Apparatus, method, computer program and user interface

• US 9,733,705 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Colley, Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/767,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,668 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071-4072, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

An apparatus, method, computer program and apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one processor: and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to: provide a user selectable part; and configure the apparatus in either a first active state or a second active state wherein, in the first active state the user selectable part is actuated in response to a first mode of actuation and in the second active state the user selectable part is not actuated in response to the first mode of actuation; and configure the apparatus to provide a tactile indication when the apparatus is in the first active state that the user selectable part is actuated in response to the first mode of actuation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine that the apparatus is in one of a first active state or a second active state;

provide a user selectable part;

respond to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a first mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the first active state, and differently respond to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a second mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the second active state; and

configure the apparatus to cause a tactile indication to be provided with the user selectable part in response to the first mode of actuation and not in response to the second mode of actuation.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication is configured to be perceived by the user through the sense of touch.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication comprises a raised portion of a user input device.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication comprises an indented portion of a user input device.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication is provided by an electroactive polymer.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication comprises vibration of a part of the apparatus.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first mode of actuation comprises enabling the user selectable part for pressing longer than a predetermined period of time.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first mode of actuation comprises enabling multiple touches of the user selectable part.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to be switched between the first active state and the second active state in response to a user input.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second mode of actuation comprises enabling the user selectable part for pressing less than a predetermined period of time.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a touch sensitive display, wherein the user selectable part and the tactile indication are provided on the touch sensitive display.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tactile indication provided with the user selectable part causes the user selectable part to have a first shape in response to the first mode of actuation, and the user selectable part has a second shape in response to the second mode of actuation as the tactile indication is not provided in response to the second mode of actuation.

10. A method comprising:

determining that an apparatus is in one of a first active state or a second active state;

providing a user selectable part of the apparatus;

responding to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a first mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the first active state, and differently responding to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a second mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the second active state; and

causing a tactile indication to be provided with the user selectable part in response to the first mode of actuation and not in response to the second mode of actuation.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tactile indication is configured to be perceived by the user through the sense of touch.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tactile indication comprises a raised portion of a user input device.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tactile indication comprises an indented portion of a user input device.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tactile indication is provided by an electroactive polymer.

19. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tactile indication provided with the user selectable part causes the user selectable part to have a first shape in response to the first mode of actuation, and the user selectable part has a second shape in response to the second mode of actuation as the tactile indication is not provided in response to the second mode of actuation.

15. A tangible computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions stored therein that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform:

determining that an apparatus is in one of a first active state or a second active state;

providing a user selectable part of the apparatus;

responding to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a first mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the first active state, and differently responding to actuation of the user selectable part in response to a second mode of actuation when the apparatus is in the second active state; and

causing a tactile indication to be provided with the user selectable part in response to the first mode of actuation and not in response to the second mode of actuation.

20. A computer program product as claimed in claim 15 wherein the tactile indication provided with the user selectable part causes the user selectable part to have a first shape in response to the first mode of actuation, and the user selectable part has a second shape in response to the second mode of actuation as the tactile indication is not provided in response to the second mode of actuation.