IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,413,065
Granted Patent B2
US 8,413,065 · App. 12/554,973 · Granted Apr 2, 2013

User interface methods for ending an application

Inventor: Samuel J. Horodezky (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,413,065
App. No.
12/554,973
Granted
Apr 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and devices provide an efficient user interface for initiating a function by detecting an ellipsoidal continuous touch path on a touch surface of a computing device. In an embodiment the initiated function may end an application. A user may initiate the function operation by tracing an ellipsoidal shape (e.g., a circle) a touchscreen or touchpad. A display image may be contorted to inform the user about the progress towards accomplishing the function. The function operation of contorting the display image may begin at a minimum measure of the traced path and complete at a maximum measure of the traced path. In an embodiment, terminating an application and returning to the home display may be achieved in response to a clockwise path trace and minimizing of an application and returning to home display may be achieved in response to a counterclockwise path trace, or vice versa.

Claims (107)

1. A method for initiating a function on a computing device, comprising:

detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path;

determining a rotational direction of the path event;

initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation by generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path; and

completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value, wherein completing the operation further comprises:

terminating an application and returning to home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a first direction; and

minimizing the application and returning to a home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a second direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

6. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a touchscreen display coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path;

determining a rotational direction of the path event;

initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation by generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path; and

completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value, wherein completing the operation further comprises:

terminating an application and returning to home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a first direction: and

minimizing the application and returning to home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a second direction.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further operations comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

8. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further operations comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

9. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

10. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

11. A computing device, comprising:

means for detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

means for determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path;

means for determining a rotational direction of the path event;

means for initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image of the present application display as part the initiated operation in the form of a swirl in which the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path; and

means for completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value, wherein the means for completing the operation further comprises:

means for terminating an application and returning to home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a first direction; and

means for minimizing the application and returning to a home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a second direction.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

13. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

14. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

means for initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

means for completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

15. The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

means for initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

means for completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path;

determining a rotational direction of the path event;

initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation by generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path; and

completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value, wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that completing the operation further comprises:

terminating an application and returning to home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a first direction; and

minimizing the application and returning to a home display when the rotational direction of the path event is determined to be in a second direction.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the stored computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2010
From: HORODEZKY, SAMUEL J.
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 023908/0601 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110057953A1 · Mar 10, 2011