System and method of mode-switching for a computing device
View Patent ↗A first device such as a portable computing device can be configured to act as a text-entry device (in a text-entry mode) and a cursor control device (in a cursor control mode) for a second device. The first device can include a touch-sensitive display capable of receiving text inputs and cursor inputs for controlling the display of a second device which is communicatively coupled to the first device. The first device can be configured such that selection of certain items displayed by the second device can cause the first device to switch from a text-entry mode to a cursor control mode. The first device can be configured such that rotation of the device between a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation causes the device to switch between modes. The first device can be configured such that sideways movement of the device causes the device to switch between modes.
1. A method comprising:
receiving at least one input on a first device in a cursor mode in which the input transmitted away from the first device is to be used to control a display of a second device, wherein the first device acts as a cursor control mechanism for a cursor displayed on the display of the second device; and
in response to the at least one input received, switching the first device from the cursor mode to a text entry mode, in which the first device acts as text-entry mechanism for the second device;
wherein switching from the cursor to the text entry mode causes a display of the first device to display selectable characters.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input corresponds to a movement input.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the movement corresponds to a sideways translational movement.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the movement corresponds to a tilt movement.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the movement corresponds to a rotational movement.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the rotational movement corresponds to turning the first device from a substantially landscape orientation to a substantially portrait orientation.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the movement corresponds to a diagonal translation.
8. A system comprising:
a processor;
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for controlling the processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving at least one input on a first device in a cursor mode in which the input transmitted away from the first device is to be used to control a display of a second device, wherein the first device acts as a cursor control mechanism for a cursor displayed on the display of the second device; and
in response to the at least one input received, switching the first device from the cursor mode to a text-entry mode, in which the first device acts as text-entry mechanism for the second device;
wherein switching from the cursor to the text entry mode causes a display of the first device to display selectable characters.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one input corresponds to a movement input.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement corresponds to a sideways translational movement.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement corresponds to a tilt movement.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement corresponds to a rotational movement.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the rotational movement corresponds to turning the first device from a substantially landscape orientation to a substantially portrait orientation.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the movement corresponds to a diagonal translation.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
receive at least one input on the electronic device in a text-entry mode in which the input transmitted away from the electronic device is to be used to control a display of a second device, wherein the first device acts as a text-entry mechanism for the second device and wherein a display of the first device displays selectable text characters; and
in response to the at least one input received, switch the first device from the text-entry mode to a cursor mode, in which the first device acts as a cursor control mechanism for the second device;
wherein switching from the text-entry mode to the cursor mode causes the display of the first device to cease displaying selectable text characters.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one input corresponds to a movement input.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the movement corresponds to a tilt movement.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the movement corresponds to a side-to-side movement.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the movement corresponds to a rotational movement.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the rotational movement corresponds to turning the first device from a substantially landscape orientation to a substantially portrait orientation.