US 2014/0194163 A1 · Fine-Tuning an Operation Based on Tapping

Abstract

A mobile device enables the performance of an operation, which can be performed with only coarse granularity using a touchscreen, to be performed with finer granularity in response to detection of stimulus via mechanisms other than the touchscreen. For example, the mobile device can use its sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.) to detect a tapping motion against a non-touchscreen surface of that mobile device. In response to detecting such physical interaction, the mobile device can perform the operation with a level of precision that cannot be achieved when the performance of the operation is attempted via interaction with the touchscreen. The level of granularity of performance can vary with the interaction's force. For example, a tap performed with lesser force can cause a displayed object to move one pixel, while a tap performed with greater force can cause that displayed object to move five pixels.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving tap input that is associated with a physical force applied to at least one side of a mobile device;
determining a magnitude and direction of the tap input;
controlling an operation on the mobile device at a first granularity that is based on the magnitude and direction of the tap input;
wherein the operation is controllable, via input other than tap input, on the mobile device at a second granularity exceeds the first granularity.

1 more element

A computer-readable memory comprising particular instructions that are executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the particular instructions comprising:

instructions to cause an accelerometer of a mobile device to detect motion of the mobile device in a particular direction and at a particular velocity;
and
instructions to cause the one or more processors to control a first performance of an operation based on the particular direction and the particular velocity and with a first degree of precision;
instructions to cause the one or more processor to detect user input through a touchscreen of the mobile device;
and
instructions to cause the one or more processors to control a second performance of the operation based on the user input and with a second degree of precision;
wherein the maximum degree of precision with which the operation is controllable by user input detected through the touchscreen is less than the first degree of precision.

4 more elements

instructions to cause a computing device to detect contact that moves the computing device;
and
instructions to cause the one or more processors to detect a duration of the contact;
and
instructions to cause the one or more processors to control performance of an operation with a degree of precision that is based on the duration of the contact and the movement of the computing device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fine-Tuning an Operation Based on Tapping

Life of this patent

Fine-Tuning an Operation Based on Tapping

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25