Selection device for touchscreen systems

• US 5,896,126 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/705,026
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175, 345/177, 345/178, 345/179
• 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

An apparatus, method, and memory direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen device (e.g., a touchscreen or a touchpad and display device) to execute at least one action on an object and/or text. The method includes detecting at least one item (e.g., fingers, stylus) placed on the touchscreen device, counting the number of items placed on the touchscreen device, determining if an associated action corresponds to the numbers of items and, if an associated action corresponds to the number of items, executing the associated action.

Claims

1. A method for directing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen device to execute at least one action, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting at least one item placed on the touchscreen device;

(b) counting the number of items placed on the touchscreen device;

(c) determining if an associated action corresponds to the numbers of items and displaying at least one number on the touchscreen device indicating the number of items required to be placed on the touchscreen device to invoke the associated action; and

(d) if an associated action corresponds to the number of items, executing the associated action.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

detecting sound, heat, or pressure from at least one finger of a hand.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the touchscreen device comprises a touchscreen.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the touchscreen device comprises a touchpad.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises the step of:

counting the number of fingers and/or thumb placed on the touchscreen device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

displaying at least one number on a display device, wherein the number corresponds to the number of fingers and/or thumb required to be placed on a touchpad to invoke the action.

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

if an associated action does not correspond to the number of items, cancelling a previous action.

8. A computer system having at least a touchscreen device for executing at least one action comprising:

(a) means for detecting at least one item placed on the touchscreen device;

(b) means for counting the number of items placed on the touchscreen device;

(c) means for determining if an associated action corresponds to the numbers of items and for displaying at least one number on the touchscreen device indicating the number of items required to be placed on the touchscreen device to invoke the associated action; and

(d) if an associated action corresponds to the number of items, means for executing the associated action.

9. The system according to claim 8 further comprising:

means for detecting sound, heat, or pressure from at least one finger of a hand.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the touchscreen device comprises a touchscreen.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein the touchscreen device comprises a touchpad.

12. The system according to claim 8 further comprising:

means for counting the number of fingers and/or thumb placed on the touchscreen device.

13. The system according to claim 12 further comprising:

means for displaying at least one number on a display device, wherein the number corresponds to the number of fingers and/or thumb required to be placed on a touchpad to invoke the action.

14. The system according to claim 8 further comprising:

if an associated action does not correspond to the number of items, means for cancelling a previous action.

15. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to execute at least one action;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system, having at least a touchscreen, to detect at least one item placed on the touchscreen device;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system to count the number of items placed on the touchscreen device and for displaying at least one number on the touchscreen device indicating the number of items required to be placed on the touchscreen device to invoke an associated action; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer system to determine if an associated action corresponds to the numbers of items, in response to an associated action corresponding to the number of items, execute the associated action.