Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input

• US 9,047,008 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Frank Chun Yat, Dearman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/594,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input. A method may include receiving user input defining a slide gesture from a digit of a user on a touchscreen. The method may further include determining a characteristic of the user input. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input. In some cases, the method may further include causing modification of presentation of information on a display based on the digit determined to be used. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user input from a digit of a user on a touchscreen, wherein the user input defines a slide gesture;

determining a characteristic of the user input; and

determining, by a processor, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input;

determining a length of the digit used to provide the user input;

determining, based at least on the determined digit and the length of the digit, a size and a position of an obstruction area, wherein the obstruction area defines an area of the touchscreen where the digit obstructs the view of the user; and

causing modification of presentation of information on the touchscreen such that the information is positioned outside of the obstruction area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the digit comprises determining which of a right thumb, a left thumb, or another digit is used to perform the user input.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the characteristic of the user input comprises determining a curvature of the user input.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein determining the characteristic of the user input comprises further determining at least one of a start point and an end point of the user input, a speed of the user input, a length of the user input, a radius of an elliptical representation of the user input, an orientation of the elliptical representation of the user input, or an area of the elliptical representation of the user input.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the characteristic of the user input comprises determining the characteristic based on output from at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a pressure sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising defining, based at least in part on the determined digit and the length of the digit a size and a position of an input area, wherein causing modification of presentation of information comprises causing modification of presentation of information on the display such that input-receptive information is positioned within the input area.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing presentation of a keyboard on a display based on the digit determined to be used, wherein a first keyboard is presented in an instance in which a thumb is determined to be used, and wherein a second keyboard is presented in an instance in which another digit is determined to be used.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive user input from a digit of a user on a touchscreen, wherein the user input defines a slide gesture;

determine a characteristic of the user input; and

determine, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input;

determine a length of the digit used to provide the user input;

determine, based at least on the determined digit and the length of the digit, a size and a position of an obstruction area, wherein the obstruction area defines an area of the touchscreen where the digit obstructs the view of the user; and

cause modification of presentation of information on the touchscreen such that the information is positioned outside of the obstruction area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the digit by determining which of a right thumb, a left thumb, or another digit is used to perform the user input.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the characteristic of the user input by determining a curvature of the user input.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the characteristic of the user input by further determining at least one of a start point and an end point of the user input, a speed of the user input, a length of the user input, a radius of an elliptical representation of the user input, an orientation of the elliptical representation of the user input, or an area of the elliptical representation of the user input.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the characteristic of the user input by determining the characteristic based on output from at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a pressure sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to define, based at least in part on the determined digit and the length of the digit a size and a position of an input area, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause modification of presentation of information by causing modification of presentation of information on the display such that input-receptive information is positioned within the input area.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause presentation of a keyboard on a display based on the digit determined to be used, wherein a first keyboard is presented in an instance in which a thumb is determined to be used, and wherein a second keyboard is presented in an instance in which another digit is determined to be used.

15. Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to:

receive user input from a digit of a user on a touchscreen, wherein the user input defines a slide gesture;

determine a characteristic of the user input; and

determine, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input

determine a length of the digit used to provide the user input;

determine, based at least on the determined digit and the length of the digit, a size and a position of an obstruction area, wherein the obstruction area defines an area of the touchscreen where the digit obstructs the view of the user; and

cause modification of presentation of information on the touchscreen such that the information is positioned outside of the obstruction area.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code portions are further configured to:

define, based at least in part on the determined digit and the length of the digit a size and a position of an input area, and

cause modification of presentation of information by causing modification of presentation of information on the display such that input-receptive information is positioned within the input area.