Gesture sensitive buttons for graphical user interfaces
US5612719A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04883
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A gesture sensitive button for graphical user interfaces characterized by a digital computer, a screen coupled to the digital computer, a pointer mechanism used for pointing locations on the screen, a "button" image displayed on the screen, and a gesture recognizer for detecting gestures made on the screen by the pointing mechanism. The button is responsive to at least two different button gestures made on the screen on or near the button. A process implementing the gesture sensitive button of the present invention includes: providing a button image on a computer screen; detecting a gesture made on the screen by a pointer such as a stylus, mouse, or trackball; determining whether the gesture is associated with the button image; and initiating one of at least two processes if the gesture is associated with the button image. The gesture sensitive button conserves real estate on the computer screen by permitting a single button to control multiple functions and processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.