contact by one or more objects with the touch screen;

automatically determining a set of characteristics of the one or more objects following the occurrence of the contact with the touch screen;

dynamically activating a set of maintenance actions to enhance a level of cleanliness of the touch screen, based on one or more determined factors from the set of characteristics; and

displaying a list of maintenance tasks to be completed by a user to execute one or more of the maintenance actions.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein for at least one object of the one or more objects, said program code further comprises code for:

identifying the set of characteristics of the object with an application of one or more of the following procedures;

(1) a temperature measurement of the object;

(2) a weight measurement of the object;

(3) a determination of a location of the object on the screen;

(4) an image capture of the object;

(5) determining a type of the object with an aid of a set of applications which set includes one or more applications based on an object recognition technology;

(6) a determination of a set of physical dimensions of the object;

(7) a determination of a physical state of the object;

(8) a determination of a mobility of the object;

(9) a determination of a viscosity of the object;

tracking one or more of a set of dynamic characteristics of the object with an update of values from one or more of said procedures;

storing data pertaining to the set of characteristics of the object; and

performing a number of maintenance checks at a set of specific time intervals based on one or more of the following;

(1) a set of configuration data; and

(2) a set of data stored in one or more files of maintenance records and results.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said code for activating further comprises code for:

triggering the set of maintenance actions as a result of one or more of the following factors;

(1) a characteristic of a detected object;

(2) a threshold level attained following the occurrence of the contact, wherein said threshold is based on one or more factors contained within a maintenance configuration file;

(3) an elapsed time interval since a last maintenance action;

(4) an identified level of screen cleanliness that is determined by one or more procedures, including utilization of opacity sensors;

(5) a time of day;

(6) a level of interaction between a user and the touch screen; and

(7) a set of configuration data.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising code for:

applying the set of maintenance actions, including one or more of the following;

(1) a visual change in a particular screen location;

(2) an audio alert;

(3) a usage restriction of the screen area;

(4) a temperature alert;

(5) a modification of a pixel resolution around the particular area; and

(6) a constant indicator, wherein said constant indicator includes one or more of and is not limited to the following;

(a) a visual effect that includes a highlighting mechanism facilitated by a display of one or more of icons and arrows on the screen at a location within a preset range of distances to the affected area;

(b) a touch sensory mechanism that includes one or more of a heating and cooling of an affected screen area when touched by the object; and

(c) an audio sensory mechanism that includes a sound that increases in sound level when an object is positioned within a defined proximity of the affected area;

(7) an application of a transparent film to the screen surface; and

(8) a utilization of a wiper mechanism that dispenses cleaning material across the screen surface.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising code for:

enabling execution of the maintenance action via the displayed list, wherein a user is able to interact with said list to indicate a completion of one or more tasks on the list;

providing a maintenance action via an external screen protection device, wherein said screen protection device has a blue-tooth capability, which enables communication between the protection device and the electronic device in order to provide an appropriate set of details of the affected area of the screen to the protection device;

detecting one or more defects in one or more display screen pixels; and

in response to detecting a defect in one or more display screen pixels, triggering a set of maintenance actions based on the defect of the display screen pixels;

wherein a discovery of said defect of the screen pixels is facilitated by one or more maintenance actions which include a cleaning action of the touch screen, wherein said maintenance actions enable an identification of a persistent problem with the screen display, which is not attributable to the level of cleanliness of the screen; and

wherein said defect of the screen pixels is confirmed by a set of results obtained by a test of the screen pixels.