Method for ensuring use intentions of a touch screen device

• US 9,600,103 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allscripts Software LLC (Veradigm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eischeid, Todd Michael, Windell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SPELLMAN, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/840,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/0488 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

Abstract

A method for facilitating the validation of an action by a user utilizing a touch screen device having a processor executing software commands includes providing an initial screen via a GUI displaying certain data fields and functional icons of a particular application. On the touch screen an initial active area is designated in association with certain data fields and functional icons. An end user interacts with the touch screen device generating an input signal. The input signal is received from the touch screen active area by the processor requesting an action. Upon receipt of the input signal, a validation active area on the touch screen is visually displayed. The validation active area is monitored for a secondary input signal generated by an end user interacting with the validation active area. The initial active area is monitored for determining an input signal in association with the initial active area is present.

Claims

1. A method for validating an action of a user utilizing a touch screen device having a processor executing software commands, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via a touchscreen display of an electronic device, a graphical user interface of a medical software application comprising a plurality of data fields and functional icons including a first functional icon associated with a first action;

(b) receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, first touch input in the form of engagement by a first digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying a first functional icon of the functional icons;

(c) updating the displayed graphical user interface of the medical software application to include

(i) a first action confirmation area surrounding the first functional icon, and

(ii) a second action confirmation area surrounding the first action confirmation area;

(d) while continuing to receive the first touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, second touch input in the form of engagement by a second digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the first action confirmation area;

(e) while continuing to receive the first touch input and the second touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, third touch input in the form of engagement by a third digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the second action confirmation area;

(f) in response to overlapping receipt of the first touch input, the second touch input, and the third touch input, effecting performance of the first action associated with the first functional icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first functional icon comprises a delete icon.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first action comprises a delete action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action comprises adjusting settings on a medical device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action comprises adjusting settings for a medical ventilator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action confirmation area is circular and encircles the first functional icon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second action confirmation area is circular and encircles the first action confirmation area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action confirmation area is translucent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second action confirmation area is translucent.

10. A method for validating an action of a user utilizing a touch screen device having a processor executing software commands, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via a touchscreen display of an electronic device, a graphical user interface of a medical software application comprising a plurality of data fields and interface buttons including a first interface button associated with a first action;

(b) receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, first touch input in the form of engagement by a first digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying a first interface button of the interface buttons;

(c) updating the displayed graphical user interface of the medical software application to include

(i) a first action confirmation area surrounding the first interface button, and

(ii) a second action confirmation area surrounding the first action confirmation area;

(d) while continuing to receive the first touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, second touch input in the form of engagement by a second digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the first action confirmation area;

(e) while continuing to receive the first touch input and the second touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, third touch input in the form of engagement by a third digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the second action confirmation area;

(f) in response to overlapping receipt of the first touch input, the second touch input, and the third touch input, effecting performance of the first action associated with the first interface button.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first interface button comprises a delete button.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first action comprises a delete action.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first action comprises adjusting settings on a medical device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first action comprises adjusting settings for a medical ventilator.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first action confirmation area is circular and encircles the first interface button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second action confirmation area is circular and encircles the first action confirmation area.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first action confirmation area is translucent.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the second action confirmation area is translucent.

19. A method for validating an action of a user utilizing a touch screen device having a processor executing software commands, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, to a user via a touchscreen display of an electronic device, a graphical user interface of a software application comprising a plurality of data fields and interface elements including a first interface button associated with a first action;

(b) receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, first touch input in the form of engagement by a first digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying a first interface button of the interface elements;

(c) updating the displayed graphical user interface of the software application to include

(i) a first action confirmation area surrounding the first interface button, and

(ii) a second action confirmation area surrounding the first action confirmation area;

(d) while continuing to receive the first touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, second touch input in the form of engagement by a second digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the first action confirmation area;

(e) while continuing to receive the first touch input and the second touch input, receiving, from the user via the touchscreen display of the electronic device, third touch input in the form of engagement by a third digit of the user with a portion of the touchscreen display displaying the second action confirmation area;

(f) in response to overlapping receipt of the first touch input, the second touch input, and the third touch input, effecting performance of the first action associated with the first interface button.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first action comprises a delete action.