Touch-sensitive input overlay for graphical user interface

• US 20030193481A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: Sokolsky, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/121,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

Abstract

An improved graphical user interfaces system is disclosed that includes a touch-sensitive input overlay. The touch-sensitive input overlay is configured to enable a flexible complementary or replacement input mode for entering and navigating text and information on a traditional graphical user interface, without the aid of a mouse or keyboard. The improved graphical interface system can be embodied in a specially programmed computer system, a computer implemented method, or a computer readable medium configured to cause a computer to perform the underlying method.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface system comprising:

a computer including;

a microprocessor, a display communicatively coupled to the microprocessor and configured to display text and images, and further configured to receive a touch input from a user, and a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, the memory comprising one or more program modules configured to cause the microprocessor to execute a graphical user interface on the display, and in which the one or more program modules are further configured to;

determine a location of a first touch input received on the display;

correlate the first touch input to a control on the graphical user interface;

determine a location to present a touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the control;

place the touch-sensitive input overlay at the location; and

receive a second touch input in the area defined by the touch-sensitive input overlay, the second touch input aiding entry of a parameter into the control.

2. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input overlay includes navigation guides configured to allow navigation within a list box control.

3. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input overlay includes navigation guides configured to allow navigation within a tree control.

4. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input overlay includes a numeric pad for entry of data into the control.

5. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the control includes a location indicator configured to direct placement of the touch-sensitive input overlay in an unobtrusive location relative to the control.

6. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, the one or more program modules further configured to:

receive a first touch gesture at a location in the touch-sensitive input overlay;

receive a second touch gesture at the display; and

move the touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the second touch gesture.

7. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, the one or more program modules further configured to present a control delineator on a border of the touch-sensitive input overlay corresponding to the control.

8. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, the one or more program modules further configured to animate the touch-sensitive input overlay from one or more points corresponding to the control to multiple points corresponding to the location touch-sensitive input overlay.

9. The graphical user interface system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input overlay is semi-transparent.

10. A computer implemented method for a graphical user interface system including instructions for causing one or more processors to perform the acts comprising:

determining a location of a first touch input received on a display;

correlating the first touch input to a control on a graphical user interface presented on the display;

determining a location to present a touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the control;

placing the touch-sensitive input overlay at the location; and

receiving a second touch input in the area defined by the touch-sensitive input overlay, the second touch input aiding entry of a parameter into the control.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in response to receiving the second touch input, the method further comprises the act of navigating a list box control.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in response to receiving the second touch input, the method further comprises the act of navigating a tree control.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a type of touch-sensitive input overlay to present on the display, the type of touch-sensitive input overlay varying depending on information corresponding to the control.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing a location indicator with the control, the location indicator configured to direct placement of the touch-sensitive input overlay in an unobtrusive location relative to the control.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a first touch gesture at a predetermined location in the touch-sensitive input overlay;

receiving a second touch gesture at the display; and

moving the touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the second touch gesture.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a touch-transparent input at a predetermined location on the touch-sensitive input overlay; and

modifying the presentation of the touch-sensitive input overlay such that it is semi-transparent and reveals information from the underlying graphical user interface, in reply to the touch-transparent input.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising presenting a control delineator on a border of the touch-sensitive input overlay corresponding to the control.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising animating the touch-sensitive input overlay from one or more points corresponding to the control to multiple points corresponding to the location touch-sensitive input overlay.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon one or more sequences of instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the acts comprising:

determining a location of a first touch input received on a display;

correlating the first touch input to a control on a graphical user interface presented on the display;

determining a location to present a touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the control;

placing the touch-sensitive input overlay at the location; and

receiving a second touch input in the area defined by the touch-sensitive input overlay, the second touch input aiding entry of a parameter into the control.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein in response to receiving the second touch input, the method further comprises the act of navigating a list box control.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein in response to receiving the second touch input, the method further comprises the act of navigating a tree control.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the act of determining a type of touch-sensitive input overlay to present on the display, the type of touch-sensitive input overlay varying depending on information corresponding to the control.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the act of storing a location indicator with the control, the location indicator configured to direct placement of the touch-sensitive input overlay in an unobtrusive location relative to the control.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the acts of:

receiving a first touch gesture at a predetermined location in the touch-sensitive input overlay;

receiving a second touch gesture at the display; and

moving the touch-sensitive input overlay relative to the touch gesture.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the acts of:

receiving a touch-transparent input at a predetermined location on the touch-sensitive input overlay; and

modifying the presentation of the touch-sensitive input overlay such that it is semi-transparent and reveals information from the underlying graphical user interface, in reply to the touch-transparent input.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the act of presenting a control delineator on a border of the touch-sensitive input overlay corresponding to the control.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions configured to cause one or more microprocessors to perform the act of animating the touch-sensitive input overlay from one or more points corresponding to the control to multiple points corresponding to the location touch-sensitive input overlay.