Radial menus with bezel gestures

• US 9,367,205 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hinckley, Kenneth P., Yatani, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): KEATON, SHERROD L
• Application Number:
  US12/709,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 715/704, 715/708, 715/863, 715/834, 715/702
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting a bezel menu on a device configured to be accessed using a bezel gesture in which a device bezel is used as an input mechanism, the device bezel being configured to sense a touch input that starts only on the device bezel, the device further being configured to sense movement of the touch input that started only on the device bezel onto a display device associated with the device, the touch input that starts only on the bezel and which is sensed to occur only on the bezel, and the touch input that occurs on the display device defining a continuous swiping bezel gesture input;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping bezel gesture input performed by a touch input of one finger, providing an indication of a first functionality;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping bezel gesture input performed by a touch input of two or more fingers, providing an indication of a second functionality different from the first functionality, the first functionality or the second functionality comprising one or more radial menus associated with the bezel menu;

responsive to sensing touch input associated with functionality comprising the one or more radial menus, making accessible through user input the one or more radial menus;

receiving user input associated with one of the radial menus; and

accessing, responsive to the user input, a functionality associated with the radial menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the one or more radial menus appears on a slot or icon of the bezel menu.

3. The method of claim 1, the making accessible further comprising visually presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a touch and stroke in a particular direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed without visually presenting the radial menu.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the radial menu includes visual indicia associated with different functionalities or commands.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the presenting the radial menu is performed responsive to a hover input over or near the indication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of options presented by a radial menu varies depending on a location of a corresponding slot or icon of the bezel menu with which the radial menu is associated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one radial menu is associated with an exposable drawer associated with the bezel menu.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more radial menus are implemented to include a novice mode in which radial menus are visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands, and an expert mode in which radial menus are not visually presented in order to enable access to associated functionalities or commands.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memory components comprising stored computer executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising;

presenting a bezel menu responsive to detecting a touch input that starts on a corresponding device bezel and movement of the touch input that started on the device bezel onto a display device associated with the corresponding device, the touch input that starts on the device bezel and the movement of the touch input onto a display device defining a continuous swiping gesture input;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping gesture input performed by a touch input of one finger, providing an indication of a first functionality;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping gesture input performed by a touch input of two or more fingers, providing an indication of a second functionality different from the first functionality, the first functionality or the second functionality comprising one or more radial menus associated with the bezel menu;

responsive to sensing touch input associated with functionality comprising the one or more radial menus, making accessible through user input the one or more radial menus;

receiving user input associated with one of the radial menus; and

accessing, responsive to the user input, a functionality associated with the radial menu.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the indication of the one or more radial menus appears on a slot or icon of the bezel menu.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising visually presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the user input comprises a touch and stroke in a particular direction.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving is performed without visually presenting the radial menu.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the radial menu includes visual indicia associated with different functionalities or commands.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprising prior to receiving the user input, presenting the radial menu relative to which the user input is to be received, wherein the presenting the radial menu is performed responsive to a hover operation over or near the indication.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein a number of options presented by a radial menu varies depending on a location of a corresponding slot or icon of the bezel menu with which the radial menu is associated.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one radial menu is associated with an exposable drawer associated with the bezel menu.

20. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memory components comprising stored computer executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising;

presenting a bezel menu on a device configured to be accessed using a bezel gesture in which a device bezel is used as an input mechanism, the device bezel being configured to sense a touch input that starts only on the device bezel, the device further being configured to sense movement of the touch input that started only on the device bezel onto a display device associated with the device, the touch input that starts only on the bezel and which is sensed to occur only on the bezel, and the touch input that occurs on the display device defining a continuous swiping bezel gesture input;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping bezel gesture input performed by a touch input of one finger, providing an indication of a first functionality;

responsive to sensing the continuous swiping bezel gesture input performed by a touch input of two or more fingers, providing an indication of a second functionality different from the first functionality, the first functionality or the second functionality comprising one or more radial menus associated with the bezel menu;

responsive to sensing touch input associated with functionality comprising the one or more radial menus, making accessible through user input the one or more radial menus;

rotating the one or more radial menus based on an orientation of the device;

receiving user input associated with one of the radial menus; and

accessing, responsive to the user input, a functionality associated with the radial menu.