IP Library Granted Patent US 8,074,178
Granted Patent B2
US 8,074,178 · App. 11/761,412 · Granted Dec 6, 2011

Visual feedback display

Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,074,178
App. No.
11/761,412
Granted
Dec 6, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Visual feedback may be provided. First, a continuous contact with a first point on a surface may be detected. The surface may comprise, for example, a touch screen or a touch pad. The continuous contact may be caused by a selecting element comprising, for example, a stylus or a digit of a subject. Then a menu may be displayed in response to the detected continuous contact. The menu may comprise a plurality of menu selectable elements. Next it may be detected that the continuous contact has moved from the first point on the surface to a second point on the surface. The second point may correspond to a one of the plurality of menu selectable elements. Then a control may be displayed corresponding the one of the plurality of menu selectable elements.

Claims (45)

1. A method for providing visual feedback, the method comprising:

detecting a contact with a first point on a surface;

displaying a menu in response to the detected contact, the menu comprising a plurality of menu selectable elements;

detecting that the contact has moved from the first point on the surface to a second point on the surface, the second point corresponding to a one of the plurality of menu selectable elements; and

displaying a control corresponding to the one of the plurality of menu selectable elements, wherein displaying the control corresponding to the one of the plurality of menu selectable elements comprises displaying a slider relative to the second point, wherein a thumb of the slider is displayed at the second point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the contact with the first point on the surface comprises detecting the contact with the first point on the surface comprising one of the following: a touch screen and a touch pad.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the contact comprises detecting the contact being caused by a selecting element comprising one of the following: a stylus and a digit of a subject.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the menu comprises displaying the menu on the surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the menu comprises displaying the menu on the surface relative to the first point.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the menu comprises:

determining a first amount of space on the surface in proximity to the first point; and

displaying the plurality of menu selectable elements in the determined first amount of space.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a first area on the surface when it is determined that a user is right-handed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a second area on the surface when it is determined that a user is left-handed.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying a volume control associated with the slider.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the slider comprises displaying, in proximity to the control, indications corresponding to at least one direction in which the control is movable.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the control further comprises:

determining a second amount of space on the surface in proximity to the second point; and

displaying the control in the determined second amount of space.

12. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing visual feedback, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a selecting element hovering over a touch screen at a first point;

displaying a menu in response to the selecting element hovering over the touch screen at the first point, the menu comprising a plurality of menu selectable elements displayed relative to the first point;

determining that the selecting element has moved across the screen from the first point to a second point, the second point corresponding to a one of the plurality of menu selectable elements;

displaying a control corresponding to the one of the plurality of menu selectable elements, the control being displayed relative to the second point wherein a control selectable element corresponding to the control is displayed at the second point, the control comprising a volume adjustment slider; and

displaying indicators in proximity to the control, the indicators being indicative of at least one direction in which the control selectable element is movable.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the menu in response to the selecting element comprises displaying the menu in response to the selecting element comprising one of the following: a stylus and a digit of a subject.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the menu further comprises:

determining a first amount of space on the touch screen in proximity to the first point; and

displaying the plurality of menu selectable elements in the determined first amount of space.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a first area on the touch screen when it is determined that a user corresponding to the selecting element is right-handed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a first area on the screen when it is determined that a user corresponding to the selecting element is right-handed wherein at least a portion of the first area is to the left of the second point.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a second area on the screen when it is determined that a user corresponding to the selecting element is left-handed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the control comprises displaying the control in a second area on the screen when it is determined that a user corresponding to the selecting element is left-handed wherein at least a portion of the second area is to the right of the second point.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein displaying the control further comprises:

determining a second amount of space on the screen in proximity to the second point; and

displaying the control in the determined second amount of space.

20. A system for providing visual feedback, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:

detect a digit of a user hovering at a first point on a surface;

display, relative to the first point, a first menu in response to the detected hovering digit, the first menu comprising a plurality of first menu selectable elements;

determine that the detected hovering digit has moved from the first point on the surface to a second point on the surface, the second point corresponding to a one of the plurality of first menu selectable elements;

remove, in response to determining that the detected hovering digit has moved, the first menu from the screen; and

display, relative to the second point

a control corresponding to the plurality of first menu selectable elements, the control comprising a slider relative to the second point, wherein a thumb of the slider is displayed at the second point.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034542/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2007
From: HUDSON, BRIAN
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019574/0327 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080313538A1 · Dec 18, 2008