Virtual pointing device for touchscreens

• US 5,764,222 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/654,486
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-179, 345/156-157, 345/162, 345/145, 345/189, 395/333-335, 395/348, 395/339, 395/156, 382/124, 382/125
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen. The method includes the steps of measuring at least a first portion of a hand placed on the touchscreen, determining if at least one measurement of the first portion substantially matches any existing measurements stored in the memory, if a substantial match exists, reading the memory for pre-defined characteristics, and building a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen for displaying object icons and text, to create a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least a first portion of a hand placed on the touchscreen;

determining if at least one measurement of the first portion substantially matches any existing measurements stored in the memory;

if a substantial match exists, reading the memory for pre-defined characteristics; and

building a movable virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics such that said displayed object icons and text may be selected utilizing said movable virtual pointing device.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

if a substantial match does not exist, building the virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with generic characteristics.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring step comprises the steps of:

measuring a distance between a thumbprint area of the touchscreen under the thumb of the hand and a palmprint area of the touchscreen under the hand; and

measuring a area of the touchscreen under the palmprint.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring step comprises the step of:

measuring a distance between one or more fingerprint areas of the touchscreen under a finger and a palmprint area of the touchscreen under the palm.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring step comprises the step of:

measuring an area of one or more fingerprint areas under one or more fingers.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining step comprising the step of:

determining if the measurements of the first portion match any existing measurements stored in a database within a percentage tolerance.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of reading the memory for pre-defined characteristics comprises the step of:

searching the memory for size, functionality and pointer sensitivity data.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the building step comprises the following step:

activating at least one area on the touchscreen having a size and functionality in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of:

activating the area on the touchscreen under at least a second portion of the hand, such that the activated area moves in accordance with movement of the second portion of the hand along the touchscreen.

10. A computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen for displaying object icons and text, for creating a virtual pointing device, comprising:

means for measuring at least a first portion of a hand placed on the touchscreen;

means for determining if at least one measurement of the first portion substantially matches any existing measurements stored in the memory;

if a substantial match exists, means for reading the memory for pre-defined characteristics; and

means for building a movable virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics such that said displayed object icons and text may be selected utilizing said movable virtual pointing device.

11. The computer system according to claim 10 further comprising:

if a substantial match does not exist, means for building the virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with generic characteristics.

12. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the measuring means comprises:

means for measuring a distance between a thumbprint area of the touchscreen under the thumb of the hand and a palmprint area of the touchscreen under the hand; and

means for measuring a area of the touchscreen under the palmprint.

13. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the measuring means comprises:

means for measuring a distance between one or more fingerprint areas of the touchscreen under a finger and a palmprint area of the touchscreen under the palm.

14. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the measuring means comprises:

means for measuring an area of one or more fingerprint areas under one or more fingers.

15. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the determining means comprises:

means for determining if the measurements of the first portion match any existing measurements stored in a database within a percentage tolerance.

16. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the means for reading the memory for pre-defined characteristics comprises:

means for searching the memory for size, functionality and pointer sensitivity data.

17. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the building means comprises:

means for activating at least one area on the touchscreen having a size and functionality in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics.

18. The computer system according to claim 10 further comprising:

means for activating the area on the touchscreen under at least a second portion of the hand, such that the activated area moves in accordance with movement of the second portion of the hand along the touchscreen.

19. An article of manufacture comprising:

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen for displaying object icons and text, to create a virtual pointing device, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to measure at least a first portion of a hand placed on the touchscreen;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to determine if at least one measurement of the first portion substantially matches any existing measurements stored in the memory;

if a substantial match exists, computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to read the memory for pre-defined characteristics; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to build a movable virtual pointing device on the touchscreen in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics such that said displayed object icons and text may be selected utilizing said movable virtual pointing device.