Object execution method using an input pressure and apparatus executing the same

• US 9,405,367 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Han Chul, Kwon, O Jae, Shin, Chang Beom
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US12/569,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715835-839, 715/863, 715/864, 345173-179
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An object execution method and apparatus is provided for executing an object based on an input pressure level with a haptic feedback indicative of an attribute of the object. An object execution apparatus may include a display unit, an input unit, and a control unit. The display unit may display at least one object. The input unit may detect a selection of an object and/or a pressure level input for executing the object. The control unit may check a reference pressure value preset for the selected object. The reference pressure value may be indicative of attribute information of the object. The control unit may compare an input pressure value of the pressure level input with the reference pressure value, and may determine whether to execute the object based on the comparison result. The input unit comprising a vibration generator may generate a vibration mapped to the reference pressure value.

Claims

1. An object execution method, comprising:

receiving a first input exceeding a first pressure level for executing a first object

executing, in response to the first input, a first application corresponding to the first object and providing a first vibration feedback;

receiving a second input exceeding a second pressure level for executing a second object; and

executing, in response to the second input, a second application corresponding to the second object and providing a second vibration feedback,

wherein a strength of the first pressure level is different from a strength of the second pressure level, and

wherein a strength of the first vibration feedback is different from a strength of the second vibration feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pressure level is stored in attribute information of the first object, and

wherein the attribute information further comprises at least one of a size of the first object, the first priority level of the first object, a number of files contained in the first object, an execution time of the first object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first input is maintained at a pressure greater than a first reference pressure value while the first object is dragged; and

canceling execution of the first object if the first input is not maintained at a pressure greater than the first reference pressure value while the first object is dragged.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pressure level is mapped to a first priority level according to a user configuration.

5. An object execution apparatus, comprising:

a display unit configured to display a first object and a second object;

an input unit configured to detect a first input on the first object and a second input on the second object; and

a control unit configured to;

receive the first input exceeding a first pressure level for execution of the first object,

execute, in response to the first input, a first application corresponding to the first object and providing a first vibration feedback,

receive the second input exceeding a second pressure level for executing the second object, and

execute, in response to the second input, a second application corresponding to the second object and providing a second vibration feedback,

wherein a strength of the pressure level is different from a strength of the second pressure level, and

wherein a strength of the first vibration feedback is different from a strength of the second vibration feedback.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first reference pressure level is stored in attribute information of the first object, and

wherein the attribute information further comprises at least one of a size of the first object, the first priority level of the first object, a number of files contained in the first object, an execution time of the first object.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the object execution apparatus further comprises a host device comprising the display unit and the control unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the host device comprises one of a television, a computer, and a mobile terminal supporting bidirectional communication, and wherein the input unit comprises one of a mouse and a remote control.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the display unit, the control unit, and the input unit are integrated into a terminal having a touchscreen.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

monitor input of a user command through the input unit,

determine if a pointer is placed on the first object displayed in the display unit, and

determine that the first object is selected.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

determine whether the first input is maintained at a greater pressure than a first reference pressure level while the first object is dragged, and

cancel execution of the first object if the first input is not maintained at a greater pressure than the first reference pressure level while the first object is dragged.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a storage unit configured to store an attribute information of the first object, a first reference pressure level indicative of an attribute of the attribute information, and a vibration value corresponding to the first vibration feedback.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first pressure level is mapped to a first priority level according to a user configuration.