Hard tap

• US 20060132456A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anson, David Leininger Adolphson
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,966 B2
• 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

Abstract

The use of variable-pressure taps in computer interfaces is disclosed in which tap inputs cause different functions to execute depending on the pressure applied by the tap. A hard tap is interpreted when a user makes rapid contact with the input surface, exceeding a threshold pressure within a threshold time, possibly without exceeding a threshold distance from the initial point of contact. Operating systems, applications, and other software may interpret a hard tap as a unique input, or as a double-click, right click, etc.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for responding to a user interaction, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving a tap upon a display surface of a display device;

(2) determining whether the tap is a hard tap;

(3) responsive to determining that the tap is a hard tap, performing a first function; and

(4) responsive to determining that the tap is not a hard tap, performing a second function, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) further comprises:

(2a) evaluating whether the pressure of the tap over time exceeds a configurable threshold pressure within a configurable time threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (2) further comprises:

(2b) evaluating whether the location of the tap over time falls inside a configurable threshold distance.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(2c) responsive to steps (2a) and (2b) both evaluating in the affirmative, determining that the tap is a hard tap.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function is a left button click.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is a double click.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is a right button click.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is a middle click.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is a scroll wheel click.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is displaying an on-screen keyboard.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the second function is launching an application.

12. A computer-readable medium for storing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

13. A computer-implemented method for performing a function responding to a tap, the method comprising:

(1) receiving a tap input from an input device;

(2) evaluating whether a pressure of the tap input exceeds a configurable threshold pressure; and

(3) performing either a first function or a different second function in response to and depending upon the pressure of the tap input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first function is a left button click.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second function is a double click.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second function is a right button click.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second function is displaying an on-screen keyboard.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second function is launching an application.

19. A computer-readable medium for storing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 13.