Touch input device and method for portable device

• US 9,600,108 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Bong Won, Hong, Nho Kyung
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/724,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20150261336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A touch input device and method for a portable device that is capable of inputting various user commands with diversified touch events detected on a touch screen is provided. A touch input method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen may include displaying a plurality of representative images representing content objects on the touch screen, selecting at least one representative image in response to a first command designated for a first touch event on the touch screen, and executing a second command designated for a second touch event on the touch screen. The second touch event may be defined by a movement direction, speed, a lift position of a touch, and the representative images selected by the first command.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, via a display operatively coupled with an electronic device, a plurality of data objects; and

identifying an input corresponding to at least one data object of the plurality of data objects;

wherein;

a first function, corresponding with a first boundary, using at least one portion of content corresponding to the at least one data object is performed based, at least in part, on a determination that the input moves towards a first direction corresponding to the first boundary of the display, and that the input reaches the first boundary or moves faster than a specified speed; and

a second function, corresponding with a second boundary, using the at least one portion of the content is performed based, at least in part, on a determination that the input moves towards a second direction corresponding to the second boundary of the display, and that the input reaches the second boundary or moves faster than a specified speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises:

a gesture by an object external to the electronic device, the gesture including touching or dragging.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first function or the second function is changed based, at least in part, on the content or a number of the at least one data object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first function comprises a first one of a messaging program, a content transmission program, a short range communication program, and a file management program; and

the second function comprises a second one of the messaging program, the content transmission program, the short range communication program, and the file management program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one object is moved from a first region to a second region of the display according to the input based on a determination that the input does not reach the corresponding boundary, and that the input moves slower than the specified speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function or the second function is not performed based on a determination that the input does not reach the corresponding boundary, and that the input moves slower than the specified speed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function or the second function comprises:

transmitting the at least one portion of the content to an external electronic device using a short range communication associated with a corresponding one of the first function and the second function.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one portion of the content comprises image content or audio content; and

the first function or the second function comprises presenting a slide show using the image content or the audio content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one data object comprises a first data object representing first content and a second data object representing second content; and

the identifying comprises;

generating third content based on at least one portion of the first content and at least one portion of the second content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one data object comprises a first data object representing first content and a second data object representing second content; and

the identifying comprises;

displaying, via the display, a third data object representing third content generated based on at least one portion of the first content and at least one portion of the second content.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a display to present a plurality of data objects; and

a controller configured to;

identify an input corresponding to at least one data object of the plurality of data objects;

perform, in response to a determination that a direction of the input moves towards a first direction corresponding to a first boundary of the display and that the input reaches the first boundary or moves faster than a specified speed, a first function using at least one portion of content corresponding to the at least one data object, the first function corresponding with the first boundary; and

perform, in response to a determination that a direction of the input moves towards a second direction corresponding to a second boundary of the display and that the input reaches the second boundary or moves faster than a specified speed, a second function using the at least one portion of the content, the second function corresponding with the second boundary.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first function or the second function comprises:

transmitting the at least one portion of the content to an external electronic device using a short range communication associated with a corresponding one of the first function and the second function.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one portion of the content comprises image content or audio content; and

the first function or the second function comprises presenting a slide show using the image content or the audio content.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one data object comprises a first data object representing first content and a second data object representing second content; and

the controller is configured to;

display, via the display, a third data object representing third content generated based on at least one portion of the first content and at least one portion of the second content.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a display to present a plurality of data objects; and

a controller configured to;

present a first indication representing a first function in a region of the display;

identify an input related to at least one data object of the plurality of data objects presented via the display; and

present a second indication representing a second function in relation with the at least one data object, the second function selected based, at least in part, on a number or content of the at least one data object,

wherein;

the first function is performed based on a determination that the input reaches a first boundary of the display or that the input moves faster than a specified speed, the first function corresponding with the first boundary; and

the second function is performed based on a determination that the input reaches a second boundary of the display or that the input moves faster than a specified speed, the second function corresponding with the second boundary.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to:

present the second indication in the region such that the first indication is replaced by the second indication.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to:

select a third function as the second function if the content has a first characteristic; and

select a fourth function as the second function if the content has a second characteristic.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the region comprises a boundary region of the display.