Pressure-based interaction for indirect touch input devices
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented process comprising:
- receiving into memory information describing contact points on a touch device into memory;
receiving into memory z-direction information from the touch device;
generating in memory state information related to the contact points according to the z-direction information, by applying a plurality of thresholds to the z-direction information, the plurality of thresholds defining a plurality of states, the plurality of states including at least an idle state, an engage state associated with a first threshold for entry to the engage state, and an engage locked state associated with a second threshold for entry to the engage locked state, the second threshold exceeding the first threshold;
wherein the engage locked state is entered by a transition from any other state when the z-direction information exceeds the second threshold; and
wherein after entry into the engage locked state, the engage locked state is exited by a change in the z-direction information to below the second threshold and then over the second threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an indirect interaction input device, z-information can be considered in defining a user interaction model for the device. Any measurement of displacement in a z-direction can be used, if such information is available from the input device. The pressure data can be used to define states of interaction, with transitions between these states determined by various thresholds. The device can provide raw or normalized data, and can provide state information or data defining its thresholds that specify state transitions. This information can be provided as an attribute of a contact point provided by the device. Data can be normalized across various similar devices. Applications can use the raw pressure data from the device for their own purposes, or rely on the device itself or host operating system software to interpret the pressure data according to thresholds and states.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented process comprising:
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receiving into memory information describing contact points on a touch device into memory; receiving into memory z-direction information from the touch device; generating in memory state information related to the contact points according to the z-direction information, by applying a plurality of thresholds to the z-direction information, the plurality of thresholds defining a plurality of states, the plurality of states including at least an idle state, an engage state associated with a first threshold for entry to the engage state, and an engage locked state associated with a second threshold for entry to the engage locked state, the second threshold exceeding the first threshold; wherein the engage locked state is entered by a transition from any other state when the z-direction information exceeds the second threshold; and wherein after entry into the engage locked state, the engage locked state is exited by a change in the z-direction information to below the second threshold and then over the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a memory; a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to execute the following steps; receiving into memory information describing contact points on the touch device into memory; receiving into memory z-direction information from the touch device; generating in memory state information related to the contact points according to the z-direction information, by applying a plurality of thresholds to the z-direction information, the plurality of thresholds defining a plurality of states, the plurality of states including at least an idle state, an engage state associated with a first threshold for entry to the engage state, and an engage locked state associated with a second threshold for entry to the engage locked state, the second threshold exceeding the first threshold; wherein the engage locked state is entered by a transition from any other state when the z-direction information exceeds the second threshold; and wherein after entry into the engage locked state, the engage locked state is exited by a change in the z-direction information to below the second threshold and then over the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer system having a touch device, comprising:
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a contact tracking module having an input for receiving data from a touch device and an output providing, to memory, information describing contact points on the touch device; a z-information tracking module having an input for receiving data from the touch device and an output providing, to the memory, state information related to the contact points according to the z-direction information, according to a plurality of thresholds, the plurality of thresholds defining a plurality of states, the plurality of states including at least an idle state, an engage state associated with a first threshold for entry to the engage state, and an engage locked state associated with a second threshold for entry to the engage locked state, the second threshold exceeding the first threshold, wherein the engage locked state is entered by a transition from any other state when the z-direction information exceeds the second threshold, and wherein after entry into the engage locked state, the engage locked state is exited by a change in the z-direction information to below the second threshold and then over the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification