# US 2014/0152593 A1 · Method And System For Operating Portable Devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152593 A1 - Document ID: US20140152593A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/048,993 - Filed: 2013-10-08 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute - Applicants: Industrial Technology Research Institute - Inventors: Chih-Hung Wu; Po-Wei Lin; Chien-Ju Lee; Chien-Chih Hsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152593A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method for providing a one-hand user interface for a portable device with a touch screen including defining a one-hand operation plane on the touch screen based on a holding location of the portable device when operated by a user; enabling a one-hand operation mode; and receiving user inputs through the one-hand operation plane for controlling the portable device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a one-hand user interface for a portable device with a touch screen, comprising: defining a one-hand operation plane on the touch screen based on a holding location of the portable device when operated by a user; enabling a one-hand operation mode; and receiving user inputs through the one-hand operation plane for controlling the portable device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one-hand operation mode includes a one-hand GUI operation mode or a one-hand touchpad operation mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising switching between the one-hand touchpad operation mode and the one-hand GUI operation mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining of the one-hand operation plane comprises defining a location of the one-hand operation plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining of the one-hand operation plane comprises defining a size of the one-hand operation plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining of the one-hand operation plane comprises: detecting a sliding motion of a finger over the touch screen; and defining the one-hand operation plane based on the detected sliding motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a new holding location of the portable device; and defining a new location of the one-hand operation plane on the touch screen corresponding to the detected new holding location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device operates in a one-hand graphics user interface (GUI) operation mode after the activating of the one-hand operation, and wherein, in the one-hand GUI operation mode, at least one GUI is displayed within the one-hand operation plane to allow the user to operate the portable device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one GUI includes at least one of a graphical icon or a virtual keypad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one GUI corresponds to a program being executed when the one-hand operation mode is enabled or after the one-hand operation mode is enabled. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device operates in a one-hand touchpad operation mode after the enabling of the one-hand operation mode, and wherein, in the one-hand touchpad operation mode, the one-hand operation plane functions as a touchpad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling a touch function of portions of the touch screen not within the one-hand operation plane after the one-hand operation plane is defined, so that the disabled portions of the touch screen do not respond to a press or a touch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising setting at least one parameter for the one-hand operation mode. ### Claim 14 A portable device system, comprising: a touch screen; a memory that stores at least one parameter for a one-hand operation mode; and a processor coupled to the touch screen and the memory, the processor being configured to: define a portion of the touch screen as a one-hand operation plane based on a holding location of the portable device system; enable a one-hand operation mode based on the at least one parameter for the one-hand operation; and receive user inputs through the one-hand operation plane for operating the portable device system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the one-hand operation mode includes a one-hand GUI operation mode or a one-hand touchpad operation mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to switch the portable device system between the one-hand touchpad operation mode and the one-hand GUI operation mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processor defines the one-hand operation plane by defining at least one of a size or a location of the one-hand operation plane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processor detects a sliding motion of a finger over the touch screen and defines the one-hand operation plane based on the detected sliding motion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, the processor is further configured to detect a new holding location of the portable device system and define a new location of the one-hand operation plane on the touch screen corresponding to the detected new holding location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the portable device operates in a one-hand graphics user interface (GUI) operation mode after the enabling of the one-hand operation mode, and wherein, in the one-hand GUI operation mode, at least one GUI is displayed within the one-hand operation plane to allow the user to operate the portable device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one GUI includes at least one of a graphical icon or a virtual keypad. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the portable device operates in a one-hand touchpad operation mode after the enabling of the one-hand operation mode, and wherein, in the one-hand touchpad operation mode, the one-hand operation plane functions as a touchpad and is configured to detect motions of a finger for controlling movements of a cursor displayed on the touch screen. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, the processor is further configured to disable a touch function of portions of the touch screen not within the one-hand operation plane after the one-hand operation plane is defined, so that the disabled portions of the touch screen do not respond to a press or touch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to set at least one parameter for the one-hand operation mode. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one sensor for detecting the holding location. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein: the sensor is configured to generate a pressure signal representing a pressure applied to the touch screen by the user; and the processor is further configured to determine, based on the pressure signal, whether the finger of the user touches a new location of the touch screen. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the pressure signal, whether a change in the pressure exceeds a threshold value, and adjust the location of the one-hand operation plane corresponding to the new location when the change in the pressure exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the sensor, whether the pressure at the new location is maintained for at least a period of time and adjust the location of the one-hand operation plane corresponding to the new location when the pressure at the new location is maintained for at least a period of time. ### Claim 29 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to receive at least one command for enabling the one-hand operation mode. ### Claim 30 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the portable device system is a smart phone or a tablet PC. ### Claim 31 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the portable device system, and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the one-hand operation plane based on the orientation of the portable device system.