User Interface for a Large Scale Multi-User, Multi-Touch System

• US 20110055729A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Obscura Digital Company
• Original Assignee: Obscura Digital Company
• Inventors: Mason, Steven, Cornell, Nikolai, Lundback, Niklas, Haggerty, Ammon, Harville, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• 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 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A large scale multi-user, multi-touch system with a specialized zone-based user interface including methods for space management and spatial apportioning of audio cues. The system comprises a multi-touch display component fabricated in dimensions sufficient for at least a plurality of users and for displaying projected images and for receiving multi-touch input. The apparatus includes a plurality of image projectors, a plurality of cameras for sensing multi-touch input and the apparatus includes interface software for managing user space. The interface software implements techniques for managing multiple users using the same user interface component by allocating physical spaces within the multi-touch display component and coordinating movement of displayed objects between the physical spaces. Embodiments include a plurality of audio transducers and methods for performing audio spatialization using the plurality of audio transducers corresponding to the physical spaces, apportioning of volume levels to the audio transducers based on movement of a displayed object.

Claims

1. A method for managing multiple users using the same user interface component, the method comprising:

allocating a first physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component for use by a first user;

allocating a second physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component for use by a second user;

allocating a third physical space for attracting users; and

coordinating movement of at least one object between physical spaces allocated within the boundary of the same user interface component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first physical space is a rectangle and the second physical space is a rectangle and the second physical space does not overlap the first physical space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating a third physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component consumes substantially all of the space of the user interface component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating a first physical space commences when a first user touches at least one object from within the third physical space.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein allocating a first physical space includes reducing the allocated size of the third physical space.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein allocating a first physical space includes populating the first physical space with a plurality of objects including a copy of the least one object from within the third physical space.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein allocating a first physical space includes locating the first adjacent to the third physical space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating a second physical space commences when a second user touches at least one object from within the third physical space.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein allocating a second physical space includes reducing the allocated size of the first physical space.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein allocating a second physical space includes shuffling the first physical space away from the third physical space.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating movement of at least one object between physical spaces comprises receiving at least one multi-touch gesture

12. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating movement of at least one object between physical spaces comprises tossing the at least one object from the first physical space into the region of the second physical space.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating movement of at least one object between physical spaces comprises tossing the at least one object from the first physical space into the region of the second physical space, wherein the periphery of the first physical space and the periphery of the second physical space does not abut.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein coordinating movement of at least one object between physical spaces comprises emitting a sound during the movement.

15. A method for managing multiple users using the same user interface component, the method comprising:

allocating a first physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component;

displaying a plurality of objects on said user interface component inside said first physical space;

receiving touch input from a user; and

allocating a second physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component for use by said user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving touch input from a user includes a trace gesture defining a new user physical space.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein allocating a second physical space includes reducing the size of at least one physical space.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein allocating a second physical space includes shifting center locations of one or more user physical spaces.

19. A method for managing multiple users using the same user interface component, the method comprising:

allocating a first physical space within the physical boundary of the user interface component for use by a first user;

displaying a plurality of objects on said user interface component outside said first physical space;

receiving input from a user to select one of said objects; and

allocating a second physical space centered around said object selected, and within the physical boundary of the user interface component for use by a second user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein allocating a second physical space includes use of a set of pre-defined rules to govern resizing and shifting of previously allocated user physical spaces.