Touch input device and method for portable device

• US 9,047,003 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Bong Won, Hong, Nho Kyung
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/554,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20100085318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-176, 125173-176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 touch input device and method for a portable device that is capable of inputting various user commands with diversified touch events detected on a touch screen is provided. A touch input method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen may include displaying a plurality of representative images representing content objects on the touch screen, selecting at least one representative image in response to a first command designated for a first touch event on the touch screen, and executing a second command designated for a second touch event on the touch screen. The second touch event may be defined by a movement direction, speed, a lift position of a touch, and the representative images selected by the first command.

Claims

1. A touch input method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising:

displaying, on the touch screen, a plurality of representative images corresponding to content objects;

selecting, from the plurality of representative images, one or more representative images in response to a first touch event detected on the touch screen;

detecting a second touch event on the touch screen, the second touch event moving the selected one or more representative images towards a boundary of the touch screen;

displaying, in response to detecting the second touch event, one or more command tips on the touch screen;

identifying a command tip from the displayed one or more command tips based on a direction of movement of the second touch event towards the boundary of the touch screen; and

executing a command corresponding to the identified command tip in response to a movement speed value of the second touch event being greater than a threshold value,

wherein the display of the one or more command tips varies based on a number of the selected one or more representative images and one or more user-defined preferences.

2. The touch input method of claim 1, wherein the one or more command tips correspond to second commands associated with available direction-specific touch events.

3. The touch input method of claim 2, wherein:

the second touch event is one of the available direction-specific touch events comprising movement towards the boundary of the touch screen; and

the second command corresponds to the identified command tip, the identified command tip being displayed on the boundary.

4. The touch input method of claim 2, wherein the one or more command tips further vary based on a type of content associated with the selected one or more representative images.

5. The touch input method of claim 1, wherein:

selecting the one or more representatives image comprises;

collecting data associated with contact points in response to a line being drawn, without lift, via the first touch event on the touch screen;

determining, based on the data associated with the contact points, whether a closed loop is drawn; and

selecting, in response to a determination of the drawn closed loop being drawn, at least one of a first set of the representative images located inside the closed loop, a second set of the representative images situated on the line, and a third set of the representative images; and

each representative image of the third set comprises a portion inside of the closed loop, the portion corresponding to a first percentage being greater than a determined percentage.

6. The touch input method of claim 5, wherein selecting the one or more representative images further comprises:

detecting another touch event corresponding to drawing a second closed loop, the another touch event adding representative images selected using the second closed loop; and

detecting a touch-down event for adding a representative image.

7. The touch input method of claim 5, wherein executing the second command comprises:

executing, if the one or more representative images comprises multiple representative images, the command corresponding to the second touch event, the second touch event resulting in selection of multiple content objects.

8. The touch input method of claim 7, wherein executing the command comprises creating a new content object by combining the content objects represented by the multiple representative images.

9. A touch input method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising:

detecting a closed loop touch event on the touch screen;

selecting, in response to detecting the closed loop touch event, a set of representative images displayed via the touch screen, each of the representative images being associated with content; and

displaying a new representative image corresponding to an executable presentation combining the content associated with each of the representative images of the set.

10. The touch input method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying, in response to selecting the set of representative images, command tips at different boundaries of the touch screen, a first command tip of the command tips corresponding to generating the executable presentation,

wherein the display of the command tips varies according to types of the content associated with the set of representative images.

11. The touch input method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a touch dragging the selected set of representative images in a direction corresponding to the first command tip,

wherein the new representative image is displayed in response to detecting the touch.

12. The touch input method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that a speed of the dragging is greater than a threshold value,

wherein the new representative image is further displayed in response to the speed being greater than the threshold value.

13. The touch input method of claim 9, wherein:

a first representative image of the representative images is associated with auditory content;

second representative images of the representative images is associated with visual content; and

the executable presentation combines the visual content associated with the second representative images into a slide show comprising the auditory content as background audio.

14. The touch input method of claim 13, wherein:

some of the second representative images are associated with still image content;

some of the second representative images are associated with motion image content; and

the executable presentation is generated sequentially ordering the still image content after the motion image content.

15. The touch input method of claim 9, wherein the new representative image replaces the display of the set of representative images.

16. A touch input device for a mobile terminal, the touch input device comprising:

a display unit to;

display representative images, each representative image corresponding to a content object, and

detect touch events; and

a control unit to;

select one or more of the representative images in response to detection of a first touch event,

display, in response to detection of a second touch event, one or more command tips on the display unit, the second touch event moving the selected one or more representative images towards a boundary of the display unit,

identify a command tip from the displayed one or more command tips based on a direction of movement of the second touch event towards the boundary of the display unit, and

execute a user command corresponding to the identified command tip in response to a movement speed value of the second touch event being greater than a threshold value,

wherein the display of the one or more command tips varies based on a number of the selected one or more representative images.

17. The touch input device of claim 16, wherein:

the boundary is one of a plurality of different boundaries;

two of the different boundaries oppose one another in a first direction; and

two of the different boundaries oppose one another in a second direction crossing the first direction.

18. The touch input device of claim 17, wherein the control unit is configured to display a drag of the selected one or more representative images in response to the movement speed value being less than the threshold value.

19. The touch input device of claim 16, wherein:

selection of the one or more representative images comprises;

collection of data associated with contact points of a line being drawn, without lift, via the first touch event on the touch screen,

determination of whether a closed loop is drawn based on the data, and

selection, in response to a determination that the closed loop has been drawn, at least one of a first set of the representative images located inside the closed loop, a second set of the representative images situated on the line, and a third set of the representative images; and

each representative image of the third set comprises a portion inside of the closed loop, the portion corresponding to a first percentage being greater than a determined percentage.

20. The touch input device of claim 19, wherein, in response to execution of the user command, the control unit is configured to display a new representative image corresponding to an executable presentation combining the content objects associated with each of the selected one or more representative images.