US 10,705,644 B2 · Using pressure sensor input to selectively route user inputs

Abstract

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for routing user inputs to an operating system or an application based on other inputs received at pressure sensors. In one example, computing device receives an indication of a first user input that is detected by pressure sensors of the computing device. The pressure sensors are positioned along two or more sides of a housing of the computing device. The computing device also receives an indication of a second user input, detected by a presence-sensitive display of the computing device. The computing device determines, based on the first user input, whether the second user input is associated with an application or an operating system executing at the computing device. Responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, the computing device performs a system-level action.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computing device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of sides;
a plurality of pressure sensors positioned on at least two of the plurality of sides of the housing;
a presence-sensitive display;
a memory that stores an operating system and a plurality of applications;
and
one or more processors configured to:
execute the operating system and an application from the plurality of applications;
receive, from one or more pressure sensors of the plurality of pressure sensors, an indication of a first user input detected by the one or more pressure sensors;
while the one or more pressure sensors detect the first user input, receive, from the presence-sensitive display, an indication of a second user input detected by the presence-sensitive display;
determine, based on the indication of the first user input detected by the one or more pressure sensors, whether the second user input is associated with the operating system or the application;
and
responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, perform a system-level action.

9 more elements

A method comprising:

executing, by one or more processors of a computing device, an operating system and an application;
receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a first user input that is detected by one or more pressure sensors of the computing device, wherein the pressure sensors are positioned on two or more sides of a housing of the computing device;
while the one or more pressure sensors detect the first user input, receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a second user input detected by a presence-sensitive display of the computing device;
determining, by the one or more processors, based on the indication of the first user input detected by the one or more pressure sensors, whether the second user input is associated with the application or the operating system;
and
responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, performing, by the one or more processors, a system-level action.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing device to:

execute an operating system and an application;
receive an indication of a first user input that is detected by one or more pressure sensors of the computing device, wherein the pressure sensors are positioned on two or more sides of a housing of the computing device;
while the one or more pressure sensors detect the first user input, receive an indication of a second user input detected by a presence-sensitive display of the computing device;
determine, based on the indication of the first user input detected by the one or more pressure sensors, whether the second user input is associated with the application or the operating system;
and
responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, perform a system-level action.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Using pressure sensor input to selectively route user inputs

Life of this patent

Using pressure sensor input to selectively route user inputs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20