Patent US6340979B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6340979B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Contextual gesture interface
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
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Filing: 1999-08-16
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Granted: 2002-01-22
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Expires: 2019-08-16
Abstract
Abstract The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a contextual gesture interface for electronic devices. The contextual gesture interface activates a function corresponding to the characteristics of an object making contact with a display. The system may determine the time period of the contact as well as the size of the contact. The functions may include a wide array of navigation tools or editing tools. The contextual gesture interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Finlay Beaton
- 👤 Colin Donald Smith
- 👤 Francois Blouin
- 👤 Guillaume Comeau
- 👤 Arthur Julian Patterson Craddock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/72445; H04M1/72469; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of providing a contextual user interface comprising the steps of: ascertaining a current user application out of a plurality of applications; detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining which type of object, of a plurality of types of objects, has made contact with the physical viewing area by performing the substeps of: determining a characteristic of the contact; determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and computing a point size of the contact based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure, thereby determining which type of object of the plurality of types of objects has made contact with the physical viewing area, and activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristic, the type of object making contact, and the current user application.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of providing a contextual user interface comprising the steps of: ascertaining a current user application out of a plurality of applications; detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining which type of object, of a plurality of types of objects, has made contact with the physical viewing area by performing the substeps of: determining a characteristic of the contact; determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and computing a point size of the contact based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure, thereby determining which type of object of the plurality of types of objects has made contact with the physical viewing area, and activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristic, the type of object making contact, and the current user application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a characteristic of the contact includes: determining a time period of contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a characteristic of the contact includes: determining the contact characteristic as a prolonged finger-sized object, and wherein the activating step includes the substep of activating a navigation tool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a characteristic of the contact includes: determining the contact characteristic as a prolonged stylus-sized object, and wherein the activating step includes the substep of activating a drawing tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a characteristics of the contact step includes the substep of determining the direction of movement of the contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a characteristics of the contact step includes the substep of determining the speed of movement of the contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein when the current user application is a navigation application, the determining a characteristic of the contact step includes the substep of determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating step includes the substep of activating a next page function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein when the current user application is an editing application, the determining a characteristic of the contact step includes the substep of determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating step includes the substep of highlighting a section of a document underlying the user input.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein when the current user application is a graphics application, the determining a characteristic of the contact step includes the substep of determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating step includes the substep of drawing a line in a section of a document underlying the user input.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein when the current user application is a network browser application, the determining a characteristic of the contact step includes the substep of determining the contact characteristic as a lingering touch, and the activating step includes the substeps of enabling a graphical tool, and disabling functions of underlying document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step includes the substeps of measuring an analog voltage signal from the physical viewing area, and converting the analog voltage signal to a digital value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 , further including the step of transmitting the digital value to a processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 , further including the step of analyzing the digital value by the processor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes the substeps of: determining the amount of pressure imposed on the physical viewing area by the object; determining a time period of contact; and computing a point size of the contact based on the amount of pressure imposed on the physical viewing area as a function of the time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing a point size step includes determining points of contact of the object by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area includes: determining whether the pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for providing a contextual user interface comprising: means for ascertaining a current user application out of a plurality of applications; means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining which type of object, of a plurality of types of objects, has made contact with the physical viewing area, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining a characteristic of the contact; means for determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and means for computing a point size of the contact based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure, thereby determining which type of object of the plurality of types of objects has made contact with the physical viewing area, and means for activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristic, the type of object making contact, and the current user application.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for providing a contextual user interface comprising: means for ascertaining a current user application out of a plurality of applications; means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining which type of object, of a plurality of types of objects, has made contact with the physical viewing area, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining a characteristic of the contact; means for determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and means for computing a point size of the contact based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure, thereby determining which type of object of the plurality of types of objects has made contact with the physical viewing area, and means for activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristic, the type of object making contact, and the current user application.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the time period of the contact.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a prolonged finger-sized object, and wherein the activating means includes: means for activating a navigation tool.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a prolonged stylus-sized object, and wherein the activating means includes: means for activating a drawing tool.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the direction of movement of the contact.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the speed of movement of the contact.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein when the current user application is a navigation application, the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating means includes: means for activating a next page function.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein when the current user application is an editing application, the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating means includes: means for highlighting a section of a document underlying the user input.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein when the current user application is a graphics application, the means for determining a characterstic of the contract includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a quick drag, and the activating means includes: means for drawing a line in a section of a document underlying the user input.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein when the current user application is a network browser application, the means for determining a characteristic of the contact includes: means for determining the contact characteristic as a lingering touch, and the activating means includes: means for enabling a graphical tool, and means for disabling functions of underlying document.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the detecting means includes means for measuring an analog voltage signal from the physical viewing area, and means for converting the analog voltage signal to a digital value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , further including means for transmitting the digital value to a processor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , further including means for analyzing the digital value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for computing a point size includes means for determining point of contact of the object, wherein the means for determining points of contact of the object includes: means for using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the means for determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure includes: means for determining whether the pressure imposed by the object oil the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of providing a contextual user interface comprising the steps of: detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining characteristics of the contact, based on a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristics and current user task, wherein the determining step includes: determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of providing a contextual user interface comprising the steps of: detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining characteristics of the contact, based on a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristics and current user task, wherein the determining step includes: determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for providing a contextual user interface comprising: means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining characteristics of the contact, based on a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and means for activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristics and current user tasks, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for providing a contextual user interface comprising: means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining characteristics of the contact, based on a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; and means for activating a function corresponding to the contact characteristics and current user tasks, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by a controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing a touch-responsive user interface including a touch screen device comprising a physical viewing area, the method comprising the steps of: presenting a first application tool on the physical viewing area; presenting a second application tool on the physical viewing area, wherein the second application tool is superimposed on top of the first application tool; detecting an object making contact on the physical viewing area, wherein the contact is located on the second application tool superimposed on top of the first application tool; determining the pointer size of the object making contact on the physical viewing area; and activating either the first application tool or the second application tool, based on the determined pointer size of the object.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing a touch-responsive user interface including a touch screen device comprising a physical viewing area, the method comprising the steps of: presenting a first application tool on the physical viewing area; presenting a second application tool on the physical viewing area, wherein the second application tool is superimposed on top of the first application tool; detecting an object making contact on the physical viewing area, wherein the contact is located on the second application tool superimposed on top of the first application tool; determining the pointer size of the object making contact on the physical viewing area; and activating either the first application tool or the second application tool, based on the determined pointer size of the object.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the first application tool is a drawing tool, the method further comprising the steps of: determining that the pointer size correlates to a stylus pointer; and activating the first application tool based on the determination that the pointer correlates to a stylus pointer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the second application is a navigation tool, the method further comprising the steps of: determining that the pointer size correlates to a finger; and activating the second application tool based on the determination that the pointer correlates to a finger.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the step of determining the pointer size of the object further includes the steps of: determining the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area; determining the amount of time the object makes contact with the physical viewing area; and determining the pointer size of the object based on the amount of change in the pressure imposed by the object as a function of a range of time the object makes contact with the physical viewing area.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the step of determining the pointer size of the object further includes the steps of: determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by an analog controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area; computing a centroid of the points of contact, computing a standard deviation of the centroid, and computing the pointer size based on the centroid and the standard deviation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the step of determining the pointer size of the object further includes the steps of: determining points of contact of the object, by using points of contact data, wherein the points of contact data is generated by an analog controller that generates at least 150 points of contact per second based on the contact made by the object on the physical viewing area; determining the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewable area; determining the amount of time the object makes contact with the physical viewable area; and determining a pointer size based on the determined amount of pressure as a function of the determined time.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing a touch-responsive user interface comprising the steps of: detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining a pointer size of the object; and activating a function corresponding to the pointer size, wherein the determining step includes the substeps of: determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area thereby determining whether the pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time; and computing a pointer size based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of providing a touch-responsive user interface comprising the steps of: detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; determining a pointer size of the object; and activating a function corresponding to the pointer size, wherein the determining step includes the substeps of: determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area thereby determining whether the pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time; and computing a pointer size based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the computing step includes: associating the pointer size with a stylus pointer when the pressure imposed by the object changes sharply; and associating the pointer size with a finger when the pressure imposed by the object changes gradually.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for providing a touch-responsive user interface comprising: means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining a pointer size of the object; and means for activating a function corresponding to the pointer size, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area, thereby determining whether the pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time; and means for computing a pointer size based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for providing a touch-responsive user interface comprising: means for detecting an object making contact with a physical viewing area; means for determining a pointer size of the object; and means for activating a function corresponding to the pointer size, wherein the means for determining includes: means for determining a rate of change in the amount of pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area, thereby determining whether the pressure imposed by the object on the physical viewing area changes gradually or sharply over a predetermined range of time; and means for computing a pointer size based on the rate of change in the amount of pressure.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the means for computing includes: means for associating the pointer size with a stylus pointer when the pressure imposed by the object changes sharply; and means for associating the pointer size with a finger when the pressure imposed by the object changes gradually.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-01-21 | 2005-07-23 | 2006-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-21 | 2009-07-23 | 2010-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-21 | 2013-07-23 | 2014-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |