Target disambiguation and correction

• US 9,389,764 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoover, Paul Armistead, Patten, Michael J., Pittappilly, Theresa B., Markiewicz, Jan-Kristian, Garside, Adrian J., Mazeev, Maxim V., Lombardo, Jarrod
• Primary Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US13/117,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 715/711
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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

Various embodiments enable target disambiguation and correction. In one or more embodiments, target disambiguation includes an entry mode in which attempts are made to disambiguate one or more targets that have been selected by a user, and an exit mode which exits target disambiguation. Entry mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, acquisition of multiple targets, selection latency, a combination of multiple target acquisition and selection latency, and the like. Exit mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, movement of a target selection mechanism outside of a defined geometry, speed of movement of the target selection mechanism, and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, via an application, a plurality of links that are part of a webpage;

receiving, via the application, a selection that is ambiguous with respect to whether one of two or more of the plurality of links has been selected;

ascertaining that a selection profile of the selection overlaps two or more of the plurality of links, the selection profile defined as a region of a screen that is physically engaged by the selection;

responsive to the ascertaining that the selection profile overlaps two or more of the plurality of links, determining that the selection at least partially visually occludes one of the two or more links;

displaying visual indicia associated only with the at least partially visually occluded one of the two or more links;

receiving input associated with a link designated by a user; and

performing a selection-related action responsive to receiving the input associated with the link designated by the user;

wherein the visual indicia comprises a highlight or a tooltip.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a selection is performed by way of touch-screen functionality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said application comprises a web browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said input associated with the link designated by the user comprises input that completes a link selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises performing an associated navigation via the application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a highlight.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a tool tip.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia comprises a magnified user interface element.

9. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

displaying, via an application, links that are part of a webpage;

receiving, via the application, a user selection that selects one or more of the links;

ascertaining whether selection completion has exceeded a time threshold;

responsive to the time threshold being exceeded, displaying visual indicia associated with only one of the one or more links based on the user selection;

responsive to detecting movement associated with the selection, maintaining display of the visual indicia associated with the at least one of the one or more links until a speed of the movement associated with the selection exceeds a threshold speed;

receiving input associated with a link designated by the user; and

responsive to receiving input associated with the link designated by the user, performing a selection-related action;

wherein the visual indicia comprises a highlight or a tooltip.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said receiving a selection is performed by way of touch-screen functionality.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said application comprises a web browser.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said input associated with the link designated by the user comprises input that completes a link selection.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said performing comprises performing an associated navigation via the application.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual indicia comprises a tool tip.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

displaying multiple links that are part of a webpage;

receiving a touch selection input of one or more of the multiple links that are part of the webpage;

defining a target point associated with the touch selection input;

defining a geometric shape associated with the target point, the geometric shape having dimensions based on a size of a corresponding area that is physically engaged by the received touch selection input;

ascertaining whether multiple links are contained within a boundary of the geometric shape;

responsive to multiple links being within the boundary of the geometric shape, initiating a target disambiguation technique to ascertain which of the multiple links is intended for selection;

detecting movement of the touch selection input, the movement causing the target point to move;

ascertaining whether the target point is within the boundary of the geometric shape;

responsive to the target point vexing within the boundary of the geometric shape, continuing the target disambiguation technique; and

responsive to the target point not being within the boundary of the geometric shape, terminating the target disambiguation technique;

wherein the visual indicia comprises a highlight or a tooltip.

16. The system claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a circle.

17. The system claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a circle having a radius from between about 6-8 millimeters.

18. The system claim 15, wherein the geometric shape has a dimension that can be set on a per-user basis, based on a size of a corresponding area that is physically engaged by a user'"'"'s finger.

19. The system claim 15, wherein the target disambiguation technique comprises displaying visual indicia associated with one of the links.

20. The system claim 15, further comprising, after terminating the target disintegration technique enabling panning functionality.