Method and apparatus for using gestures across multiple devices

A method of processing and displaying a single continuous gesture that crosses between (i) a first display coupled to at least one first computing apparatus and (ii) a physically adjacent second display coupled to at least one second computing apparatus, the first and second computing apparatuses being coupled to at least one server, comprising:

• detecting a TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• storing information corresponding to the TOUCH1 gesture in a server memory and initializing a countdown timer, a length of the timer corresponding to a time it takes to send a message between the at least one first computing apparatus and the at least one second computing apparatus;
• detecting a TOUCH2 gesture on the physically adjacent second display;
• determining whether a handover message has been received, the handover message providing information indicative of a location of the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display and a location of the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display;
• determining if the timer has timed out;
• if the timer has timed out and the handover message has been received, return to detecting a TOUCH2 gesture, and display the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display as a single continuous gesture extending from the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• and
• if the timer has not timed out and the handover message has not been received, create a new gesture on the second display at the location of the TOUCH2 gesture.

Program code embodied in at least one non-transitory computer readable medium for processing and displaying a single continuous gesture that crosses between (i) a first display coupled to at least one first computing apparatus and (ii) a physically adjacent second display coupled to at least one second computing apparatus, the first and second computing apparatuses being coupled to at least one server, said program comprising instructions causing at least one processor to perform:

• detecting a TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• storing information corresponding to the TOUCH1 gesture in a server memory and initializing a countdown timer, a length of the timer corresponding to a time it takes to send a message between the at least one first computing apparatus and the at least one second computing apparatus;
• detecting a TOUCH2 gesture on the physically adjacent second display;
• determining whether a handover message has been received, the handover message providing information indicative of a location of the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display and a location of the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display;
• determining if the timer has timed out;
• if the timer has timed out and the handover message has been received, return to detecting a TOUCH2 gesture, and display the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display as a single continuous gesture extending from the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• and
• if the timer has not timed out and the handover message has not been received, create a new gesture on the second display at the location of the TOUCH2 gesture.

Apparatus configured for processing and displaying a single continuous gesture that crosses between (i) a first display coupled to at least one first computing apparatus and (ii) a physically adjacent second display coupled to at least one second computing apparatus, the first and second computing apparatuses being coupled to at least one server, comprising:

• the at least one server;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to said at least one server, and configured to:
• detect a TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• store information corresponding to the TOUCH1 gesture in a server memory and initializing a countdown timer, a length of the timer corresponding to a time it takes to send a message between the at least one first computing apparatus and the at least one second computing apparatus;
• detect a TOUCH2 gesture on the physically adjacent second display;
• determine whether a handover message has been received, the handover message providing information indicative of a location of the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display and a location of the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display;
• determine if the timer has timed out;
• if the timer has timed out and the handover message has been received, return to detecting a TOUCH2 gesture, and display the TOUCH2 gesture on the second display as a single continuous gesture extending from the TOUCH1 gesture on the first display;
• and
• if the timer has not timed out and the handover message has not been received, create a new gesture on the second display at the location of the TOUCH2 gesture.