Rendering content around obscuring objects

• US 9,405,391 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mackraz, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brittingham, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US13/975,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers

Abstract

Techniques for reflowing content on a handheld electronic device are described herein. For example, content may be rendered on a display of a handheld electronic device. A user may grasp the device. In some cases, grasping the device may cause at least a portion of the rendered content to be obscured. The device may reflow the rendered content. For example, the device may reflow the content around the grasp of the user to enable the rendered content to be viewed without the user'"'"'s grasp being altered.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying content on a touch-sensitive display;

detecting a touch input on a first area of the touch-sensitive display;

fitting a shape to the first area;

determining a second area that encompasses the first area, wherein determining the second area comprises;

determining a first line at a diagonal to an edge of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first line is about parallel to an axis of the shape and extends to the edge of the touch-sensitive display, and wherein the first line comprises a first bound to the second area, and

determining a second line that is about perpendicular to the edge of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the second line extends to the edge of the touch-sensitive display, and wherein the second line comprises a second bound to the second area; and

redisplaying the content outside the second area of the touch-sensitive display.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein redisplaying the content comprises:

shifting a position of the content in a direction that the content avoids being displayed in the second area.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein redisplaying the content comprises:

resizing a display element of the content to create a resized display element, the display element comprising at least one of text, an image, an icon, or a video window; and

altering a position of the resized display element to avoid the second area.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein redisplaying the content comprises:

determining that the touch input comprises a hold event; and

redisplaying the content based at least partly on determining that the touch input comprises the hold event.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein determining that the touch input comprises the hold event comprises:

determining that a length of time associated with the touch input is greater than a predetermined time threshold.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein determining that the touch input comprises the hold event comprises:

determining that an amount of pressure exerted by the touch input is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the shape comprises one of a circle or an ellipse.

8. A method comprising:

detecting a touch input on a display device;

fitting a shape to the touch input;

determining a major axis associated with the shape;

determining a first area on one side of the major axis, wherein the first area is bounded by a first line that is approximately perpendicular to an edge of the display device, wherein the first line extends to the edge of the display device;

determining a second area on an opposite side of the major axis relative to the first area, wherein the second area is bounded by a second line that is approximately at a diagonal to the edge of the display device, and wherein the second line extends to the edge of the display device;

determining a third area comprising a sum of the first area, the second area, and an area of the shape; and

arranging content displayed on the display device to exclude the third area.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the shape comprises an ellipse.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the touch input comprises a hold event.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining that the touch input comprises the hold event comprises:

determining a touch profile of the touch input;

comparing the touch profile with one or more stored profiles, the stored profiles including at least one of a stylus profile, a finger profile, a thumb profile, or a palm profile; and

determining that the touch profile corresponds to a profile of the one or more stored profiles.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining that the touch input comprises the hold event comprises:

determining one or more of a size of the touch input, a force of the touch input, or a length of time associated with the touch input; and

determining that the touch input comprises the hold event based on one or more of;

comparing a size of the touch input to a threshold size;

comparing a force of the touch input to a predetermined force threshold;

or

comparing a length of time associated with the touch input with a threshold time period.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein arranging the content displayed on the display device to exclude the third area comprises:

shifting at least a portion of the content that is displayed away from the third area.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein arranging the content displayed on the display device to exclude the third area comprises:

resizing at least a portion of the content that is displayed to fit a portion of the display device that excludes the third area.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a display device;

one or more processors executing instructions to perform operations comprising;

displaying content on the display device;

detecting a touch input on a first area of the display device;

determining a first line that is approximately parallel to a major axis of the first area, wherein the first line is at a diagonal to an edge of the display device, and wherein the first line extends to the edge of the display device;

determining a second line that is approximately perpendicular to an edge of the display device, the second line extending to the edge of the display device;

determining a second area based at least partly on the first area, the first line, and the second line; and

displaying the content on a portion of the display device that excludes the second area.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein the touch input on the first area of the display device is detected using at least one of:

a touch sensor associated with the display device, a touch sensor associated with a bezel of the display device, a camera, a strain gauge, or a light sensor.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein displaying the content on the portion of the display device that excludes the second area comprises:

determining a user preference associated with displaying the content;

modifying a size of the content to create modified content; and

displaying the modified content on the portion of the display device that excludes the second area based at least partly on the user preference.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein modifying the size of the content to create modified content comprises:

modifying a size of one or more of an image element, a video element, or text included in the content.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 15, the operations further comprising:

determining a location of the touch input on the display device;

determining that the touch input comprises a hold event based at least partly on the location of the touch input on the display device.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 18, the operations further comprising:

determining an orientation of the electronic device;

determining that the touch input comprises a hold event based at least partly on the orientation of the electronic device.