Push-pull type gestures

• US 9,268,484 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yongchao, Liu, Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Nabi, Reza
• Application Number:
  US14/149,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

Techniques for push-pull type gestures are described. In one or more embodiments, a push gesture away from a cursor object that is displayed by a display device is recognized. An assisted location object is then displayed to assist a user in repositioning the cursor object based on the push gesture. In implementations, a prompt gesture is recognized effective to cause a prompt object having one or more options to be displayed. The options that are displayed are selectable to initiate a function that is operable using the cursor object. In addition, a motion select gesture that selects one of the options is recognized effective to replace the prompt object and initiate a function corresponding to the selected option.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recognizing a push gesture away from a cursor object displayed by a display device;

displaying an assisted location object to assist a user in repositioning the cursor object;

recognizing a prompt gesture effective to cause a prompt object having one or more options to be displayed, each of the one or more options being selectable to initiate a function that is operable using the cursor object, the prompt object including a geometrical shape having a distinct boundary; and

recognizing a motion select gesture that selects one of the one or more options effective to replace the prompt object and initiate a function corresponding to the selected said option, the motion select gesture including a push-pull gesture that pushes away from the prompt object toward the one or more options and then pulls back into the prompt object, and two or more of the push gesture, the prompt gesture, and the motion select gesture being recognized as a continuous touch input without interruption.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing an additional motion select gesture that selects a different one of the one or more options; and

replacing the selected said option with the selected different option.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the function corresponding to the selected said option comprises a selectable function, the method further comprising:

recognizing a selection gesture that selects displayed text; and

initiating display of an additional cursor object that is user-selectable to select the displayed text that is displayed between the cursor object and the additional cursor object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the push gesture, the prompt gesture, and the motion select gesture are input without an input item being removed from contact with the display device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing a pull gesture that is pulled toward the cursor effective to one or more of close the assisted location object or end a cursor location function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompt gesture is initiated at the assisted location object and includes an arc motion directed partially around the cursor object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the function that is associated with the selected said option includes at least one of cut, copy, move, paste, or select.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically dividing selected text into a plurality of sections that are individually selectable to include or exclude when performing a subsequent function; and

performing the subsequent function applied to one or more of the plurality of sections that are selected to be included as inputs to the subsequent function.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing the function responsive to an interruption of the motion select gesture.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting one or more characteristics of the assisted location object based on an input item used to input one or more of the push gesture, the prompt gesture, and the motion select gesture.

11. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a gesture module as computer-readable instructions; and

one or more processors to implement the gesture module that is configured to;

receive a prompt gesture effective to initiate a display of a command prompt having one or more selectable objects that each represent an action that is performable using a cursor, the command prompt including a geometrical shape having a distinct boundary;

receive a motion select gesture that selects one of the one or more selectable objects effective to replace the display of the command prompt and initiate the action represented by the selected object, the motion select gesture including a push-pull gesture that pushes away from the command prompt toward the one or more selectable objects and then pulls back into the command prompt, the prompt gesture and the motion select gesture being recognized as a continuous touch input without interruption.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the selected object comprises a first object representing a first action; and

the gesture module is further configured to receive an additional motion select gesture that selects a second one of the one or more selectable objects representing a second action that is different than the first action, the additional motion select gesture effective to cause the second selected object to replace the first object and initiate the second action.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the selected object represents one of a select action, a copy action, a paste action, a move action, or a cut action.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the action is operable to select text using the cursor, and wherein the gesture module is further configured to:

receive a text select gesture recognized as selecting the text;

modify the selected text to visually indicate that the selected text is selected; and

automatically divide the selected text into a plurality of sections that are each selectable to be included or excluded in a subsequent action.

15. Computer readable storage memory comprising stored instructions that, responsive to execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

presenting an assisted location object based on recognition of a push gesture that pushes away from a cursor object displayed by a display device, the assisted location object configured to assist a user in repositioning the cursor object;

presenting a prompt object having one or more selectable options based on recognition of a prompt gesture, the one or more selectable options being selectable to initiate a function, the prompt object including a geometrical shape having a distinct boundary;

recognizing a motion select gesture that selects one said option from the one or more selectable options, the motion select gesture including a push-pull gesture that pushes away from the prompt object toward the one or more selectable options and then pulls back into the prompt object, and two or more of the push gesture, the prompt gesture, and the motion select gesture being recognized as a continuous touch input without interruption;

replacing the prompt object with the selected said option; and

initiating the function that corresponds to the selected said option.

16. The computer readable storage memory of claim 15, wherein the push gesture, the prompt gesture, and the motion select gesture are input without an input item being removed from contact with the display device.

17. The computer readable storage memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

recognizing an additional motion select gesture that selects a different one of the one or more selectable options; and

replacing the selected said option with the selected different option.

18. The computer readable storage memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise recognizing a pull gesture that is pulled toward the cursor effective to one or more of close the assisted location object.

19. The computer readable storage memory of claim 15, wherein the prompt gesture is initiated at the assisted location object and includes an arc motion directed partially around the cursor object.

20. The computer readable storage memory of claim 15, wherein the function that is associated with the selected said option includes at least one of cut, copy, move, paste, or select.