Proximity interface apparatuses, systems, and methods

• US 8,954,896 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Frazier, Kristopher T., Roberts, Brian F., Higa, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, RYAN S
• Application Number:
  US13/951,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 715/862
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen is maintained, an object is detected within the object detection zone, one or more of the levels are selected based on one or more attributes of the object, and an action associated with the selected one or more levels is performed. In certain examples, the action includes modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, by a computing device, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen, wherein each level within the plurality of levels is beyond a level of effective contact with the display screen;

detecting, by the computing device, an object within the object detection zone;

selecting, by the computing device, a distance level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the display screen based on a first attribute of the object, the first attribute of the object comprising a distance between the object and the display screen;

selecting, by the computing device, a second level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the display screen based on a second attribute of the object, the second attribute of the object being of a different type than the first attribute of the object, and the second level being of a different type than the distance level; and

performing, by the computing device, an action based on the combination of the selected distance level and the selected second level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second level comprises at least one of a speed level, a trajectory level, a position level, and an acceleration level.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second attribute of the object comprises at least one of a speed of object, a trajectory of the object, a position of the object within the object detection zone, and an acceleration of the object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the speed of the object comprises a speed of the object in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the display screen.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the speed of the object comprises a speed of the object in a direction that is perpendicular to a surface of the display screen.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the trajectory of the object is with respect to a surface of the display screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance between the object and the display screen comprises a distance between the object and a location of a graphic displayed on the display screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action comprises modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the modifying includes changing at least one of a resolution, a detail level, an orientation, a brightness, and content of a graphic included in the graphical user interface view.

10. The method of claim 1, embodied as computer-executable instructions on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium.

11. A method comprising:

maintaining, by a computing device, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone adjacent to a touch screen display, wherein each level within the plurality of levels is beyond a level of effective contact with the touch screen display;

detecting, by the computing device, an object within the object detection zone;

selecting, by the computing device, a first level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the touch screen display based on a first attribute of the object;

selecting, by the computing device, a second level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the touch screen display based on a second attribute of the object; and

performing, by the computing device, an action based on a combination of the selected first and second levels;

wherein;

the first attribute of the object comprises a first type of attribute;

the first level comprises a first type of level;

the second attribute of the object comprises a second type of attribute different from the first type of attribute; and

the second level comprises a second type of level different from the first type of level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first type of level comprises one of a distance level, a speed level, a trajectory level, a position level, and an acceleration level; and

the second type of level comprises a different one of the distance level, the speed level, the trajectory level, the position level, and the acceleration level.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first attribute of the object comprises a distance between the object and the display screen; and

the first level comprises a distance level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the second attribute of the object comprises one of a speed of the object, a trajectory of the object with respect to a surface of the display screen, a position of the object within the object detection zone, and an acceleration of the object; and

the second level comprises;

a speed level when the second attribute of the object comprises the speed of the object;

a trajectory level when the second attribute of the object comprises the trajectory of the object with respect to the display screen;

a position level when the second attribute of the object comprises the position of the object within the object detection zone; and

an acceleration level when the second attribute of the object comprises the acceleration of the object.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting, by the computing device, at least one other level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the display screen based on at least one other attribute of the object;

wherein the performing of the action is further based on the selected at least one other level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one other attribute of the object comprises at least one other type of attribute different from the first and second types of attributes; and

the at least one other level comprises at least one other type of level, different from the first and second types of levels.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing of the action comprises modifying, based on the selected first and second levels, a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.

18. The method of claim 11, embodied as computer-executable instructions on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium.

19. A system comprising:

at least one computing device comprising a processor and including;

a storage facility configured to store data representative of a proximity heuristic, the proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone adjacent to a touch screen display, wherein each level within the plurality of levels is beyond a level of effective contact with the touch screen display; and

a proximity interface facility communicatively coupled to the storage facility and configured to;

detect an object located within the object detection zone,

select a first level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the touch screen display based on a first attribute of the object and in accordance with the proximity heuristic,

select a second level from the plurality of levels beyond the level of effective contact with the touch screen display based on a second attribute of the object and in accordance with the proximity heuristic, and

initiate performance of an action based on a combination of the selected first and second levels;

wherein;

the first attribute of the object comprises a first type of attribute;

the first level comprises a first type of level;

the second attribute of the object comprises a second type of attribute different from the first type of attribute; and

the second level comprises a second type of level different from the first type of level.