Hover-over gesturing on mobile devices

• US 9,285,950 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gildfind, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pillai, Namitha
• Application Number:
  US13/075,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20120254808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 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

Aspects of the disclosure may relate to detecting, by a computing device, a first user input comprising a first gesture to interact with a touch-sensitive screen of the computing device. Aspects may also include detecting a second user input comprising a second gesture using the touch-sensitive screen of the computing device. Aspects may also include, responsive to detecting the first user input, initiating a hover mode of interaction in a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting, by a computing device, for display at a touch screen, a graphical user interface that includes at least one user interface element displayed within a first area of the touch screen;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a first gesture, wherein;

the first gesture is entered within a second area of the touch screen,

the second area is different than the first area, and

the first gesture comprises contact with the touch screen within the second area;

responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture and while the contact with the touch screen within the second area is maintained;

initiating, by the computing device, a hover mod, associated with the graphical user interface, in which graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element is displayed in the graphical user interface without activating the at least one user interface element; and

after initiating the hover mode, receiving by the computing device, an indication of a second gesture, wherein the second gesture is entered within the first area of the touch screen and is distinct from the first gesture; and

responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture and while operating in the hover mode, outputting, by the computing device for display at the touch screen, the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second area corresponds to a predefined area of the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined area of the graphical user interface comprises a corner of the graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the predefined area according to a physical orientation of the touch screen.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the predefined area according to a selection of a user.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising outputting, for display at the touch screen, a graphical indication of the predefined area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the at least one user interface element by determining that the at least one user interface element is displayed within the first area of the touch screen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the at least one user interface element by determining that the at least one user interface element is a perceptually closest user interface element nearest to the first area of the touch screen based.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating that the hover mode is active in response to initiating the hover mode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element comprises at least one of an alteration in appearance of the at least one user interface element and a graphical pop-up window that provides information about content associated with the at least one user interface element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the hover mode comprises initiating the hover mode in response to determining that the contact of the first gesture is maintained for a predetermined duration.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon termination of the first gesture, terminating the hover mode with the at least one user interface element.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon termination of the first gesture, activating the at least one user interface element.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the hover mode comprises pinning content being output for display in the graphical user interface, such that the second gesture does not cause movement of the content in the graphical user interface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element comprises outputting the graphical information a predefined distance from the first area of the touch screen.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing one or more programmable processors to perform operations comprising:

outputting, for display at a touch screen, a graphical user interface that includes at least one user interface element displayed within a first area of the touch screen;

receiving an indication of a first gesture, wherein;

the first gesture is entered within a second area of the touch screen,

the second area is different than the first area, and

the first gesture comprises contact with the touch screen within the second area;

responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture and while the contact with the touch screen within the second area is maintained;

initiating a hover mod, associated with the graphical user interface, in which graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element is displayed in the graphical user interface without activating the at least one user interface element; and

after initiating the hover mode, receiving an indication of a second gesture, wherein the second gesture is entered within the first area of the touch screen and is distinct from the first gesture; and

responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture and while operating in the hover mode, outputting, for display at the touch screen the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element.

17. A computing device comprising:

a user interface having a touch-sensitive screen; and

one or more processors configured to;

output, for display at the touch screen, a graphical user interface that includes at least one user interface element displayed within a first area of the touch screen;

receive an indication of a first gesture, wherein;

the first gesture is entered within a second area of the touch screen,

the second area is different from the first area, and

the first gesture comprises contact with the touch screen within the second area;

responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture and while the contact with the touch screen within the second area is maintained;

initiate a hover mode, associated with the graphical user interface, in which graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element is displayed in the graphical user interface without activating the at least one user interface element; and

after initiating the hover mode, receive an indication of a second gesture, wherein the second gesture is entered within the first area of the touch screen and is distinct from the first gesture; and

responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture and while operating in the hover mode, output, for display at the touch screen the graphical information associated with the at least one user interface element without activating the at least one user interface element.