Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110215914 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TOUCH FEEDBACK FOR USER INPUT TO A TOUCH SENSITIVE SURFACE - An apparatus is provided that includes a graphic overlay or display for a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact. 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, where the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by a processor. According to this aspect, the graphic overlay or display visibly depicts the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided. The apparatus may further include a touch-feedback interface configured to provide touch feedback indicative of the gesture associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed. | 09-08-2011 |
20110216015 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING OPERATION OF A SOFTWARE APPLICATION VIA A TOUCH-SENSITIVE SURFACE DIVIDED INTO REGIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS - An apparatus is provided that includes a processor configured to receive data representative of points on a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact. 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. The gestures are associated with respective functions of a software application operable by the apparatus. The points on the touch-sensitive surface are located within one of the regions and correspond to one of the gestures. The processor is configured to determine the region and 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 the processor is configured to execute the function of the software application associated with the determined gesture. | 09-08-2011 |
20120038496 | GESTURE-ENABLED KEYBOARD AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A keyboard is provided that includes an arrangement of keys, circuitry and a first processor configured to generate a signal in response to a keystroke in which a respective key of the arrangement of keys is depressed, and determine how to interpret the keystroke. The keyboard also includes a plurality of proximity sensors and a second processor configured to measure the proximity of an object to the respective proximity sensors, determine a position and/or movement of the object relative to the proximity sensors based on the respective signal, and produce a gesture signal representative of the determined position and/or movement. This gesture signal is interpretable into one or more commands or instructions for directing performance of one or more operations of an apparatus or software operating on the apparatus. A related apparatus and computer-readable storage medium are also provided. | 02-16-2012 |
20120133587 | SENSOR-AUGMENTED, GESTURE-ENABLED KEYBOARD AND ASSOCITED APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A keyboard is provided that includes an arrangement of keys, circuitry and a first processor configured to generate a signal in response to a keystroke in which a respective key of the arrangement of keys is depressed, and determine how to interpret the keystroke. The keyboard also includes one or more sensors and a second processor configured to measure a relationship of an object to the sensor(s), and produce a gesture signal based upon a signal representative of the measured relationship. This gesture signal is interpretable into one or more commands or instructions for directing performance of one or more operations of an apparatus or software operating on the apparatus. A related apparatus and computer-readable storage medium are also provided. | 05-31-2012 |
20130006650 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIGRATING BETWEEN DEVICES WHILE INTERACTING WITH A HEALTHCARE APPLICATION - Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating migration from a first device to a second device while interacting with a healthcare application. In this regard, a method may cooperate with the first device to establish a connection therewith based upon a proximity-based identification technique. Such cooperation may occur while the user is interacting with the healthcare application on the first device. The method may also authenticate the user of the first device based upon information, such as authentication credentials, provided by the first device regarding prior synchronization of the user by the first device. The method may also environmentally synchronize with the first device. In this regard, the method may environmentally synchronize with the first device by providing for interaction with the healthcare application via a processor and by providing a common context with that of the first device including display of a common image. | 01-03-2013 |
20130257729 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FACILITATING THE MANIPULATION OF MEDICAL IMAGES - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the manipulation of medical images. In the context of a method, the position of a user's hand upon a touch sensitive input device may be determined. Determining the position may include detecting instances in which the user's hand is in either a first or second positions upon the touch sensitive input device. In the first position, the method may also include enabling a first image manipulation mode in which a first image manipulation operation is enabled and interpreting a first type of input to be directing the first image manipulation operation. However, in the second position, the method may include enabling a second image manipulation mode in which a second image manipulation operation is enabled and interpreting the first type of input to be directing the second image manipulation operation instead of the first image manipulation operation. | 10-03-2013 |
20140145967 | APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A TABLET CASE FOR TOUCH-SENSITIVE DEVICES - An apparatus is provided that includes a case for securing an overlay template and a touch-sensitive surface in an aligned relationship. The case is configured to receive an overlay template and a touch-sensitive surface. The case includes at least one opening enabling access to a sensing area of the touch-sensitive surface in which an object comes into contact. The touch-sensitive surface is divided into a plurality of regions associated with respective functions of a software application. The overlay template depicts the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided. The case is configured to securely hold the received touch-sensitive surface and the overlay template in place in an instance in which the overlay template is placed on the touch-sensitive surface while inserted in the case. | 05-29-2014 |
20140172373 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERPRETING SENSOR INPUT - A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided to interpret sensor input. In this regard, the method, apparatus and computer program may receive input from a plurality of sensors (e.g., different user input devices), and configure a sensor interpreter based on sensor criteria received from the plurality of sensors. The input received from the sensors may include a distance between a user location and one or more sensors, and a sensor interpreter may be configured based on the distance of the location from of the sensors. The sensor interpreter may be configured so that input operations are transparent to the user, without requiring the user to consciously change the way they interact with the sensors as the sensor interpreter is configured. | 06-19-2014 |
20150077348 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TOUCH INPUT VIA A TOUCH SENSITIVE SURFACE UTILIZING A SUPPORT OBJECT - Methods and a support object are provided to facilitate the receipt of a wide variety of touch inputs from a user, such as in a manner that is comfortable and does not fatigue the user. In the context of a method, touch input is received from a user who engages and moves a support object relative to a touch sensitive surface. The method also includes receiving the touch input from the user via the touch sensitive surface. The method further includes determining a relative position of the touch input with respect to the support object and then determining a type of touch input based upon the relative position of the touch input with respect to the support object. The method also includes causing an action to be taken in response to the type of touch input. Corresponding apparatus and computer program products are also provided. | 03-19-2015 |