User interface system, method, and computer program product

• US 9,417,754 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Interface Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: P4tents1 LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): XAVIER, ANTONIO J
• Application Number:
  US13/567,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20160188181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• 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 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/04886 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 : by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for a touch or pressure signal-based interface. In operation, a touch or pressure signal is received in association with a touch interface of a device. To this end, a user experience is altered utilizing the signal.

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for modifying one or more objects in one or more memory devices. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided, comprising one or more memory devices including a non-volatile memory. Additionally, the apparatus comprises circuitry including a first communication path for communicating with the at least one processor, and a second communication path for communicating with at least one storage sub-system which operates slower than the one or more memory devices. Further, the circuitry is operable to modify one or more objects in the one or more memory devices.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

code for receiving a first signal indicative of a first manipulation of a first touchscreen interface positioned on a first side face of a device that includes a second touchscreen interface on a second front face thereof;

code for altering a first user experience in connection with the second touchscreen interface as a function of the first signal;

said computer program product further operable for;

displaying a plurality of user interfaces utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, the plurality of user interfaces including;

a first user interface including a plurality of favorite objects representative of favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface on the second front face of the device in response to a selection thereof, and

a second user interface including a plurality of setting objects representative of settings for selection;

receiving a first gesture along a first axis of a common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the first gesture along the first axis of the common axis system, performing a first function for displaying the first user interface including the plurality of favorite objects representative of the favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface in response to the selection thereof;

receiving a second gesture along a second axis of the common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the second gesture along the second axis of the common axis system, performing a second function;

code for receiving a second signal indicative of a second manipulation of the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device; and

code for altering a second user experience in connection with the first touchscreen interface as a function of the second signal;

said computer program product further operable for;

displaying a third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, the third user interface including at least one option for selecting the plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

receiving an input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device; and

in response to the input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, displaying the selected plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, the computer program product is operable such that at least one of:

at least one of the first manipulation or the second manipulation includes at least one of a gesture, touch input, or pressure magnitude;

said first touchscreen interface is positioned on an entirety of the first side face of the device;

said first touchscreen interface is positioned in a first plane that is angled with respect to a second plane in which the second touchscreen interface is positioned;

at least one of the first user experience or the second user experience is altered by at least one of causing input to the device, causing output from the device, or causing processing by the device;

said favorite objects including application icons;

said setting objects including setting icons;

at least one of the settings includes at least one of a volume setting or a brightness setting;

at least one of the first gesture or the second gesture including swipe gestures;

said first gesture includes a first swipe gesture and the second gesture includes a second swipe gesture 90 degrees offset from the first swipe gesture;

said second function includes displaying at least a portion of the first user interface;

said first touchscreen interface is curved;

said at least one feature includes at least one of an operation of the first touchscreen interface or an aspect of the operation;

said first touchscreen interface is separate from the second touchscreen interface;

or

said at least one option is a single option for enabling a single feature.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a device including circuitry configured for;

receiving a first signal indicative of a first manipulation of a first touchscreen interface positioned on a first side face of the device that includes a second touchscreen interface on a second front face thereof;

altering a first user experience in connection with the second touchscreen interface as a function of the first signal;

displaying a plurality of user interfaces utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, the plurality of user interfaces including;

a first user interface including a plurality of favorite objects representative of favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface on the second front face of the device in response to a selection thereof, and

a second user interface including a plurality of setting objects representative of settings;

receiving a first gesture along a first axis of a common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the first gesture along the first axis of the common axis system, performing a first function for displaying the first user interface including the plurality of favorite objects representative of the favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface in response to the selection thereof;

receiving a second gesture along a second axis of the common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the second gesture along the second axis of the common axis system, performing a second function;

receiving a second signal indicative of a second manipulation of the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device;

altering a second user experience in connection with the first touchscreen interface as a function of the second signal;

displaying a third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, the third user interface including at least one option for selecting the plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

receiving an input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device; and

in response to the input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, displaying the selected plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device.

4. A device, comprising:

a first touchscreen interface positioned on a first side face of the device;

a second touchscreen interface positioned on a second front face of the device; and

circuitry configured for;

displaying a plurality of user interfaces utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, the plurality of user interfaces including;

a first user interface including a plurality of favorite objects representative of favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface on the second front face of the device in response to a selection thereof, and

a second user interface including a plurality of setting objects representative of settings;

receiving a first gesture along a first axis of a common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the first gesture along the first axis of the common axis system, performing a first function for displaying the first user interface including the plurality of favorite objects representative of the favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface in response to the selection thereof;

receiving a second gesture along a second axis of the common axis system utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

in response to the second gesture along the second axis of the common axis system, performing a second function;

displaying a third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, the second user interface including at least one option for selecting the plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device;

receiving an input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device; and

in response to the input in connection with the at least one option of the third user interface utilizing the second touchscreen interface positioned on the second front face of the device, displaying the selected plurality of the favorite objects representative of the favorite applications to be displayed utilizing the first user interface on the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of favorite objects representative of at least one of the favorite applications, access to the at least one favorite application is allowed, during which at least one application-specific option associated with the at least one favorite application is displayed for selection of a feature application-specific option.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of favorite objects representative of at least one of the favorite applications, access to the at least one favorite application is allowed, during which at least one application-specific feature associated with the at least one favorite application is displayed.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of favorite objects representative of at least one of the favorite applications, access to the at least one favorite application is allowed, during which at least one application-specific gesture associated with the at least one favorite application is capable of being received utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device for utilizing an application-specific feature.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least two of the plurality of favorite objects representative of at least two of the favorite applications utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, simultaneous access is allowed to both of the at least two favorite applications.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of favorite objects representative of at least one of the favorite applications, access to the at least one favorite application is allowed, and at least one application-specific option associated with the at least one favorite application is displayed for utilizing the feature application-specific option which utilizes at least one aspect of the at least one of the favorite application in connection with at least one other favorite application.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that, in response to different selections of different favorite objects representative of different favorite applications displayed on a home screen utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, switching is effected between the different favorite applications which are active in a multitasking environment.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that the favorite applications represented by the favorite objects displayed utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device, are capable of including a search application, a contacts application, a messaging application, a telephone application, an e-mail application, a digital camera application, and a digital music player application.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that a date and time are capable of being displayed utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that manipulations of the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device are capable of being received for triggering different features based on a pressure of the manipulations.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that an output of the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device is a function of an orientation of the device.

15. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that an interface context displayed utilizing the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device is capable of being changed in response to manipulation of the first touchscreen interface positioned on the first side face of the device.

16. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that the second function includes changing between a displaying among at least the first user interface including the plurality of favorite objects representative of the favorite applications for allowing access thereto utilizing the second touchscreen interface in response to the selection thereof, and the second user interface.

17. The device of claim 4, wherein the first touchscreen interface is curved and the second touchscreen interface is planar.

18. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that a first brightness of at least a portion of the first touchscreen interface is capable of being different than a second brightness of at least a portion of the second touchscreen interface.

19. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that a position of the first touchscreen interface is configured for simultaneous viewing of first content displayed utilizing the first touchscreen interface and second content displayed utilizing the second touchscreen interface, without obstructing the second content displayed utilizing the second touchscreen interface.

20. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that each of:

at least one of the first manipulation or the second manipulation includes at least one of a gesture, touch input, or pressure magnitude;

at least one of the first user experience or the second user experience is altered by at least one of causing input to the device, causing output from the device, or causing processing by the device;

said favorite objects including application icons;

said setting objects including setting icons;

at least one of the first gesture or the second gesture including swipe gestures;

said first gesture includes a first swipe gesture and the second gesture includes a second swipe gesture 90 degrees offset from the first swipe gesture;

said first touchscreen interface is curved.

21. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is operable such that the first function includes switching the display to the first user interface from the second user interface.