Digit aware touchscreen

• US 8,390,584 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhojan, Narendran
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/578,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 178 1801- 1907, 345173-178, 715700-866
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for performing a task in a touchscreen device, comprising receiving tactile information from a digit, wherein the tactile information comprises an identifying portion and a touchscreen location of the digit, identifying the digit based on the tactile information, obtaining contextual information from the touchscreen device, wherein the contextual information comprises data describing an execution environment of the touchscreen device, translating, using a controller, a mapping of the tactile information and the contextual information to obtain a task, and performing the task in the touchscreen device, wherein the task performs an action in the execution environment of the touchscreen device.

Claims

1. A method for performing a task in a touchscreen device, comprising:

receiving tactile information from a digit, wherein the tactile information comprises an identifying portion and a touchscreen location of the digit;

identifying the digit based on the tactile information;

obtaining contextual information from the touchscreen device,

wherein the contextual information comprises data describing an execution environment of the touchscreen device, and

wherein the contextual information comprises a first geographic location of the touchscreen device;

translating, using a controller, a mapping of the tactile information and the contextual information to obtain a task;

performing the task at the first geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the task performs an action in the execution environment of the touchscreen device;

obtaining alternative contextual information from the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second geographic location;

translating, using the controller, an alternate mapping of the tactile information and alternative contextual information to obtain an alternative task; and

performing the alternative task at the second geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative task performs an alternative action, distinct from the action, in the execution environment of the touchscreen device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the task;

creating the mapping by associating the task with the tactile information and the contextual information; and

storing the mapping in the touchscreen device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

touching the touchscreen device with the digit, wherein a user touches the touchscreen device;

choosing the task;

selecting the mapping of the task to the tactile information and the contextual information; and

confirming the mapping.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

disassociating the task from the tactile information and the contextual information;

identifying the alternative task

creating the alternative mapping by associating the alternative task with the tactile information and the contextual information;

storing the alternative mapping in the touchscreen device;

receiving the tactile information from the digit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning a fingerprint from the digit before obtaining contextual information, wherein the tactile information comprises the fingerprint.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the contextual information comprises a first touchscreen coordinate range comprising a first plurality of touchscreen coordinates, wherein the task is performed at the first touchscreen coordinate range,

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second touchscreen coordinate range comprising a second plurality of touchscreen coordinate,

and

wherein the alternative task, is performed at the second touchscreen coordinate range.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second time, wherein the task is performed at the first time,

and

wherein the alternative task, distinct from the task, is performed at the second time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the task is performed in a first touchscreen device application;

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second touchscreen device application;

and

wherein the alternative task, distinct from the task, is performed in the second touchscreen device application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving concurrent tactile information, wherein the concurrent tactile information comprises concurrent contact between the digit and the touchscreen device and a second digit and the touchscreen device;

identifying the second digit based on the concurrent tactile information;

identifying the alternative task;

creating the alternative mapping by associating the alternative task with the concurrent tactile information and the contextual information; and

storing the alternative mapping in the touchscreen device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving concurrent tactile information from the digit and the second digit.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the task is performed at a first rate of movement of the digit;

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second rate of movement of the digit;

and

wherein the alternative task, distinct from the task, is performed at the second rate of movement of the digit.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving tactile information from a plurality of digits;

identifying the plurality of digits based on the tactile information from the plurality of digits;

translating, using the controller, the mapping of the tactile information and the contextual information to obtain a sequence task; and

performing the sequence task in the touchscreen device.

13. A system for performing a task in a touchscreen device, comprising:

a controller;

a memory operatively connected to the controller;

an input module configured to;

receive tactile information from a digit, wherein the tactile information comprises an identifying portion and a touchscreen location of the digit, and

identify the digit based on the tactile information;

a mapping module configured to;

translate a mapping of the tactile information and contextual information to obtain a task, and

translate an alternate mapping of the tactile information and alternative contextual information to obtain an alternative task; and

a task module configured to;

obtain the contextual information from the touchscreen device,

wherein the contextual information comprises data describing an execution environment of the touchscreen device, and

wherein the contextual information comprises a first geographic location of the touchscreen device;

perform the task at the first geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the task performs an action in the execution environment of the touchscreen device;

obtain the alternative contextual information from the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second geographic location of the touchscreen device; and

perform the alternative task distinct from the task, at a second geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative task performs an alternative action, distinct from the action, in the execution environment of the touchscreen device.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a storage device configured to;

store a mapping associating the task with the tactile information and the contextual information; and

a display module configured to;

display content on a touchscreen of the touchscreen device.

15. The system of claim 14,

wherein the mapping module is further configured to:

create the mapping by associating the task with the tactile information and the contextual information; and

wherein the task module is further configured to;

identify the digit based on the tactile information; and

identify the task.

16. The system of claim 14,

wherein the mapping module is further configured to:

disassociate the task from the tactile information and the contextual information; and

create the alternative mapping by associating the alternative task, distinct from the task, with the tactile information and the contextual information,

wherein the task module is further configured to;

identify the alternative task,

wherein the storage device is further configured to;

store the alternative mapping in the touchscreen device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a user touches the touchscreen device with the digit, wherein the user chooses the task, wherein the user selects the mapping of the task to the tactile information and the contextual information, and wherein the user confirms the mapping.

18. The system of claim 13,

wherein the task module is further configured to:

perform the task in a first touchscreen device application,

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second touchscreen device application, and

wherein the alternative task, distinct from the task, is performed in the second touchscreen device application.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for performing a task in a touchscreen device, the instructions executable on a processor and comprising functionality to:

receive tactile information from a digit, wherein the tactile information comprises an identifying portion and a touchscreen location of the digit;

identify the digit based on the tactile information;

obtain contextual information from the touchscreen device,

wherein the contextual information comprises data describing an execution environment of the touchscreen device, and

wherein the contextual information comprises a first geographic location;

translate a mapping of the tactile information and contextual information to obtain a task;

perform the task at a first geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the task performs an action in the execution environment of the touchscreen device;

obtain alternative contextual information from the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second geographic location;

translate, an alternate mapping of the tactile information and alternative contextual information to obtain an alternative task; and

perform the alternative task, distinct from the task, at the second geographic location of the touchscreen device, wherein the alternative task performs an alternative action, distinct form the action, in the execution environment of the touchscreen device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further comprising functionality to:

identify the task;

create the mapping by associating the task with the tactile information and the contextual information; and

store the mapping in the touchscreen device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein a user touches the touchscreen device with the digit, wherein the user chooses the task, wherein the user selects the mapping of the task to the tactile information and the contextual information, and wherein the user confirms the mapping.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further comprising functionality to:

disassociate the task from the tactile information and the contextual information;

identify the alternative task, distinct from the task;

create the alternative mapping by associating the alternative task with the tactile information and the contextual information;

store the alternative mapping in the touchscreen device;

receive the tactile information from the digit.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further comprising functionality to scan a fingerprint from the digit before obtaining contextual information, wherein the tactile information comprises the fingerprint.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19,

wherein the task is performed in a first touchscreen device application;

wherein the alternative contextual information comprises a second touchscreen device application;

and

wherein the alternative task, distinct from the task, is performed in the second touchscreen device application.