METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR OPERATING A TOUCHSCREEN

• US 20140015809A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Zay, Daniel James, Stella, Michel G., Amoros, Melissa Del Carmen
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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

Within a display area of a touchscreen, multiple elements are displayed. A location is detected of a physical touch within the display area. In response to determining that an ambiguity exists about which of the elements is being targeted by the physical touch, a menu is displayed on the touchscreen for prompting a user to select between ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within a specified area around the location. The ambiguity is resolved by receiving a selection from the user via the menu.

Claims

1. A method performed by at least one device for operating a touchscreen, the method comprising:

detecting a location of a physical touch within a display area of the touchscreen, wherein a plurality of elements are displayed within the display area;

determining whether an ambiguity exists about which of the elements is being targeted by the physical touch;

in response to determining that the ambiguity exists, displaying a menu on the touchscreen for prompting a user to select between ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within a specified area around the location; and

resolving the ambiguity by receiving a selection from the user via the menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical touch is at least one of:

a single tap at the location;

a double tap at the location; and

a press-and-hold at the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the elements at least partially overlap with one another at the location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified area is at least one of:

a rectangular area;

a square area; and

a circular area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a finger tip.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a tip of a passive stylus object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and wherein the portions include text for identifying their respectively associated elements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and comprising:

in response to a physical touch within one of the portions, highlighting its respectively associated element on the touchscreen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, wherein the physical touch is a first physical touch, and wherein resolving the ambiguity includes:

in response to a second physical touch within one of the portions, resolving the ambiguity by selecting its respectively associated element as being targeted by the first physical touch.

10. The method of claim 1, and comprising:

in response to resolving the ambiguity, enabling the user to perform an operation with the targeted element, wherein the operation includes at least one of deleting, cutting, copying and revising.

11. A system for operating a touchscreen, the system comprising:

at least one device for;

detecting a location of a physical touch within a display area of the touchscreen, wherein a plurality of elements are displayed within the display area;

determining whether an ambiguity exists about which of the elements is being targeted by the physical touch;

in response to determining that the ambiguity exists, displaying a menu on the touchscreen for prompting a user to select between ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within a specified area around the location; and

resolving the ambiguity by receiving a selection from the user via the menu.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the physical touch is at least one of:

a single tap at the location;

a double tap at the location; and

a press-and-hold at the location.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least two of the elements at least partially overlap with one another at the location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the specified area is at least one of:

a rectangular area;

a square area; and

a circular area.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a finger tip.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a tip of a passive stylus object.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and wherein the portions include text for identifying their respectively associated elements.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and wherein the at least one device is for:

in response to a physical touch within one of the portions, highlighting its respectively associated element on the touchscreen.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, wherein the physical touch is a first physical touch, and wherein resolving the ambiguity includes:

in response to a second physical touch within one of the portions, resolving the ambiguity by selecting its respectively associated element as being targeted by the first physical touch.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one device is for:

in response to resolving the ambiguity, enabling the user to perform an operation with the targeted element, wherein the operation includes at least one of deleting, cutting, copying and revising.

21. A computer program product for operating a touchscreen, the computer program product comprising:

a tangible computer-readable storage medium; and

a computer-readable program stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable program is processable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to perform operations including;

detecting a location of a physical touch within a display area of the touchscreen, wherein a plurality of elements are displayed within the display area;

determining whether an ambiguity exists about which of the elements is being targeted by the physical touch;

in response to determining that the ambiguity exists, displaying a menu on the touchscreen for prompting a user to select between ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within a specified area around the location; and

resolving the ambiguity by receiving a selection from the user via the menu.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the physical touch is at least one of:

a single tap at the location;

a double tap at the location; and

a press-and-hold at the location.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein at least two of the elements at least partially overlap with one another at the location.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the specified area is at least one of:

a rectangular area;

a square area; and

a circular area.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a finger tip.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein a size of the specified area is approximately equal to a size of a tip of a passive stylus object.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and wherein the portions include text for identifying their respectively associated elements.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, and wherein the operations include:

in response to a physical touch within one of the portions, highlighting its respectively associated element on the touchscreen.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein portions of the menu are respectively associated with the ones of the elements that are at least partially displayed within the specified area, wherein the physical touch is a first physical touch, and wherein resolving the ambiguity includes:

in response to a second physical touch within one of the portions, resolving the ambiguity by selecting its respectively associated element as being targeted by the first physical touch.

30. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the operations include:

in response to resolving the ambiguity, enabling the user to perform an operation with the targeted element, wherein the operation includes at least one of deleting, cutting, copying and revising.