Gestures for touch sensitive input devices

1. A method for processing touch inputs, said method comprising:

reading data from a touch screen, the data pertaining to touch input over one or more graphical user interface (GUI) elements displayed on the touch screen, the touch screen having a multipoint capability;

determining an orientation of one or more objects causing the touch input, the orientation representing a direction to which the one or more objects are pointing at set down prior to any movement of the one or more objects is detected; and

classifying the data as representing one of a plurality of gesture modes depending on the determined orientation at set down of the one or more objects.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising classifying the data as representing a tracking gesture mode when a particular orientation of the one or more objects is determined.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein tracking comprises direct manipulation of a pointer or cursor appearing on the touch screen.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of gesture modes performs direct manipulation of at least one of the GUI elements appearing on the touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising classifying the data as representing a scrolling or panning gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing scrolling or panning when the at least two objects move together in substantially the same direction.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising classifying the data as representing a zooming gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing zooming when the at least two objects linearly move away or towards one another.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising classifying the data as representing a rotation gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing rotation when the at least two objects rotate relative to each other or relative to a known point.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising simultaneously performing multiple control actions during the same touch input.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch input is a continuous stroke, the stroke maintaining continuous contact on the touch screen.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing one or more gesture mode operations based at least in part on changes that occur with or between at least two objects.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executable to perform a method for processing touch inputs, the method comprising:

reading data from a touch screen, the data pertaining to touch input over one or more graphical user interface (GUI) elements displayed on the touch screen, the touch screen having a multipoint capability;

determining an orientation of one or more objects causing the touch input, the orientation representing a direction to which the one or more objects are pointing at set down prior to any movement of the one or more objects is detected; and

classifying the data as representing one of a plurality of gesture modes depending on the determined orientation at set down of the one or more objects.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising classifying the data as representing a tracking gesture mode when a particular orientation of the one or more objects is determined.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein tracking comprises direct manipulation of a pointer or cursor appearing on the touch screen.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of gesture modes performs direct manipulation of at least one of the GUI elements appearing on the touch screen.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising classifying the data as representing a scrolling or panning gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing scrolling or panning when the at least two objects move together in substantially the same direction.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising classifying the data as representing a zooming gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing zooming when the at least two objects linearly move away or towards one another.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising classifying the data as representing a rotation gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing rotation when the at least two objects rotate relative to each other or relative to a known point.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising simultaneously performing multiple control actions during the same touch input.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the touch input is a continuous stroke, the stroke maintaining continuous contact on the touch screen.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the method further comprising performing one or more gesture mode operations based at least in part on changes that occur with or between at least two objects.

21. A system comprising:

a touch screen; and

a processor coupled to the touch screen, the processor capable of:

reading data from the touch screen, the data pertaining to touch input over one or more graphical user interface (GUI) elements displayed on the touch screen, the touch screen having a multipoint capability;

determining an orientation of one or more objects causing the touch input, the orientation representing a direction to which the one or more objects are pointing at set down prior to any movement of the one or more objects is detected; and

classifying the data as representing one of a plurality of gesture modes depending on the determined orientation at set down of the one or more objects.

22. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of classifying the data as representing a tracking gesture mode when a particular orientation of the one or more objects is determined.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein tracking comprises direct manipulation of a pointer or cursor appearing on the touch screen.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein one of the plurality of gesture modes performs direct manipulation of at least one of the GUI elements appearing on the touch screen.

25. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of classifying the data as representing a scrolling or panning gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing scrolling or panning when the at least two objects move together in substantially the same direction.

26. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of classifying the data as representing a zooming gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing zooming when the at least two objects linearly move away or towards one another.

27. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of classifying the data as representing a rotation gesture mode when a particular orientation of at least two objects is determined, and performing rotation when the at least two objects rotate relative to each other or relative to a known point.

28. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of simultaneously performing multiple control actions during the same touch input.

29. The system of claim 21 , wherein the touch input is a continuous stroke, the stroke maintaining continuous contact on the touch screen.

30. The system of claim 21 , the processor further capable of performing one or more gesture mode operations based at least in part on changes that occur with or between at least two objects.