MULTI-TOUCH SURFACE INTERACTION

• US 20110074703A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Black, Jonathan S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• 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 2221/032 Protect output to user by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computing device including a multi-touch surface, and a method of operation thereof are described. The method comprises: detecting a customer'"'"'s hand placed palm downwards on the multi-touch surface and detecting the customer'"'"'s hand pivoting upwards from the detected palm downwards position so that an edge of the hand is placed on the multi-touch surface. The method also comprises displaying a private interaction window located adjacent to, and on the palm side of, the customer'"'"'s hand; and communicating private data on the private interaction window. The private interaction window is dimensioned to be shielded by the customer'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing device including a multi-touch surface, the method comprising:

detecting a customer'"'"'s hand placed palm downwards on the multi-touch surface;

detecting the customer'"'"'s hand pivoting upwards from the detected palm downwards position so that an edge of the hand is placed on the multi-touch surface;

displaying a private interaction window located adjacent to, and on the palm side of, the customer'"'"'s hand, the window being dimensioned to be shielded by the customer'"'"'s hand; and

communicating private data on the private interaction window.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a private interaction window includes the sub-step of dimensioning the private interaction window based on a size of the customer'"'"'s hand measured during the step of detecting a customer'"'"'s hand placed palm downwards.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a private interaction window includes the sub-step of dimensioning the private interaction window based on an angle between the customer'"'"'s smallest finger and the edge of the palm of the customer'"'"'s hand.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the further step of allowing the customer to enlarge the private interaction window up to a predetermined maximum size.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the further step of removing the private interaction window in response to detecting the customer'"'"'s hand being lifted off the multi-touch surface.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of removing the private interaction window in response to detecting the customer'"'"'s hand being lifted off the multi-touch surface includes the sub-step of ascertaining if the customer'"'"'s hand is replaced in substantially the same place within a predetermined time before removing the private interaction window to ensure that the customer has not unintentionally lifted their hand.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of removing the private interaction window in response to detecting the customer'"'"'s hand being lifted off the multi-touch surface includes the sub-step of ascertaining if the customer'"'"'s hand is replaced in substantially the same place within a predetermined time after removing the private interaction window, and re-displaying the private interaction window at the same location as previously.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein re-displaying the private interaction window at the same location as previously includes the further sub-step of maintaining the state of an application after re-displaying the private interaction window.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of validating that the customer'"'"'s hand is placed on the multi-touch surface in a manner consistent with previous interactions by that customer during the same transaction.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the manner consistent with previous interactions comprises the customer placing a hand in a zone previously touched by the customer in the same transaction or interaction.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of communicating private data on the private interaction window comprises receiving private data input by the customer.

12. A network of multi-touch surface computing devices installed within a branch, each multi-surface computing device being operable to implement the method of claim 1.

13. A computer program comprising program instructions operable to implement all of the steps of the method of claim 1.

14. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein the computer program is embodied on a record medium.

15. Apparatus for viewing personal information using a multi-touch surface, the apparatus comprising:

a multi-touch surface; and

a computer in communication with the multi-touch surface,

the computer being operable to;

(i) detect a customer'"'"'s hand placed palm downwards on the multi-touch surface;

(ii) detect the customer'"'"'s hand pivoting upwards from the detected palm downwards position so that an edge of the hand is placed on the multi-touch surface;

(iii) display a private interaction window located adjacent to, and on the palm side of, the customer'"'"'s hand, the window being dimensioned to be shielded by the customer'"'"'s hand; and

(iv) communicate private data on the private interaction window.