Pictorial methods for application selection and activation

• US 9,501,694 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Yee, Mong Suan
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US12/276,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,920 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/313, 345/467, 345/156, 345/174, 711/133, 178/18.03, 382/185
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/36 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113

Abstract

Methods and devices provide a quick and intuitive method to launch a specific application, dial a number or send a message by drawing a pictorial key, symbol or shape on a computing device touchscreen, touchpad or other touchsurface. A shape drawn on a touchsurface is compared to one or more code shapes stored in memory to determine if there is a match or correlation. If the entered shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented. The methods also enable communication involving sending a shape or parameters defining a shape from one computing device to another where the shape is compared to code shapes in memory of the receiving computing device. If the received shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented.

Claims

1. A method of communicating, comprising:

receiving in a first computing device a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing received on a touchsurface of the second computing device as a series of movements and touches;

comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape when the received shape correlates to the code shape.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the received shape as a touchsurface user interface command when the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table; and

comparing the received shape parameters to the shape parameters of the code shape comprises comparing the received shape parameters to the data table.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the code shape in memory; and

linking the action to the stored code shape.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein storing the code shape in memory further comprises:

receiving from the second computing device parameters defining a shape; and

storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a sequence of keystrokes; and

storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving identification of an application; and

storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein linking the action to the stored code shape further comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open; and

linking an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein linking the action to the stored code shape further comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface; and

linking an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

11. A first computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing received on a touchsurface of the second computing device as a series of movements and touches;

comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape when the received shape correlates to the code shape.

12. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations further comprising processing the received shape as a touchsurface user interface command when the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

13. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

14. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table in the memory; and

the processor is configured to perform operations such that comparing the received shape parameters to the shape parameters of the code shape comprises comparing the received shape parameters to the data table.

15. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations further comprising:

storing the code shape in memory; and

linking the action to the stored code shape.

16. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations such that storing the code shape in memory comprises:

receiving from the second computing device parameters defining a shape; and

storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape.

17. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a sequence of keystrokes; and

storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

18. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving identification of an application; and

storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

19. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open; and

linking an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

20. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface; and

linking an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

21. A first computing device, comprising:

means for receiving a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing received on a touchsurface of the second computing device as a series of movements and touches;

means for comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

means for implementing an action linked to the stored code shape when the received shape correlates to the code shape.

22. The first computing device of claim 21, further comprising means for processing the received shape as a touchsurface user interface command when the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

23. The first computing device of claim 21, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

24. The first computing device of claim 21, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table; and

means for comparing the received shape parameters to the shape parameters of the code shape comprises means for comparing the received shape parameters to the data table.

25. The first computing device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for storing the code shape in memory; and

means for linking the action to the stored code shape.

26. The first computing device of claim 25, wherein the means for storing the code shape in memory comprises:

means for receiving from the second computing device parameters defining a shape; and

means for storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape.

27. The first computing device of claim 25, wherein the means for linking the action to the code comprises:

means for receiving a sequence of keystrokes; and

means for storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

28. The first computing device of claim 25, wherein the means for linking the action to the code comprises:

means for receiving identification of an application; and

means for storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

29. The first computing device of claim 25, wherein the means for linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

means for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open; and

means for linking an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

30. The first computing device of claim 25, wherein the means for linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

means for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface; and

means for storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory links an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

31. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a first computing device a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing received on a touchsurface of the second computing device as a series of movements and touches;

comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape when the received shape correlates to the code shape.

32. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising processing the received shape as a touchsurface user interface command when the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

33. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 31, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table; and

the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that comparing the received shape parameters to the shape parameters of the code shape comprises comparing the received shape parameters to the data table.

34. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 31, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

storing the code shape in memory linking the action to the stored code shape.

35. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that storing the code shape in memory comprises:

receiving from the second computing device parameters defining a shape; and

storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape.

36. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a sequence of keystrokes; and

storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

37. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving identification of an application; and

storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

38. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open; and

linking an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

39. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that linking the action to the stored code shape comprises:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface; and

linking an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.