Techniques for interactive input to portable electronic devices

• US 20080018616A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Lampell, Michael, Snider, Eric, Berfield, Alan, Lee, Leo, Bertrand, Francois-Yves
• Granted Patent: US 8,933,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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

Techniques for providing input to interactive and multitasking applications are disclosed. A game input area (surface or plane) receives input for multiple applications including an interactive application executed in connection with a scene. The input received is directed to the appropriate application based on one or more locations (e.g., points, positions, regions, portions) of the input area effectively identified when input is received (or entered). In addition, the manner in which input is received (or entered) can be used to determine which application should receive the input. The input area can additionally resemble or approximate the shape of a scene (e.g., game scene) to allow a person to provide input in a more intuitive way. Accordingly, input can be provided in a simple and more intuitive manner by effectively allowing the user to interact with the input area in a way that mimics or approximates a desired action (e.g., moving a ball or bat around by inputting a rotational movement). Examples of such interaction include positional, directional (e.g., rotational), press or pressure input (or movement) which can easily be provided by a thumb or a finger, for example, on a touch screen.

Claims

1. A method for providing input to multiple application programs using an input device that effectively provides an input area for entering input for said multiple applications, said method comprising:

receiving a first input in a first manner and/or in connection with at least one location of said input area;

determining based on said first manner of receiving input and/or said at least one location of said input area whether to provide said first input to a first or a second application;

providing said first input to said first application when said determining determines to provide said first input to said first application; and

providing said first input to said second application when said determining determines to provide said first input to said second application.

2. A method for providing input to multiple application programs using an input device that effectively provides an input area for entering input for said multiple applications, said method comprising:

receiving a first input provided in a first manner;

determining whether said first input is associated with one or more points, positions, portions, or regions of said input area designated to receive input for a first application of said multiple applications;

determining whether said first manner of providing input said first input is a manner designated for providing input to said first application when said determining determines that said first input is associated with one or more points, positions, portions, and/or regions of said input area designated to receive input for said first application; and

providing said first input to said first application when said determining determines that said first manner of inputting said first input is a manner designated for providing input to said first application, thereby providing said first input to said first application when said input is both associated with one or more points, positions, portions, and/or regions designated for said application and provided in a designated manner designated for said first application.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether said first input is associated with one or more points, positions, portions, or regions of said input area designated to receive input for a second application when said determining determines that said first input is not associated with one or more points, positions, portions, and/or regions of said input area designated to receive input for said first application; and

determining whether said first manner of inputting said first input is a manner designated for providing input to said second application when said determining determines that said first input is associated with one or more points, positions, portions, and/or regions of said input area designated to receive input for said second application.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, where wherein said method further comprises:

providing said first input to a second application when it is determined that said first input is not associated with one or more points, positions, portions, or regions of said input area designated to receive input for said first application and/or said determining determines that said first input is not provided in a manner designated for said first application.

5. A method as recited in claim 2,

wherein one of said multiple applications is executed in connection with a first scene displayed on a first display;

and

wherein said input area resembles or approximates said first scene.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said first application is a game or gaming application and said second application is a media player application.

7. An input device for receiving input associated with multiple applications, wherein said input device effectively provides an input surface (or area) for entering input when said input device is operatively connected to a computing system, and wherein when said input device is operatively connected to a computing system:

at least one point, position, portion, and/or region of said input surface can be designated to receive input for a first application when said input is provided in a first manner, and

said at least one point, portion, and/or region of said input surface can be designated to receive input for a second application when said input is provided in a second manner that is different and/or distinguishable from said first manner.

8. A method for executing an application program (or application) in connection with a scene displaying when said application is being executed, said method comprising:

receiving input associated with an input area (or surface) that resembles or approximates the shape of a game scene when said application is initiated, active, and/or being executed, wherein said input effectively identifies one or more points, portions, positions, and/or regions of said input area; and

control and/or manipulate the scene based on said one or more points, portions, positions, and/or regions of said input area.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said application program is a game or gaming application, wherein said scene is a game scene.

10. A method as recited in claim 9,

wherein said input area is configured to receive rotational movement;

and

wherein said controlling and/or manipulating controls and/or manipulates said game scene at least partly based on said rotational movement.

11. A method as recited in claim 10,

wherein said rotational movement is provided as directional movement to the left or right (or counter-clockwise or clockwise);

and

wherein said input area is provided in and/or by a circular input area.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said circular input area is provided by a circular electronic device embedded in a media player.

13. A computer-implemented method for playing a game on a computing system (or device), wherein said game can be played in connection with one or more game objects that are controlled in a game scene displayed on a display during game play when said game is played, said method comprising:

receiving input associated with an input area (surface or plane) that resembles or approximates the shape of a game scene when said game is initiated and/or operable for playing, and wherein said input effectively identifies one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions of said input area; and

controlling at least one game object associated with said game scene based on said one or more points, positions, and/or regions of said input area.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

determining or initiating said input area for receiving input when said game is initiated and/or operable for playing.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

determining one or more corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene that corresponds to said one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions of said input area; and

controlling and/or manipulating said at least one game object in said game scene based on said one or more corresponding points, positions, and/or regions of said input area, thereby allowing a person to visually map one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene to one or more corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said input area.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises one or more of the following:

identifying one or more corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene based on said one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions effectively identified by said input and/or manner of receiving said input;

identifying one or more game objects based on said corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene and/or said one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions effectively identified by said input and/or manner of receiving said input;

determining one or more operations to be performed for said one or more game objects based on said corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene and/or said one or more points, positions, portions and/or regions effectively identified by said input and/or manner of receiving said input; and

performing said one or more operations for said one or more game objects.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 16, wherein said input includes directional input and/or positional input.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein said directional input includes as rotational movement.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein said directional input includes directional movement associated with movement between first and second points, positions, portions and/or regions of said input area.

20. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 13,

wherein said controlling effectively moves said at least one game object between first and second corresponding points, positions, portions and/or regions of said game scene.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said input area is effectively provided by an actual input device that resembles or approximates the shape of said game scene.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said actual device is a circular shaped device embedded in a media player.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said input area is effectively provided as an upper surface of an actual input device and/or a virtual area associated or mapped on an actual input device.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said manner of providing input includes one or more of the following:

directional input;

positional input;

press or pressing input;

rotational input;

push or pushing input; and

touch or rubbing input;

26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said method further comprises:

incrementing and or decrementing a first number by said value to get a second number; and

displaying said second number.

27. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said range is selected for a gaming or gaming application and wherein said input includes rotational movement.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein one or more of the following are used to determine said number within said range:

direction associated with said rotational movement;

distance associated with said rotational movement;

time associated with completion of the said rotational movement;

velocity (or speed) associated with said rotational movement;

acceleration associated with said rotational movement; and

force (or pressure) associated with said rotational movement.

25. A method for allowing a number in a range to be selected by using an input device that effectively provides an input area (or surface) for entering input, said method comprising:

receiving directional and/or positional movement associated with said input area; and

determining based on said directional and/or positional movement a value within said range for selection of said number.

29. A media player, comprising:

an input device that effectively provides an input area (or surface) for multiple applications, wherein said input device is configured to receive input associated with said input area, and said media player is operable to;

manipulate and/or control a game scene associated with a gaming application based on input received in one or more designated manners; and

manipulate and/or control a media player based on input received in one or more other manners.

30. A media player as recited in claim 29,

wherein said one or more designated manners of receiving (or entering) input include one or more of the following:

a directional and positional input, and

wherein said one or more other manners of receiving (or entering) input includes pressing (or pushing) input.

31. A media player as recited in claim 30, wherein said gaming application is music-based game.

32. A media player as recited in claim 31, wherein said music-based game is based on digital data stored by said media-player and/or digital data selected by a person that plays said music-based game.

33. A media player as recited in claim 32, wherein said music-based game is a music trivia or contest that plays one or more audio files as said music-based game is being played by a person.

34. A computing device operable to:

receive input associated with an input area (surface or plane) that resembles or approximates the shape of a scene that can be displayed for a first application when said first application is initiated or operable, and wherein said input effectively identifies one or more locations of said input area; and

control and/or manipulate said scene based on said one or more locations effectively identified by said input.

35. A computing system as recited in claim 34, wherein said location is one or more of the following:

a point, position, portion and a region of the input area.

36. A computing system (or device) configured or operable for providing input to multiple application programs (or applications) by effectively providing an input area (or surface) for entering input for said multiple applications, said computing system is further configured or operable to:

receive a first input in a first manner and in connection with at least one point, position, portion, and/or region of said input area;

determining based on said first manner of receiving (or entering) input and/or said at least one first point, position, portion, and/or region of said input area whether to provide said first input to a first or a second application;

providing said first input to said first application when said determining determines to provide said first input to said first application; and

providing said first input to said second application when said determining determines to provide said first input to said second application.

37. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said input area approximates or resembles a scene associated with said first or second application.

38. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said input area is configured to receive rotational (or circular) movement as input.

39. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said input device is shaped as a circle or approximates a circle, and wherein said rotational (or circular) movement includes left and right rotational (or circular) movement that can be entered on the surface on said input device.

40. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said first or second application is a game or gaming application, and wherein said input area is configured to receive rotational movement and/or positional movement.

41. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said computing system includes one or more of the following:

a personal computer;

a mobile or wireless phone;

a Personal Digital Assistant (or PDA);

a gaming console;

a portable media player;

a digital media player; and

a digital organizer.

42. A computing system as recited in claim 36, wherein said computing system is or includes a media player, and wherein said computing system can also be used to run a game or gaming application.

43. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein said game is a music-based game that is played based on music stored by the media player and/or selected by a person that plays said music-based game.