Recognizing multiple input point gestures

A computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer program product for implementing a method for recognizing a multiple input point gesture, the computer program product comprising one or more computer hardware storage devices having stored there one computer-executable instructions, that when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to perform the method, including the following:

• detecting initial contact as an unordered set of point locations, the unordered set of point locations indicating that simultaneous contact was detected at a plurality of locations in a planar input surface without regard for the order in which contact was detected, the plurality of locations including at least three individual locations, including a first location, a second location and a third location, where a user touched the planar input surface with one or more fingers or other objects;
• determining a relative orientation of the at least three individual locations on the planar input surface where contact was detected in the planar input surface, wherein the number and orientation of the simultaneous contacts determines which input gesture was provided;
• and
• after initial contact is released, identifying the input gesture based on the number of locations where simultaneous contact was initially detected, and based on the determined relative orientation of the at least three locations in the planar input surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• system memory;
• a planar input surface;
• and
• one or more computer hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions representing a gesture recognition module, the gesture recognition module configured to:
• receive a first unordered set of point locations, the first unordered set of point locations indicating that simultaneous contact was detected at a first plurality of locations in the planar input surface without regard for the order in which contact was detected, the first plurality of locations including at least three individual locations, including a first location, a second location and a third location, where a user touched the planar input surface with one or more fingers or other objects;
• receive a second unordered set of point locations different from the first unordered set of point locations, the second unordered set of point locations indicating that simultaneous contact was detected at a second plurality of locations in the planar input surface without regard for the order in which contact was detected, the second plurality of locations including at least three individual locations, including a fourth location, a fifth location and a sixth location, where a user touched the planar input surface with one or more fingers or other objects;
• determine a relative orientation of the at least three individual locations of the first plurality of locations on the planar input surface where contact was detected in the planar input surface, wherein the number and orientation of the simultaneous contacts determines which input gesture was provided;
• and
• identify the input gesture based on the number of locations where simultaneous contact was initially detected, and based on the determined relative orientation of the at least three locations of the first plurality of locations in the planar input surface.