Method and apparatus for displaying graphical user interface depending on a user's contact pattern

• US 9,176,650 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Yong Gook, Park, Min Kyu, Choo, Hee Jeong, Kim, Hyun Ki, Kim, Hyun Jin, Kwak, Ji Yeon, Lim, Eun Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van
• Application Number:
  US14/297,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20140289655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed on a display unit in an apparatus which may include a tactile sensor unit. When a contact by a user is detected at the tactile sensor unit, a control unit may receive a contact detection signal therefrom. Based on the contact detection signal, the control unit may determine a contact pattern and may then display the GUI corresponding to the contact pattern. The GUI may be displayed and modified depending on the location and pressure of contacts by a user'"'"'s manipulating fingers. Therefore, a user can manipulate the apparatus without any inconvenience or accidental touches.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a touch input on at least one lateral side of an apparatus;

determining at least one graphical user interface (GUI) element based on an application executed in association with the apparatus;

displaying, via a display unit associated with the apparatus, the at least one GUI element;

detecting, in association with detecting the touch input, a drag input on the display unit; and

executing, according to the drag input, a function based on the at least one GUI element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a location of the at least one GUI element is determined according to a location of the touch input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input is a tap on the at least one lateral side of the apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit is a touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises executing an application corresponding to the at least one GUI element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises changing at least one display characteristic of the at least one GUI element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input is a contact to a tactile sensor unit located on the at least one lateral side of the apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the at least one GUI element comprises determining a GUI arranging pattern based on the executed application and a contact pattern of the touch input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detection of the drag input is substantially contemporaneous with detection of the touch input.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor unit configured to detect a touch input on at least one lateral side of the apparatus;

a touch screen configured to detect a drag input, detection of the drag input being in association with detection of the touch input; and

a control unit configured to;

determine at least one graphical user interface (GUI) element based on an application executed in association with the apparatus,

cause, at least in part, the at least one GUI element to be displayed via the touch screen, and

execute, according to the drag input, a function based on the at least one GUI element.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a location of the at least one GUI element is determined according to a location of the touch input.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the touch input is a tap on the at least one lateral side of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to execute an application corresponding to the at least one GUI element.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one display characteristic of the at least one GUI element.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises a tactile sensor unit, the tactile sensor unit being disposed on the at least one lateral side of the apparatus; and

the touch input is a contact to the tactile sensor unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a GUI arranging pattern based on the executed application and a contact pattern of the touch input.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein detection of the drag input is substantially contemporaneous with detection of the touch input.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

detect a touch input to at least one lateral side of the apparatus;

determine, based on an application executed in association with the apparatus, at least one graphical user interface (GUI) element;

present, via a display unit, the at least one GUI element;

detect, in association with detection of the touch input, a drag input on the display unit; and

execute, according to the drag input, a function based on the at least one GUI element.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein execution of the function comprises modification of at least one display characteristic of the at least one GUI element.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein detection of the drag input is substantially contemporaneous with detection of the touch input.