Method and apparatus for providing one-handed user interface in mobile device having touch screen

• US 9,459,704 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Min, Sunyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYI, HENOK G
• Application Number:
  US14/024,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method provides a user interface in a mobile device having a touch screen. The method includes detecting a touch region from the touch screen, and determining whether the detected touch region satisfies at least one of a first condition of exceeding a predetermined area, a second condition of exceeding a predetermined time, and a third condition of exceeding a predetermined pressure. The method further includes displaying a pointer at a specific location of the touch screen when the detected touch region satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions, detecting a movement of the touch region, and moving the pointer in response to the movement of the touch region.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface in a mobile device having a touch screen, the method comprising:

detecting a touched region from the touch screen;

determining whether the detected touch region satisfies at least one of a first condition of exceeding a predetermined area, a second condition of exceeding a predetermined time, and a third condition of exceeding a predetermined pressure;

generating and displaying a pointer at a specific location of the touch screen when the detected touch satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions;

detecting a movement of the touch on the touch screen;

moving the pointer in response to the movement of the touch region; and

removing the pointer when the touch is released,

wherein the displaying of the pointer includes;

identifying executable objects arranged in the touch screen;

calculating a distance from the touch region to each executable object;

selecting the most distant object from the touch region among the executable objects; and

displaying the pointer on the selected objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the touch region includes:

receiving coordinates of the touch region from the touch screen; and

calculating a touch contact area from a geometrical figure formed by connecting location coordinates of peripheral contact points in the touch region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the pointer includes:

selecting one of a plurality of executable objects arranged in a specific screen displayed on the touch screen; and

placing the pointer on the selected object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating of the distance includes calculating a distance between central coordinates of each object and central coordinates of the touch region.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the detecting of the movement of the touch region,

removing the pointer from the touch screen when a touch release occurs.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the detecting of the movement of the touch region, checking whether a precondition is satisfied while the pointer is displayed;

if the precondition is satisfied, determining again whether the touch region satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions; and

selecting and executing an object arranged at the location of the pointer displayed on the touch screen when the touch region satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the precondition comprises a touch movement is stopped or a touch contact area is varied.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining again includes determining whether a contact area of the touch region exceeds a predetermined area, and further determining whether a contact time of the touch region having the contact area exceeding the predetermined area exceeds a predetermined time, and

wherein the selecting and executing of the object includes selecting and executing the object when the contact time of the touch region exceeds the predetermined time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining again includes determining whether a pressure of the touch region exceeds a predetermined pressure, and further determining whether a contact time of the touch region having the pressure exceeding the predetermined pressure exceeds a predetermined time, and

wherein the selecting and executing of the object includes selecting and executing the object when the contact time of the touch region exceeds the predetermined time.

10. An apparatus for providing a user interface in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen configured to display a specific screen; and

a control unit configured to;

detect a touched region from the touch screen;

determine whether the detected touch region satisfies at least one of a first condition of exceeding a predetermined area, a second condition of exceeding a predetermined time, and a third condition of exceeding a predetermined pressure;

control the touch screen to generate a pointer and to display the generated pointer at a specific location when the detected touch region satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions;

detect a movement of the touch on the touch screen;

move the pointer in response to the movement of the touch region; and

remove the pointer when the touch is released,

wherein the control unit is further configured to;

identify executable objects arranged in the touch screen,

calculate a distance from the touch region to each executable object,

select the most distant object from the touch region among the executable objects, and

display the pointer on the selected object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to determine whether a contact time of the touch region having a contact area exceeding the predetermined area exceeds the predetermined time, and display the pointer when the contact time exceeds the predetermined time.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to calculate a touch contact area from a geometrical figure formed by connecting location coordinates of peripheral contact points in the touch region.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to select one of a plurality of executable objects arranged in the specific screen displayed on the touch screen, and place the pointer on the selected object.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to remove the pointer from the touch screen when a touch release occurs.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to select and execute an object arranged at the location of the pointer displayed on the touch screen when a specific precondition is satisfied while the pointer is displayed, and when the touch region satisfies at least one of the first, second and third conditions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the precondition comprises a touch movement is stopped or a touch contact area is varied.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to, if a contact area of the touch region exceeds a predetermined area, determine whether a contact time of the touch region exceeds a predetermined time, wherein the control unit selects and executes the object by selecting and executing the object when the contact time of the touch region exceeds the predetermined time.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to, if a pressure of the touch region exceeds a predetermined pressure, determine whether a contact time of the touch region exceeds a predetermined time, wherein the control unit selects and executes the object by selecting and executing the object when the contact time of the touch region exceeds the predetermined time.