Method and apparatus for determining an active input area

• US 9,690,599 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bose, Raja, Brakensiek, Jrg
• Primary Examiner(s): SALVUCCI, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US12/826,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20110242122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,555 Days
• Field of Search: 345530-545, 709217-227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/04 Partial updating of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

Various methods for determining an active input area are provided. One example method includes acquiring frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed and detecting a cursor within the frame buffer data. Detecting the cursor may include determining that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection, and the example method may further include directing transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

acquiring frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed;

detecting a cursor indicating an active input area within the frame buffer data, wherein detecting the cursor includes determining that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection; and

directing transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment, wherein the transmitted coordinates and dimensions of the image area comprise an active text input area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the frame buffer data includes scanning buffered data associated with a single display region to identify the frame buffer data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the cursor within the frame buffer data includes determining that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap being one of a collection of predefined cursor bitmaps that define a cursor template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the cursor within the frame buffer data includes:

determining a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determining that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the cursor within the frame buffer data includes:

determining a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determining that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data do not match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the cursor within the frame buffer data includes determining that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap having been generated from a vector description.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein directing transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area includes directing transmission of position information for an active text input area to the remote environment.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

acquire frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed;

detect a cursor indicating an active input area within the frame buffer data, wherein the apparatus caused to detect the cursor includes being caused to determine that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection; and

direct transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment, wherein the transmitted coordinates and dimensions of the image area comprise an active text input area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to acquire the frame buffer data includes being caused to scan buffered data associated with a single display region to identify the frame buffer data.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data includes being caused to determine that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap being one of a collection of predefined cursor bitmaps that define a cursor template.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data includes being caused to:

determine a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determine that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data includes being caused to:

determine a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determine that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data do not match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data includes being caused to determine that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap having been generated from a vector description.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus caused to direct transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area includes being caused to direct transmission of position information for an active text input area to the remote environment.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile terminal;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal through the use of a display and configured to respond to user inputs, and a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal, the display and the display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a communications interface configured to transmit information to the remote environment.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having executable computer-readable program code instructions stored therein, the instructions for causing an apparatus to:

acquire frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed;

detect a cursor indicating an active input area within the frame buffer data, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to detect the cursor include the instructions for causing the apparatus to determine that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection; and

direct transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment, wherein the transmitted coordinates and dimensions of the image area comprise an active text input area.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to acquire the frame buffer data include instructions for causing the apparatus to scan buffered data associated with a single display region to identify the frame buffer data.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data include instructions for causing the apparatus to determine that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap being one of a collection of predefined cursor bitmaps that define a cursor template.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data include instructions for causing the apparatus to:

determine a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determine that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data include instructions for causing the apparatus to:

determine a color value of a given pixel defined by the frame buffer data; and

determine that color values of select other pixels defined by the frame buffer data do not match the color value of the given pixel, the select other pixels having pixel positions corresponding to pixel positions defined by a predefined cursor bitmap.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to detect the cursor within the frame buffer data include instructions for causing the apparatus to determine that the frame buffer data matches a predefined cursor bitmap, the predefined cursor bitmap having been generated from a vector description.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing the apparatus to direct transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area include instructions for causing the apparatus to direct transmission of position information for an active text input area to the remote environment.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for acquiring frame buffer data defining an image area that has been refreshed;

means for detecting a cursor indicating an active input area within the frame buffer data, wherein means for detecting the cursor includes determining that dimensions of the image area match dimensions of a previously acquired image area associated with a successful cursor detection; and

means for directing transmission of coordinates and dimensions of the image area to a remote environment, wherein the transmitted coordinates and dimensions of the image area comprise an active text input area.