Touch screen input technique

• US 6,943,778 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mansikkaniemi, Tapio, Astala, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/714,941
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/179, 345/863, 345/864, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/2.1, 345/2.3, 178/18.1, 178/18.01, 178/19.01, 709217-219
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/022 Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/042 for monitor identification
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/045 using multiple communication channels, e.g. parallel and serial

Abstract

A technique for inputting data, such as selecting a particular function of electronic device, using a touch screen of the electronic device, includes detecting when an object, such as a finger or a stylus or a pointed object, is touching the touch screen and detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen. The location of the object touching the touch screen is also detected. The time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen is detected. A determination of the data being inputted, such as the particular function of the electronic device being selected, is made based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration. The detecting that the object is touching the touch screen may include detecting that a pressure of the object on the touch screen is greater than a predetermined value and the detecting that the object is no longer touching the catch screen may include detecting that the pressure of the object on the touch screen is less than a predetermined value. The measuring of the time duration may include determining which of a predetermined group of time duration ranges the measured time duration is within.

Claims

1. A method of inputting data at a wireless device using a touch screen, the method comprising:

receiving configuration information at the wireless device from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

detecting an object touching the touch screen;

detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen;

detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

determining inputted data based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein;

the configuration information received from the first server affects a second server and wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the object is touching the touch screen comprises detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being greater than a predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen comprises detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being less than a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining whether or not the time duration is greater than a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining whether the time duration is less than or equal to a first predetermined value or greater than the first predetermined value and less than or equal to a second predetermined value or greater than the second predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining which of a predetermined plurality of time duration ranges the measured time duration is within.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the object touching the touch screen comprises detecting one of a finger or a stylus or a pointed object touching the touch screen.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the server receives the configuration information from a configuration tool manager of management server.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining inputted data corresponds to showing a hidden text under a touch input.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first server is a configuration management server and the second server is a service providing server for the wireless device.

11. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a touch screen for inputting data;

a touch detector for detecting an object touching the touch screen;

a location detector for detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

another touch detector for detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and a time duration measuring unit for measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

a data determination unit for determining inputted data based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration, and

wherein the wireless apparatus receives configuration information from a server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings and the apparatus is authenticated by a server at a family level of authentication for a family session.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the location detector detects the location of the object on the touch screen by detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the x and y coordinates correspond to a particular file location.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch detector detects that the object is touching the touch screen by detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being greater than a predetermined value.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the another detector detects when the object is no longer touching the touch screen by detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being less than a predetermined value.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining whether or not the time duration is greater than a predetermined value.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining whether the time duration is less than or equal to a first predetermined value or greater than the first predetermined value and less than or equal to a second predetermined value or greater than the second predetermined value.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining which of a predetermined plurality of time duration ranges the measured time duration is within.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the object comprises one of a finger or a stylus or a pointed object.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the server receives the configuration information from a configuration tool manager of a management server.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is authenticated at a private level of authentication to initiate a private session.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the private session allows a user of the wireless apparatus access to specific information and services unique to the user.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the user may access the specific information and services unique to the user from any wireless apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the private level authentication is initiated upon request from a user of the wireless apparatus.

25. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the family level authentication is based on an identity of hardware of the wireless apparatus, the authentication occurring one of automatically when the wireless apparatus is powered on or upon request from the wireless apparatus.

26. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wireless apparatus can access all information and services that are available to all other wireless apparatus in the family session.

27. A method of selecting a particular function on a wireless electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:

receiving configuration information at the wireless electronic device from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

detecting an object touching the touch screen;

detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

determining the particular function of the electronic device based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein

the configuration information received from the first server affects a second server and wireless device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein detecting the location of the object on the touch screen comprises detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the x and y coordinates correspond to a particular file location.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein detecting that the object is touching the touch screen comprises detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being greater than a predetermined value.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen comprises detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being less than a predetermined value.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining whether or not the time duration is greater than a predetermined value.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining whether the time duration is less than or equal to a first predetermined value or greater than the first predetermined value and less than or equal to a second predetermined value or greater than the second predetermined value.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein measuring the time duration comprises determining which of a predetermined plurality of time duration ranges the measured time duration is within.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein detecting the object touching the touch screen comprises detecting one of a finger or a stylus or a pointed object touching the touch screen.

36. The method according to claim 27, wherein the server receives the configuration information from a configuration tool manager of management server.

37. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first server is a configuration management server and the second server is a service providing server for the wireless device.

38. A wireless electronic device having an apparatus for selecting a particular function of the electronic device using a touch screen, the electronic device comprising:

wireless connection interface for receiving configuration information from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

a touch detector for detecting an object touching the touch screen;

a location detector for detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

another touch detector for detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and a time duration measuring unit for measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen;

a data determination unit for determining the particular selected function based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein

the configuration information received from the first server affects a second server and wireless device.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the location detector detects the location of the object on the touch screen by detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the x and y coordinates correspond to a particular file location.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the touch detector detects that the object is touching the touch screen by detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being greater than a predetermined value.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the another detector detects when the object is no longer touching the touch screen by detecting a pressure of the object on the touch screen being less than a predetermined value.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining whether or not the time duration is greater than a predetermined value.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining whether the time duration is less than or equal to a first predetermined value or greater than the first predetermined value and less than or equal to a second predetermined value or greater than the second predetermined value.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the measuring unit measures the time duration by determining which of a predetermined plurality of time duration ranges the measured time duration is within.

46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the object comprises one of a finger or a stylus or a pointed object.

47. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the server receives terminal configuration information from a configuration tool manager of management server.

48. The method according to claim 38, wherein the first server is a configuration management server and the second server is a service providing server for the wireless device.

49. A system including at least one wireless device using a touch screen, the system comprising:

at least one wireless device, each said wireless device operatively connected to a network;

a mobile display appliance (MDA) server, the MDA server operatively connected to the network and providing services to the at least one wireless device;

a business site, the business site operatively connected to the network and including a global address server and a global upgrade server, the global address server providing a network address to each at least one wireless device of their respective MDA server; and

a management server, the management server operatively connected to the network and including a configuration tool manager that controls at least one of user profile specific user interface configuration settings, terminal specific user interface configuration settings, software component upgrades and program upgrades,

wherein each at least one wireless device including stored instructions, the instructions when executed causing the wireless device to perform;

receiving configuration information at the wireless device from the management server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

detecting an object touching the touch screen;

detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen;

detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

determining inputted data based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein

the device is authenticated by the MDA server and at a family level of authentication for a family session.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein the MDA server provides services to the at least one wireless device related to email, calendar, notes, ability to shop online, authentication and third party services and information.

51. The system according to claim 49, wherein each said wireless device is operatively connected to the network via the service provider.

52. The system according to claim 49, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

53. The system according to claim 49, wherein each at least one wireless device stores a network address of the global address server.

54. The system according to claim 49, wherein each at least one wireless device stores a network address of the MDA server.

55. The system according to claim 49, wherein the MDA server includes an application server, a support server, a network application server and a directory server.

56. The system according to claim 55, wherein the support server includes an upgrade services unit, a login services unit, a profile services unit, an advertisement services unit, an administrative services unit, and a defined services unit.

57. The device according to claim 49, wherein the device is authenticated at a private level of authentication to initiate a private session.

58. The device according to claim 57, wherein the private session allows a user of the wireless device access to specific information and services unique to the user.

59. The device according to claim 58, wherein the user may access the specific information and services unique to the user from any wireless device.

60. The device according to claim 49, wherein the private level authentication is initiated upon request from a user of the wireless device.

61. The device according to claim 49, wherein the family level authentication is based on an identity of hardware of the wireless device, the authentication occurring one of automatically when the wireless device is powered on or upon request from the wireless device.

62. The device according to claim 49, wherein the wireless device can access all information and services that are available to all other wireless devices in the family session.

85. The device according to claim 49, wherein the family level authentication is based on an identity of hardware of the wireless device, the authentication occurring one of automatically when the wireless device is powered on or upon request from the wireless device.

63. A system for inputting data at a wireless device using a touch screen, the system comprising:

a server, the server operatively connected to a network; and

at least one wireless device, each said wireless device operatively connected to the network and receiving configuration information at the wireless device from the server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings, each said wireless device comprising;

means for detecting an object touching the touch screen;

means for detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

means for detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen;

means for detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

means for determining inputted data based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein

the configuration information received from the server affects a second server and wireless device.

64. The system according to claim 63, wherein the server is a configuration management server and the second server is a service providing server for the wireless device.

65. A method of inputting data at a wireless device using a touch screen, the method comprising:

receiving configuration information at the wireless device from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

detecting an object touching the touch screen;

detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

detecting x and y coordinates of a point of contact of the object on the touch screen;

detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen;

determining inputted data based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

authenticating the wireless device by the first server and at a family level of authentication for a family session.

66. The method according to claim 65, further comprising authenticating the wireless device at a private level of authentication to initiate a private session.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein the private session allows a user of the wireless device access to specific information and services unique to the user.

68. The method according to claim 66, wherein the user may access the specific information and services unique to the user from any wireless device.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein the private level authentication is initiated upon request from a user of the wireless device.

70. The method according to claim 65, wherein the family level authentication is based on an identity of hardware of the wireless device, the authentication occurring one of automatically when the wireless device is powered on or upon request from the wireless device.

71. The method according to claim 65, wherein the wireless device can access all information and services that are available to all other wireless devices in the family session.

72. A method of selecting a particular function on a wireless electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:

receiving configuration information at the wireless electronic device from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

detecting an object touching the touch screen;

detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen;

determining the particular function of the electronic device based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

authenticating the wireless device by the first server at a family level of authentication for a family session.

73. The method according to claim 72, further comprising authenticating the wireless device at a private level of authentication to initiate a private session.

74. The method according to claim 73, wherein the private session allows a user of the wireless device access to specific information and services unique to the user.

75. The method according to claim 74, wherein the user may access the specific information and services unique to the user from any wireless device.

76. The method according to claim 72, wherein the private level authentication is initiated upon request from a user of the wireless device.

77. The method according to claim 72, wherein the family level authentication is based on an identity of hardware of the wireless device, the authentication occurring one of automatically when the wireless device is powered on or upon request from the wireless device.

78. The method according to claim 72, wherein the wireless device can access all information and services that are available to all other wireless devices in the family session.

79. A wireless electronic device having an apparatus for selecting a particular function of the electronic device using a touch screen, the electronic device comprising:

wireless connection interface for receiving configuration information from a first server to configure user profile specific user interface settings and/or terminal specific user interface settings;

a touch detector for detecting an object touching the touch screen;

a location detector for detecting the location of the object on the touch screen;

another touch detector for detecting when the object is no longer touching the touch screen and a time duration measuring unit for measuring a time duration from the time of detection of the object first touching the touch screen until the time of detection of the object no longer touching the touch screen; and

a data determination unit for determining the particular selected function based on the detected location of the object on the touch screen and the measured time duration; and

wherein

the device is authenticated by a server at a family level of authentication for a family session.

80. The device according to claim 79, wherein the device is authenticated at a private level of authentication to initiate a private session.

81. The device according to claim 80, wherein the private session allows a user of the wireless device access to specific information and services unique to the user.

82. The device according to claim 81, wherein the user may access the specific information and services unique to the user from any wireless device.

83. The device according to claim 79, wherein the private level authentication is initiated upon request from a user of the wireless device.

84. The device according to claim 79, wherein the device is authenticated at a family level of authentication for a family session.

86. The device according to claim 84, wherein the wireless device can access all information and services that are available to all other wireless devices in the family session.