Terminal apparatus and method for supporting smart touch operation

• US 9,063,654 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shin, Dong Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/603,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/19.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A terminal apparatus includes an interface to detect a touch input, to detect a touch region corresponding to the touch input, and to identify an object that is overlapped by the touch input by at least a reference percentage in the touch region as a first object; a processing unit to generate a second object based on the first object, and to display the second object in an untouched region; and a control unit to execute an operation corresponding to the second object. A method for executing an operation according to a touch input includes detecting a touch input and a corresponding touch region; identifying an object overlapped by at least a reference percentage in the touch region as a first object; generating a second object based on the first object; displaying the second object in an untouched region; and executing an operation corresponding to the second object.

Claims

1. A terminal apparatus, comprising:

an interface to detect a touch input, to detect a touch region corresponding to the touch input, and to identify an object that is overlapped by the touch input in the touch region as a first object;

a processing unit to generate a second object based on the first object, and to display the second object in an untouched region; and

a control unit to execute an operation corresponding to the second object if the second object is selected,

wherein the control unit removes the display of the second object if the second object is not selected within a reference period of time.

2. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface further determines a direction of the touch input.

3. The terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interface determines the direction of the touch input using at least one of a form of the touched region and a pressure of the touch input with respect to time.

4. The terminal apparatus of claim 3, wherein the form of the touched region is determined based on a dragging movement of the touch input.

5. The terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processing unit displays the second object in a direction rotated by a reference angle relative to the direction of the touch input, the reference angle being based on at least one of the direction of the touch input and a location of the touch region.

6. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second object is displayed in a pop-up form.

7. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second object is adjusted in size relative to the first object based on a percentage of overlap of the first object by the touch input.

8. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second object comprises information associated with the first object.

9. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation of the second object comprises at least one of inputting of information corresponding to the second object, activating a hyperlink, activating an application associated with the second object, and downloading a corresponding file.

10. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the interface to restrict a selection of the first object while the second object is selected.

11. The terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface identifies an object that is overlapped by the touch input by at least a reference percentage in the touch region as the first object.

12. A method for executing an operation according to a touch input, comprising:

detecting a touch input and a corresponding touch region on a display of a terminal;

identifying an object overlapped in the touch region as a first object;

generating a second object based on the first object;

displaying the second object in an untouched region;

executing an operation corresponding to the second object if the second object is selected; and

removing the display of the second object if the second object is not selected within a reference period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a direction of the touch input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the direction of the touch input is determined using at least one of a form of the touched region and a pressure of the touch input with respect to time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the form of the touched region is determined based on a dragging movement of the touch input.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second object is displayed in a direction rotated by a reference angle relative to the direct of the touch input, the reference angle being based on at least one of the direction of the touch input and a location of the touch region.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the second object is adjusted in size relative to the first object based on a percentage of overlap of the first object by the touch input.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the second object comprises information associated with the first object.

19. A method for executing an operation according to a touch input, comprising:

detecting a touch input and a corresponding touch region on a display of a terminal;

identifying an object overlapped in the touch region as a first object;

determining a direction of the touch input;

generating a second object based on the first object;

displaying the second object in an untouched region based on the direction of the touch input;

executing an operation corresponding to the second object if the second object is selected for execution; and

removing the display of the second object if the second object is not selected within a reference period of time,

wherein the second object comprises information associated with the first object.