Simulating a multi-touch screen on a single-touch screen

Abstract

Disclosed is a single-touch screen interface that supports two operational states. First is a traditional single-touch state. Second is a “simulated multi-touch state” which allows the user to interact with the single-touch screen in much the same way as he would interact with a multi-touch screen. The user, while in the single-touch state, selects the simulated multi-touch state by performing a special “triggering” action, such as clicking or double clicking on the display screen. The location of the triggering input defines a “reference point” for the simulated multi-touch state. While in the simulated multi-touch state, this reference point is remembered, and it is combined with further touch input to control a simulated multi-touch operation. When the simulated multi-touch operation is complete, the interface returns to the single-touch state. In some embodiments, the user can also leave the simulated multi-touch state without completing a simulated multi-touch operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.