U.S. patent application number 14/016587 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-02 for method, system, and program product for no-look digit entry in a multi-touch device.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Lisa Seacat Deluca.
Application Number | 20140002403 14/016587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45328176 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140002403 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seacat Deluca; Lisa |
January 2, 2014 |
Method, System, and Program Product for No-Look Digit Entry in a
Multi-Touch Device
Abstract
A method, device, and program product are provided for no-look
entry of digits in a multi-touch device. A multi-touch screen of
the multi-touch device senses an initializing combination of at
least one touch. A no-look digit entry application assigns a binary
value to each touched location. The multi-touch screen detects at
least one combination of at least one touch of the touch screen.
The no-look digit entry application determines the locations
touched and enters digit inputs corresponding to the sum of the
binary values assigned to the locations for each detected
combination of touches.
Inventors: |
Seacat Deluca; Lisa;
(Baltimore, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
45328176 |
Appl. No.: |
14/016587 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12819192 |
Jun 19, 2010 |
8542204 |
|
|
14016587 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0488 20130101;
G06F 3/04886 20130101; G06F 3/0412 20130101; G06F 2203/04808
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable
storage medium; and computer usable code stored on the computer
readable storage medium, where, if executed by a processor, the
computer usable code causes a computer to: create a target area in
response to a touch on a touch screen, wherein the target area is
to be created at a location of the touch; assign a value to the
target area, wherein the value is to remain the same each time the
target area is to be contacted; and enter a digit input
corresponding to the value if the target area is to be
contacted.
2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the target area
is to be larger than an area of the location of the touch.
3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer
usable code, if executed, further causes a computer to assign the
value according to a predetermined pattern.
4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the
predetermined pattern is to include a sequential pattern of a
plurality of target areas.
5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the sequential
pattern is to include a vertically sequential pattern.
6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the value is to
include a binary value.
7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer
usable code, if executed, further causes a computer to detect at
least one combination of at least one no-look touch of the touch
screen and to sum each binary value assigned to each target area to
be contacted.
8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer
usable code, if executed, further causes a computer to assign a
first binary value of two to the power of zero (2.sup.0) to a first
target area, a second binary value of two to the power of one
(2.sup.1) to a second target area, a third binary value of two to
the power of two (2.sup.2) to a third target area, and a fourth
binary values of two to the power of three (2.sup.3) to a fourth
target area.
9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer
usable code, if executed, further causes a computer to use the
digit input to form one or more of a number, a letter, and a
function call.
10. A method comprising: creating a target area in response to a
touch on a touch screen, wherein the target area is created at a
location of the touch; assigning a value to the target area,
wherein the value remains the same each time the target area is
contacted; and entering a digit input corresponding to the value if
the target area is contacted.
11. The method of claim 10, further including assigning the value
according to a predetermined pattern.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the value includes a binary
value.
13. The method of claim 12, further including: detecting at least
one combination of at least one no-look touch of the touch screen;
and summing each binary value assigned to each target area
contacted.
14. The method of claim 12, further including: assigning a first
binary value of two to the power of zero (2.sup.0) to a first
target area; assigning a second binary value of two to the power of
one (2.sup.1) to a second target area; assigning a third binary
value of two to the power of two (2.sup.2) to a third target area;
and assigning a fourth binary values of two to the power of three
(2.sup.3) to a fourth target area.
15. The method of claim 10, further including using the digit input
to form one or more of a number, a letter, and a function call.
16. An apparatus comprising a processor to: create a target area in
response to a touch on a touch screen, wherein the target area is
to be created at a location of the touch; assign a value to the
target area, wherein the value is to remain the same each time the
target area is to be contacted; and enter a digit input
corresponding to the value if the target area is to be
contacted.
17. The apparatus claim 16, wherein the processor is to assign the
value according to a predetermined pattern.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the value is to include a
binary value.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is to detect
at least one combination of at least one no-look touch of the touch
screen and to sum each binary value assigned to each target area to
be contacted.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is to assign a
first binary value of two to the power of zero (2.sup.0) to a first
target area, a second binary value of two to the power of one
(2.sup.1) to a second target area, a third binary value of two to
the power of two (2.sup.2) to a third target area, and a fourth
binary values of two to the power of three (2.sup.3) to a fourth
target area.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/819,192 filed on Jun. 19, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the field of multi-touch sensors
and more particularly to a method, system, and program product for
entering digits in a multi-touch device without looking at the
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Multi-touch devices are increasingly growing in popularity.
Multi-touch devices have a multi-touch screen, which is a resistive
or capacitive sensor that is capable of sensing touches at more
than one location. Typically the multi-touch screen overlies a
display. Many devices using multi-touch screens completely do away
with traditional key pads which are replaced with an on-screen
version of a key pad.
[0004] Traditional key pads have an indicator key that allows a
user to determine the location of the keys. Typically the indicator
for a telephone keypad, for example, is the five (5) key. The
indicator is usually a raised area that a user can feel without
looking On-screen key pads make it difficult to place a call
without looking at the screen, because it is impractical to form a
physical indicator structure that can be felt onto a touch screen,
and because a touch screen displays or hides a dynamic key pad
based on interactions with a user.
SUMMARY
[0005] A method, device, and program product are provided for
no-look entry of digits in a multi-touch device. According to an
embodiment of the present invention, a multi-touch screen of the
multi-touch device senses an initializing combination of touches at
a plurality of locations. A no-look digit entry application assigns
a binary value to each touched location according to a
predetermined pattern. The multi-touch screen detects combinations
of touches of the touch screen. The no-look digit entry application
determines the locations touched and enters digit inputs
corresponding to the binary values assigned to the locations for
each detected combination of touches.
[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the locations
touched are determined by creating target areas at the initializing
locations and detecting touches of the target areas.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the locations touched are determined by calculating the nearest
initializing location to the detected touch.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, sensing
an initializing combination of touches comprises sensing
simultaneous touches at a predetermined number of locations. In one
embodiment, the predetermined number of locations is four, the
first binary value is one, the second binary value is two, the
third binary value is four, and the fourth binary value is
eight.
[0009] According to other embodiments, sensing an initializing
combination of touches comprises sensing touches for a
predetermined period of time or sensing that the plurality of
locations are touched in a predetermined sequence.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention at
least one combination of at least one entered digit is entered as a
letter.
[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention at
least one combination of at least one digit is entered as a
function from the group: delete last digit, finish, and switch to
text.
[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention a
non-visual feedback signal indicating the digit entered.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
multi-touch device is configured for no-look entry of digits. The
device comprises: a multi-touch screen; a processor operably
connected with the mult-touch screen; and a memory operably
connected with the processor. The memory has encoded thereon a
no-look digit entry application executable by the processor to:
sense an initializing combination of touches on a touch screen at a
plurality of locations; assign a binary value to each touched
location according to a predetermined pattern; detect combinations
of touches of the touch screen; determine the locations touched;
and enter digit inputs corresponding to the binary values assigned
to the locations for each detected combination of touches.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention a
program product is provided, comprising a computer storage medium
having encoded thereon a computer executable program of
instructions. The program of instructions comprises: program
instructions for sensing an initializing combination of touches on
a touch screen at a plurality of locations; program instructions
for assigning a binary value to each touched location according to
a predetermined pattern; program instructions for detecting
combinations of touches of the touch screen; program instructions
for determining the locations touched; and program instructions for
entering digit inputs corresponding to the binary values assigned
to the locations for each detected combination of touches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The features and advantages of the invention will be more
clearly understood from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-touch device configured
for no-look entry of digits sensing locations for creation of
target areas according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of a multi-touch device configured
for no-look entry of digits sensing locations for creation of
target areas according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front view of the multi-touch device of FIG. 1
with binary values assigned to the target areas according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view of the multi-touch device of FIG. 1
with digits being entered according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for no-look entry of
digits according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for no-look entry of
digits according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The present invention provides a method, apparatus and
program product for no-look entry of digits on a multi-touch screen
of a multi-touch device. According to an embodiment of the present
invention, a user touches four fingers to the multi-touch screen to
initialize or establish the areas corresponding to binary values
for digit entry. A no-look digit entry application senses the
locations on the touch screen contacted by the four fingers and
creates target areas at those locations. Once the target areas are
created and the binary values are assigned, the no-look digit entry
application detects combinations of target areas, sums the binary
values for the combinations of target areas, and enters the digit
corresponding to the sum of the binary values.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of multi-touch
device 10 for no-look entry of digits according to an embodiment of
the present invention is shown. The multi-touch device has a
multi-touch screen 100 for sensing or detecting contact therewith.
The multi-touch screen 100 may be configured to sense or detect a
touch by a finger tip, another body part, a stylus or other device
for triggering a touch sensor, or any other object suitable for
contacting a target area to trigger a touch sensor. Moreover, the
multi-touch screen 100 can detect the location where a touch occurs
and can detect multiple touches at the same time.
[0024] A processor 300 is operably connected with the touch screen
100 through a system bus 200 or other means for transmitting
electronic signals. The processor may be any processing device or
unit suitable for executing program code. According to one
embodiment, processor 300 is one or more microprocessors.
[0025] A memory 400 is operably connected with the processor 300
through the bus 200. Memory 400 may comprise Random access Memory
(RAM), persistent memory, such as a hard drive, a CD-ROM, a DVD
drive, a USB memory device, or the like, or a combination
thereof.
[0026] A no-look digit entry application 410 is encoded on the
memory 400. The no-look digit entry application 410 is executable
by the processor 300 to sense an initializing combination of
touches on a touch screen at a plurality of locations, and assign a
binary value to each initializing location according to a
predetermined pattern. Then, after initializing, the no-look digit
entry application 410 detects combinations of touches of the touch
screen, determines the locations touched, and enters digit inputs
corresponding to the binary values assigned to the locations for
each detected combination of touches.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for no-look entry of
digits in a multi-touch device. The multi-touch screen 100 of the
multi-touch device 10 senses for an initializing combination of
touches (step 510). The initializing combination of touches
comprises touches at a plurality of locations. In an embodiment of
the present invention, the plurality of locations comprises four
locations 111, 113, 115, 117, and the no-look digit entry
application 410 initializes when four locations are simultaneously
touched on the multi-touch screen 100. This initialization
corresponds to a user touching the multi-touch screen 100 with four
finger tips while holding the multi-touch device as shown in FIG.
2. According to an alternate embodiment, the no-look entry
application 410 may initialize when four locations are touched
sequentially.
[0028] The multi-touch screen 100 sends signals to the processor
300 responsive to the locations that the multi-touch screen 100 is
touched. The no-look digit entry application compares these signals
of touches from the multi-touch screen 100 with a pre-determined
combination of initializing touches, such as simultaneous touches
at four locations (step 515). The initializing touch combination
may also comprise simultaneous or sequential touches essentially
vertically or horizontally aligned on the multi-touch screen
100.
[0029] If the initializing combination of touches is not matched
(noat 515), then the no-look digit entry application continues to
monitor for the initializing combination of touches on the touch
screen 100.
[0030] If the initializing combination of touches is matched (yesat
515), then, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
the no-look digit entry application initializes the locations
touched (step 520). Initializing means that the no-look digit entry
application 110 stores the locations of the touches when the
initializing touch combination is detected.
[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, as part
of the initializing step, the no-look digit entry application 110
creates target areas 112, 114, 116, 118 at the locations touched
(step 524). A target area is an area of a touch screen assigned a
defined function or value when it is contacted. The target areas
may be larger than the area contacted, provided that they do not
overlap.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the target areas are assigned binary
values (step 530). For the four finger example of FIG. 2: 2.sup.0
or 1 is assigned to a first target area 112; 2.sup.1 or 2 is
assigned to a second target area 114, 2.sup.2 or 4 is assigned to a
third target area 116, and 2.sup.3 or 8 is assigned to a fourth
target area 118. The values are assigned according to a
predetermined pattern, such as vertically sequential from the
bottom, in which the lowest vertical target area is assigned the
value of 1, the second target area is assigned the value of 2, the
third target area is assigned the value of 4 and the top target
area is assigned the value of 8. For example, the target area at
the first or index finger 191 is assigned a value of 8, the target
area at the second or middle finger 193 is assigned the value of 4,
the target area at the third or ring finger 195 is assigned the
value of 2, and the target area at the fourth or little finger 197
is assigned the value of 1.
[0033] Once the target areas 112, 114, 116, 118 are created and the
binary values are assigned, the no-look digit entry application 110
monitors for combinations of target areas. That is, the multi-touch
screen 100 senses the touches and sends signals to the processor
300 (step 540), and processor executes instructions of the no-look
digit entry application 110 to monitor the signals from the
multi-touch screen 100 to determine whether or not target areas
have been touched and which target areas have been touched (step
545). If no touches are detected (no at step 545), then the no-look
digit entry application 110 tests for a time out condition (step
555). If the time out condition is met, then optionally a zero may
be automatically entered (step 570). If the time out condition is
not met, then the no-look digit entry application 110 continues to
monitor the signals from the multi-touch screen 100 to determine
whether or not target areas have been touched and which target
areas have been touched (step 545).
[0034] If touches are detected (yes at step 545), then the
processor 300 executing the no-look digit entry application 110
sums the binary values for the combination of target areas touched
(step 550). For example, if the second and fourth fingers contact
the touch screen, as shown in FIG. 4, then the binary value is 0101
which is the binary representation of the digit 5. One skilled in
the art will appreciate that with four fingers, a user may make the
binary representations for the digits 0 through 15 as shown in
table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Binary representation Digit 0000 0 0001 1
0010 2 0011 3 0100 4 0101 5 0110 6 0111 7 1000 8 1001 9 1010 10
1011 11 1100 12 1101 13 1110 14 1111 15
[0035] As can readily be seen, the 1's correspond to fingers in
contact with the multi-touch screen 110, an the 0's correspond to
fingers not being in contact with the multi-touch screen 110. It
should be understood that not all possible binary representations
or finger combinations are necessary to represent the digits 0-9.
Also, since the representation for zero is no touches, an
embodiment of the present invention may substitute another
representation such as 1010 (the binary representation of 10) for
zero. The representations for 11-14 may also be assigned additional
functions.
[0036] The no-look digit entry application may take each
combination of touches that occur simultaneously as a digit, or
pairs or tuples of simultaneous touches may be combined to form as
digit enabling a user to represent all 26 letters of the alphabet
for sending text messages. The grouping of touches may be a user
selected option.
[0037] According to another embodiment, digits may be used to form
letters using a predictive program. For example, T9 text may be
entered as letters by predicting the word from the possible letter
combinations. In T9 text, each digit may be any one of three or
four possible letters. For example the digit 4 could be any one of
the letters g, h, and i (the letters on the 4 key of a standard
telephone keypad). The word "hello" may be entered in T9 text as
follows: [0038] 0100 (4)=ghi [0039] 0011 (3)=def [0040] 0101
(5)=jkl [0041] 0101 (5)=jkl [0042] 0110 (6)=mno. The word would be
predicted as "hello" since that's the only word that can be formed
from this combination of digits.
[0043] According to another embodiment digits may be combined into
variable sized groups to form letters. The digits may be combined
into groups of one, two, three, or more digits to create a letter
or a function. Letters may be entered by a time out function. For
example, in multi-tap texting on a telephone keypad an "a" is
entered by a grouping of a single digit "2", "b" is entered by two
digits "2", c is entered by a grouping of three digits "2", "d" is
entered by a single digit "3", and so on. A time out function is
used to enter a letter. The time out may occur if no touches are
received for a period of time, such as three seconds. This period
of time optionally may be user adjustable. The word hello may be
sent by multi-tap text message by entering the following groups of
touches: [0044] 0100 (4) 0100 (4)=h [0045] 0011 (3) 0011 (3)=e
[0046] 0101 (5) 0101 (5)0101 (5)=1 [0047] 0101 (5) 0101 (5) 0101
(5)=1 [0048] 0110 (6) 0110 (6) 0110 (6)=o.
[0049] After the binary values have been summed to determine a
digit (step 550), the digit corresponding to the sum of the binary
values is entered (step 560). Then, the no-look digit entry
application monitors for another combination of touches (step
540).
[0050] According to an embodiment of the invention, the group of
digits may represent a phone number. When the entire phone number
has been entered, a user may invoke a dialing function. The dialing
function may be a digit that is not used for phone numbers such as
1011 (11), for example.
[0051] According to another embodiment, the group of digit may
represent a combination for unlocking a display of the multi-touch
device 10, for example. The display may be unlocked upon entry of
the last digit of the combination.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for no-look entry of
digits according to another embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, instead of creating target areas, the no look
digit entry application, initializes the initializing locations by
storing the locations that the multi-touch screen 110 is touched by
the initializing combination of touches. The location of
subsequently detected touches is determined by calculating the
closest stored initializing location to each detected touch.
[0053] This method begins like the method of FIG. 5. When an
initializing combination of touches is sensed (yes at step 615),
the no look digit entry application 410, stores the locations that
the multi-touch screen 110 is touched (step 620). The locations
touched may be saved as a target point at the center of each touch.
Binary values are assigned to the stored initializing or target
locations (step 630), instead of target areas.
[0054] Then, when combinations of touches are detected (yes at step
645), the no-look digit entry application 410 determines the
location of the touches by calculating the nearest stored
initializing or target location to each detected touch (step 650).
The no-look digit entry application 410 sums the binary values
assigned to the closest initializing or target location for each
detected touch (step 660). The digit corresponding to the sum of
the assigned binary values is then entered (step 670).
[0055] According to one embodiment of the present invention, digits
that are not used for entering data, such as numerals, may be used
to call various functions. For example, 1100 (12) is not needed for
entering numerals, as in base 10 only the numerals 0-9 are used.
The digits that are not used for numerals may be used to call a
function such as: delete last digit, finish, and switch from
numerals to letters or text.
[0056] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, the no-look digit entry application 410 may cause a
non-visual feedback to be generated to confirm to the user the
digit entered. For example, the multi-touch device may vibrate a
number of times corresponding to the entered digit. In the example
of FIG. 4, the digit 0101 (5) is entered, so the device would
vibrate five times. Alternatively, the no-look digit entry
application 410 may cause the device to emit a sound five
times.
[0057] The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware
embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment
containing both hardware and software elements. In an exemplary
embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which
includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software,
microcode, etc.
[0058] Furthermore, the invention may take the form of a computer
program product accessible from a computer-usable or
computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in
connection with a computer or any instruction execution system or
device. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or
computer readable medium may be any apparatus that can contain or
store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0059] The foregoing method may be realized by a program product
comprising a machine-readable medium having a machine-executable
program of instructions, which when executed by a machine, such as
a computer, performs the steps of the method. This program product
may be stored on any of a variety of known machine-readable medium,
including but not limited to compact discs, floppy discs, USB
memory devices, and the like.
[0060] The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical,
electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or
device). Examples of a computer-readable medium include a
semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable
computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory
(ROM), a rigid magnetic disk an optical disk. Current examples of
optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM),
compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.
[0061] The preceding description and accompanying drawing are
intended to be illustrative and not limiting of the invention. The
scope of the invention is intended to encompass equivalent
variations and configurations to the full extent of the following
claims.
* * * * *