Method and apparatus for interpreting input movement on a computing device interface as a one- or two-dimensional input

1. A computing device comprising:

an input interface on which a user moves a finger or object;

one or more processors configured to:

detect a movement of a user's finger or object over the input interface;

determine multiple points in the movement, including an initial point of the movement;

determine a topology about the initial point that includes (i) a horizontal reference and a vertical reference; (ii) a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions being defined at least in part by a horizontal distance threshold value with respect to the vertical reference, and a vertical distance threshold value with respect to the horizontal reference; and

determine the movement as one- or two-dimensional based on any one of the multiple points in the movement being located in one of the plurality of regions of the topology that is assigned to a determination of two-dimensional input.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the input interface includes a touch-sensitive display.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to define the topology to include a one or more regions that are assigned to each of a determination of horizontal linear input and vertical linear input.

4. The computing device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to interpret the movement as horizontal linear or vertical linear based on individual points in the movement being located in the one or more regions that are assigned to each of the determinations of horizontal linear input and vertical linear input.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to switch from interpreting the movement as one-dimensional input to interpreting the movement as two-dimensional input.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a significant point as one of the multiple points in the movement, the significant point satisfying a criterion of time or distance from the initial point.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a direction of the movement based on the significant point.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the movement as linear when determining the direction.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to after the topology based on one or more sensor parameters.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to after the topology based on historical information about one or more of (i) a user's preference for one- or two-dimensional input, or (ii) a user's preference for how to define a coordinate space.

11. The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising one or more sensors to determine an orientation of the device when held by a user, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to use information indicating an orientation of the device relative to the user in altering the topology.

12. The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising a sensor to detect that the user is using a thumb in creating the movement, and wherein the one or more sensors are configured to after the topology based on the user using the thumb rather than another finger.

13. A method for operating a computing device, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising steps of:

detecting a plurality of points in a user's movement of a finger over an input interface, the plurality of points including an initial point, a significant point, and one or more other points;

determining at least one of a horizontal reference or a vertical reference for the input movement about at the initial point;

determining at least one of a horizontal or vertical threshold value for the movement;

making a determination as to whether the movement is vertical or horizontal based on the significant point;

for each of one or more other points, making a determination as to whether the movement is one- or two-dimensional based on at least one of (i) a horizontal separation between that point and the vertical reference; or (ii) a vertical separation between that point and the vertical reference; and

processing the movement as one- or two-dimensional input based on the determination.