SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR A MULTI-POINT TOUCH-SENSITIVE SENSOR USER INTERFACE USING DISTINCT DIGIT IDENTIFICATION

• US 20090284480A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Seacat, Lisa A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,035,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 2203/04808 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A computer program product for a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor user interface using distinct digit identification. The computer program product may include a relationship module, an assignment module, a receiving module, a determination module, and an initiation module. The relationship module may determine a relationship between at least two digits. The assignment module may assign a distinct digit identity to each digit of the at least two digits. The receiving module may receive a digit event comprising at least one digit interaction. The determination module may determine a digit identity for each digit involved in the digit event and a digit interaction associated with each digit of the digit event. Finally, the initiation module may initiate a digit event function associated with the determined digit identity and the digit interaction. Therefore, a user has greater control over a device through the interface with each digit having a distinct function and identity.

Claims

1. A computer program product for a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor user interface using distinct digit identification, the computer program product comprising:

a relationship module configured to determine a relationship between at least two digits, the relationship based on an association between the at least two digits, the association registered by and signaled from a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor;

an assignment module configured to assign a digit identity to each digit of the at least two digits, the digit identity assigned based on the relationship between the at least two digits, the digit identity comprising a distinct representation;

a receiving module configured to receive a digit event, the digit event comprising at least one digit interaction, the digit interaction selected from the group consisting of a single digit movement, a plurality of digit movements, a movement of a plurality of digits, a single digit contact, and a plurality of contacts, the digit event registered by and signaled from a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor;

a determination module configured to determine a digit identity for each digit involved in the digit event and a digit interaction associated with each digit of the digit event;

an initiation module configured to initiate a digit event function, the digit event function associated with the determined digit identity and the digit interaction.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the assignment module is further configured to assign a digit identity based on an amount of pressure applied by a digit.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the assignment module is further configured to assign a digit identity based on a relative position of a digit contact point with respect to other digit contact points.

4. A system for a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor digit identifying user interface using distinct digit identification, the system comprising:

a processor;

a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor comprising;

a memory comprising;

a relationship module configured to determine a relationship between the at least two digits, the relationship based on the association between the at least two digits, the association registered by and signaled from a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor;

an assignment module configured to assign a digit identity to each digit of the at least two digits, the digit identity assigned based on the relationship between the at least two digits, the digit identity comprising a distinct representation;

a receiving module configured to receive a digit event, the digit event comprising at least one digit interaction, the digit interaction selected from the group consisting of a single digit movement, a plurality of digit movements, a movement of a plurality of digits, a single digit contact, and a plurality of contacts, the digit event registered by and signaled from a multi-point touch-sensitive sensor;

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