Patent · US Active

Navigation of electronic device menu without requiring visual contact

US8677238B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
0References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 2010
Grant dateMar 18, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2250/74
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer programs for controlling a device without requiring visual contact are presented. One method includes an operation for identifying available options for a user according to a state of a program executing on a device, where the available options correspond to possible menu items. Further, the method provides an audible output of the available options and the detection of a touch-based input, where the input is received at the device without providing an identifiable visual cue to the user. Further yet, the method includes operations for determining the selected option from the available options based on the timing of the input relative to the audible output, and for performing the selected option by the computer program. In another method, the options are presented to the user via different vibration patterns or via vibrations of a second device connected to the device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.