POST-TOUCHDOWN USER INVISIBLE TAP TARGET SIZE INCREASE

• US 20140123060A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: KUSCHER, Alexander Friedrich
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The subject technology discloses configurations for providing detecting a first touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen. The subject technology further determines if the position of the first touch input is within a predetermined distance of a tap target area associated with a graphical element. The tap target area is then expanded by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the tap target area. The subject technology receives a second touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen. It is determined if the position of the second touch input is within the expanded tap target area. The subject technology then selects the graphical element in response to the position of the second touch input being within the expanded tap target area.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

detecting a first touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the first touch input is within a predetermined distance of a tap target area associated with a graphical element;

expanding the tap target area by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the tap target area;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the second touch input is within the expanded tap target area; and

selecting the graphical element in response to the position of the second touch input being within the expanded tap target area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch input is a tap input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the position and the second position are different positions on the touch-sensitive screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second touch input comprises a gesture from the position of the first touch input to the second position of the second touch input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is provided on a web page.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is provided by a user interface of an application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is a button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is a selectable interface object.

9. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

detecting a first touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the first touch input is within a predetermined distance of a plurality of tap target areas respectively associated with a plurality of graphical elements;

identifying a tap target area among the plurality of tap target areas that is closer to the position of the first touch input;

expanding the tap target area by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the identified tap target area;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the second touch input is within the expanded tap target area; and

selecting the graphical element in response to the position of the second touch input being within the expanded tap target area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second touch input comprises a gesture from the position of the first touch input.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the tap target area among the plurality of tap target areas that is closer to the position of the first touch input comprises:

determining respective distances from the position of the first touch input to the respective tap target area of the plurality of tap target areas; and

determining a smallest respective distance among the respective distances from the position of the first touch input; and

identifying a respective tap target area associated with a respective graphical element among the plurality of graphical elements that corresponds to the smallest respective distance.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of graphical elements are provided in a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI comprising a total display area, and each of the plurality of graphical elements are arranged in different display areas within the total display area of the GUI.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance comprises a distance based on a number of pixels.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined amount to increase the area of the tap target area comprises a coefficient to multiply the area of the tap target area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coefficient is greater than 1.

16. A system, the system comprising:

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more modules stored in memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the modules comprising;

a tap target module configured to detect first touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen, determine if the position of the first touch input is within a predetermined distance of a tap target area associated with a graphical element, expand the tap target area by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the tap target area, receive a second touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen, and determine if the position of the second touch input is within the expanded tap target area; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) display module configured to select the graphical element in response to the position of the second touch input being within the expanded tap target area.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tap target module is further configured to:

detect a first respective touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first respective touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determine if the position of the first respective touch input is within a predetermined distance of a plurality of tap target areas respectively associated with a plurality of graphical elements;

identify a respective tap target area among the plurality of tap target areas that is closer to the position of the first respective touch input;

expand the respective tap target area by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the respective tap target area;

receiving a second respective touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second respective touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen; and

determine if the position of the second respective touch input is within the expanded respective tap target area.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the GUI display module is further configured to:

select the graphical element in response to the position of the second respective touch input being within the expanded respective tap target area.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the tap target module is further configured:

determine respective distances from the position of the first respective touch input to the respective tap target area of the plurality of tap target areas; and

determine a smallest respective distance among the respective distances from the position of the first respective touch input; and

identify a respective tap target area associated with a respective graphical element among the plurality of graphical elements that corresponds to the smallest respective distance.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

detecting a first touch input on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the first touch input corresponds with a position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the first touch input is within a predetermined distance of a plurality of tap target areas respectively associated with a plurality of graphical elements;

determining respective distances from the position of the first touch input to the respective tap target area of the plurality of tap target areas;

determining a smallest respective distance among the respective distances from the position of the first touch input;

identifying a respective tap target area associated with a respective graphical element among the plurality of graphical elements that corresponds to the smallest respective distance;

expanding the respective tap target area by a predetermined amount to increase an area of the tap target area;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive screen, wherein the second touch input corresponds with a second position on the touch-sensitive screen;

determining if the position of the second touch input is within the expanded tap target area; and

selecting the graphical element in response to the position of the second touch input being within the expanded tap target area.