Time based touch screen input recognition

• US 9,262,065 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Pechanec, Jiri, Macik, Pavel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sitta, Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYAN, MIHIR K
• Application Number:
  US13/034,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A time based touch screen input recognition system detects a touch on a touch screen display. The system determines a length of the touch and identifies a function corresponding to the length of touch. The system causes a processing device to implement the corresponding function.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processing device, a touch on a touch screen display;

receiving a first signal indicating a start of the touch;

starting a timer in response to the first signal;

monitoring a length of the touch as the touch continues;

determining a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer, the current time period comprising one of a plurality of time periods, wherein each of the plurality of time periods corresponds to one of a plurality of functions;

identifying, by the processing device, a current function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the current time period, wherein a number of the plurality of time periods, lengths of the plurality of time periods, the plurality of functions, and which of the plurality of functions corresponds to each of the plurality of time periods are customizable through a user interface provided on the touch screen display; and

receiving a second signal indicating an end of the touch;

stopping the timer at a final value in response to the second signal;

determining a final time period using the final value of the timer;

identifying a final function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the final time period; and

causing the processing device to implement the final function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the length of the touch comprises measuring, by the timer, a period of time between the start of the touch and the end of the touch.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein determining the current time period and the final time period comprises utilizing a command table storing one or more time period values corresponding to the plurality of time periods.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying a function corresponding to the length of the touch comprises utilizing the command table storing one or more functions corresponding to the one or more time period values.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on the touch screen display, an indication of the current function corresponding to the current time period, wherein the current time period comprises a time between the start of the touch and the current time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

updating the displayed indication to indicate a function corresponding to a subsequent time period when the time between the start of the touch and the current time reaches the subsequent time period.

7. A system comprising:

a memory to store a touch screen display driver; and

a processing device operatively coupled to the memory, the processing device to execute the touch screen display driver to;

detect a touch on a touch screen display;

receive a first signal indicating a start of the touch;

start a timer in response to the first signal;

monitor a length of the touch as the touch continues;

determine a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer, the current time period comprising one of a plurality of time periods, wherein each of the plurality of time periods corresponds to one of a plurality of functions;

identify a current function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the current time period, wherein a number of the plurality of time periods, lengths of the plurality of time periods, the plurality of functions, and which of the plurality of functions corresponds to each of the plurality of time periods are customizable through a user interface provided on the touch screen display;

receive a second signal indicating an end of the touch;

stop the timer at a final value in response to the second signal;

determine a final time period using the final value of the timer;

identify a final function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the final time period; and

cause the processing device to implement the final function.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device, monitors the length of the touch by measuring a period of time between the start of the touch and the end of the touch.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device to utilize a command table storing one or more time period values to determine the current time period and the final time period, wherein identifying a function corresponding to the length of the touch comprises utilizing the command table storing one or more functions corresponding to the one or more time period values corresponding to the plurality of time periods.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device is further to display, on the touch screen display, an indication of the current function corresponding to the current time period, wherein the current time period comprises a time between the start of the touch and the current time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing device is further to update the displayed indication to indicate a function corresponding to a subsequent time period when the time between the start of the touch and the current time reaches the subsequent time period.

12. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed cause a processing device to:

detect, by the processing device, a touch on a touch screen display;

receive a first signal indicating a start of the touch;

start a timer in response to the first signal;

monitor, by the processing device, a length of the touch as the touch continues on the touch screen display;

determine a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer, the current time period comprising one of a plurality of time periods, wherein each of the plurality of time periods corresponds to one of a plurality of functions;

identify, by the processing device, a current function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the current time period, wherein a number of the plurality of time periods, lengths of the plurality of time periods, the plurality of functions, and which of the plurality of functions corresponds to each of the plurality of time periods are customizable through a user interface provided on the touch screen display;

receive a second signal indicating an end of the touch;

stop the timer at a final value in response to the second signal;

determine a final time period using the final value of the timer;

identify a final function, of the plurality of functions, corresponding to the final time period; and

cause the processing device to implement the final function.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein to determine monitor the length of the touch the instructions to cause the processing device to measure, by the timer, a period of time between the start of the touch and the end of the touch.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein to determine the current time period and the final time period the instructions to cause the processing device to utilize a command table storing one or more time period values.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the operations instructions to cause the processing device further to:

identify a function corresponding to the length of the touch by utilizing the command table storing one or more functions corresponding to the one or more time period values corresponding to the plurality of time periods.

16. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations instructions to cause the processing device further to:

display, on the touch screen display, an indication of the current function corresponding to the current time period, wherein the current time period comprises a time between the start of the touch and the current time.

17. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations instructions to cause the processing device further to:

update the displayed indication to indicate a function corresponding to a subsequent time period when the time between the start of the touch and the current time reaches the subsequent time period.