Apparatus and method for directing operation of a software application via a touch-sensitive surface divided into regions associated with respective functions

A method comprising:

• receiving data representative of points on a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is divided into a plurality of regions each of a number of which is associated with a distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures, wherein the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by the apparatus, and wherein the points on the touch-sensitive surface are located within one of the regions and corresponding to one of the plurality of gestures;
• determining the region within which the points are located;
• determining a gesture corresponding to the points as a function of the data representative of the points and the distinct set of gestures associated with the determined region;
• and
• executing the function of the software application associated with the determined gesture,
• wherein determining the region, determining a gesture and executing the function are performed by execution of computer-readable program code by a processor of an apparatus.

A computer-readable storage medium of an apparatus, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program portions comprising:

• a first executable portion configured to receive data representative of points on a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is divided into a plurality of regions each of a number of which is associated with a distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures, wherein the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by the apparatus, and wherein the points on the touch-sensitive surface are located within one of the regions and corresponding to one of the plurality of gestures;
• a second executable portion configured to determine the region within which the points are located;
• a third executable portion configured to determine a gesture corresponding to the points as a function of the data representative of the points and the distinct set of gestures associated with the determined region;
• and
• a fourth executable portion configured to execute the function of the software application associated with the determined gesture.