Input processing method and input control apparatus

• US 6,930,672 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kuribayashi, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamarre, Guy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alphonse, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/290,419
• Time in Patent Office: 2,317 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 345/163, 178/19.01, 178/19.03, 178/19.04, 178/19.05, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/18.04
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An input processing method and input control apparatus that enable switching between normal operation and hovering operation to be accomplished with a very simple operation in an information processing apparatus that uses a touch input device such as a tablet or the like as an input device. During a period that an improved hovering mode according to the present invention is set active, the time interval between a pen up motion and a subsequent pen down motion is detected. If the time interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined length of time, pen down information to be sent to the OS is set OFF, thereby effecting the hovering operation. On the other hand, if the time interval is shorter than the predetermined length of time, the pen down information to be sent to the OS is set ON, thereby effecting the normal operation. Thus, in the improved hovering mode, with an extra tap of a pen, the immediately following pen operation works as if it were performed in normal mode.

Claims

1. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising;

a first step of detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second step determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

2. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said detected number of occurrences is 2, it is determined that a single click has occurred, and/or when said detected number of occurrences is 3, it is determined that a double click has occurred.

3. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor has a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a step in which said cursor changes from said second state to said first state in response to said touch state indicating information.

4. An input processing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first state is a cursor-clicked state, and/or said second state is a hovering state.

5. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor has a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a step in which said cursor changes from said first state to said second state when said touch motion has ended.

6. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising the steps of:

detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

determining a corresponding mouse operation in accordance with said detected number of occurrences, wherein said corresponding mouse operation determining step determines that a single click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 2, and/or determines that a double click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 3.

7. An input control apparatus for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first unit detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second unit determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences, wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second unit determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

8. An input control apparatus for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising

a first unit detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion;

and

a second unit determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said detected number of occurrences is 2, it is determined that a single click has occurred, and/or when said detected number of occurrences is 3, it is determined that a double click has occurred.

9. An input control apparatus for a touch input device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first unit detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface; and

a second unit determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor has a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a unit for changing said cursor from said second state to said first state in response to said touch state indicating information.

10. An input control apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first state is a cursor-clicked state, and/or said second state is a hovering state.

11. An input control apparatus for a touch input device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising.

a first unit detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface;

and

a second unit determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor has a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a unit changing said cursor from said first state to said second state when said touch motion has ended.

12. An input control apparatus for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a unit detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a unit determining a corresponding mouse operation in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein said corresponding mouse operation determining unit determines that a single click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 2, and/or determines that a double click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 3.

13. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second function for determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second function determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

14. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second function for determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences, including a function for causing said computer to determine that a single click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 2, and/or a function for causing said computer to determine that a double click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 3.

15. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface; and

a second function determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor having a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a function changing said cursor from said second state to said first state in response to said touch state indicating information.

16. A recording medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first state is a cursor-clicked state, and/or said second state is a hovering state.

17. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the length of time of a non-touch state in which no touch motion is performed on said operating surface; and

a second function determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected length of time when a touch motion has occurred, wherein

said device is a device that displays a cursor in a display section, receives a double tap as an equivalent of a single click of a mouse, and receives a triple tap as an equivalent of a double click of a mouse,

said cursor has a first state for directing the processing of a manipulation target displayed in said display section, and a second state for not directing the processing of said manipulation target, and

there is included a function for changing said cursor from said first state to said second state when said touch motion has ended.

18. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a function detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a function determining a corresponding mouse operation in accordance with said detected number of occurrences, wherein said corresponding mouse operation determining function determines that a single click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 2, and/or determines that a double click has occurred when said detected number of occurrences is 3.

19. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein said first step detects the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time,

and wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second step determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

20. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second step determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

21. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein said first step detects the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time,

and wherein when said detected number of occurrences is 2, it is determined that a single click has occurred, and/or when said detected number of occurrences is 3, it is determined that a double click has occurred.

22. An input processing method for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first step of detecting the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time; and

a second step of determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said detected number of occurrences is 2, it is determined that a single click has occurred, and/or when said detected number of occurrences is 3, it is determined that a double click has occurred.

23. An input control apparatus for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, comprising:

a first unit detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second unit detecting information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein said first unit detects the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time,

and wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second unit determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

24. An input control apparatus for a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operation surface, comprising:

a first unit detecting the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time; and

a second unit determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second unit determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

25. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the number of successive occurrences of said touch motion; and

a second function for determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein said first function detects the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time,

and wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second function determines that the state is not the touch state occurrences in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.

26. A recording medium readable by a computer, said computer using a device which provides input by performing a touch motion on an operating surface, said recording medium having a program recorded thereon for causing said computer to implement:

a first function detecting the number of occurrences of said touch motion over a predetermined length of time; and

a second function determining information indicating a touch state in accordance with said detected number of occurrences,

wherein when said number of occurrences is 1, said second function determines that the state is not the touch state occurring in relation to said touch motion, and when said detected number of occurrences is 2 or more, then determines that the state is the touch state.