Abstract: A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device.

Abstract: A method performed on a device includes receiving, from a user, a finger-touch-initiated request for access to a layer of a multi-layer application on the device, the multi-layer application having a plurality of user interface layers. The method may also include identifying a finger of the user used to provide the finger-touch-initiated request, the finger associated with one of the layers of the multi-layer application. The layer associated with the identified finger of the user may be operated on. Each finger of the user can be associated with a different layer of the multi-layer application. Fingerprints can be used to differentiate each finger and/or to identify the user by fingerprint recognition techniques. Fingerprints can be used to vary the access parameters of a layer of the application and/or to provide security levels for accessing the layers of the multi-layer application.

Abstract: A computing device is described that receives an indication of a first gesture received at an input device. Responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, a first information panel having a size. The computing device receives an indication of a second gesture received at the input device. The second gesture has a gesture length. Responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, an updated graphical user interface that includes the first information panel and a second information panel. The second information panel has a panel length that corresponds to the gesture length of the second gesture.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for dynamically generating a query using touch gestures. A virtual magnet is movable on a display device of a tactile user interface in response to touch. A user selects one of a set of text documents for review, which is displayed on the display. The system is configured for recognizing a highlighting gesture on the tactile user interface over the displayed document as a selection of a text fragment from the document text. The virtual magnet is populated with a query which is based on the text fragment selected with the highlighting gesture. The populated magnet is able to cause a subset of displayed graphic objects to exhibit a response to the magnet as a function of the query and the text content of the respective documents which the objects represent and/or to cause responsive instances in a text document to be displayed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.

Abstract: A request to display a portion of a full-screen content overlay options menu of a multiple media player device is detected by the multiple media player device that represents less than all of the full-screen content overlay options menu. A media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A current setting status of an available adjustment of the multiple media player device associated with the portion of the full-screen content overlay options menu based upon the determined media type of content media currently accessed by the multiple media player device is determined. A first graphical menu pane of the full-screen content overlay options menu, including the current setting status of the available adjustment, is displayed over full-screen content on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A technique for preventing malicious observance of private information includes receiving an instruction of entering a mode of inputting private information; determining a correspondence between actual inputs and expected inputs; receiving an actual user input; and converting the actual input into an expected input as private information inputted by the user according to the correspondence. This security technique can prevent discovery of the private information of a user through observation.

Abstract: An electronic device is an electronic device including: a detection unit configured to detect movement of a housing; a vibration unit configured to vibrate the housing; a determination unit configured to calculate movement of a virtual container and movement of a virtual object, and detect a relative distance between an inner wall of the virtual container and the virtual object, the virtual container being moved according to the movement of the housing, the virtual object being moved in the virtual container according to the movement of the virtual container; and an output information generation unit configured to output vibration information used to vibrate the vibration unit to the vibration unit when the determination unit determines that the relative distance between the inner wall of the virtual container and the virtual object satisfies a predetermined distance relationship.

Abstract: A technique for preventing malicious observance of private information includes receiving an instruction of entering a mode of inputting private information; determining a correspondence between actual inputs and expected inputs; receiving an actual user input; and converting the actual input into an expected input as private information inputted by the user according to the correspondence. This security technique can prevent discovery of the private information of a user through observation.

Abstract: A display device provides a user with tactile feedback using a tactile user interface. The display device includes a display unit, a tactile feedback unit, and a controller. The controller detects a first control input selecting a first object displayed on the display unit, detects a second control input controlling the first object that is consecutive to the first control input, controls the first object in response to the second control input, generates first tactile feedback according to properties of the first object in response to the second control input, detects a third control input controlling the first object that is consecutive to the second control input, the third control input being detected in a region of a second object displayed on the display unit, and maintains the first tactile feedback in response to the third control input while the first object is controlled by the third control input.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The indoor humidity tab can further be used to set current indoor humidity setpoints.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying an operation screen on a display module capable of identifying a fingerprint; if a multi-fingerprint-touch input including first and second fingerprint-touch inputs is received through the display module, selecting a locked operation menu from the operation screen; and if fingerprint information of the multi-fingerprint-touch input is authenticated, unlocking and then executing the selected operation menu. Therefore, it is possible to perform fingerprint authentication and the execution of an operation at the same time in response to a multi-fingerprint-touch input.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to multi device pairing and sharing via non-touch gestures. In an embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a parent device, an initiating non-touch gesture performed by a user towards the parent device. The method also comprises initiating an action based on the detecting. The method further comprises triggering, by the parent device, a gesture recognition mode on one or more secondary devices based on the detecting. And the method further comprises completing the action upon a positive gesture recognition by the one or more secondary devices.

Abstract: Devices using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information are described. One embodiment includes an electronic device comprising a housing comprising a user contactable region, a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region, and an actuator coupled to the tactile element and capable of outputting a haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a first display unit, a second display unit, a sensing input unit and a processor. The first display unit and the second display unit are both disposed on the housing. The sensing input unit is coupled to the first display unit and the second display unit, and is used for sensing and receiving a user input. The user input enables a transferring behavior of displaying a second object in the second display unit according to a first object displayed in the first display unit. The processor is coupled to the first display unit, the second display unit and the sensing input unit, and is used for controlling the second display unit according to the user input to display the second object.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a speaker configured to output sound data, a microphone configured to receive voice data, a sensing unit configured to sense a touching operation of at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) a neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and a controller configured to control a volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the sensed touching operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

Abstract: An operating system providing multi-touch support for (user) applications in a mobile device. In one embodiment, a check of whether the touch screen (in the mobile device) has multi-touch capability is performed. A first interface with multi-touch capability is provided to the (user) applications if the touch screen has multi-touch capability and a second interface with single touch capability being provided if the touch screen does not have multi-touch capability. The first and second interfaces may be provided by corresponding device drivers loaded when the mobile device is initialized with the operating system. A device driver (providing the second interface) is also designed to perform the check and execute another device driver (providing the first interface) if the touch screen has multi-touch capability.

Abstract: A mark-based containment system, in one aspect, may include a graphical user interface operable to receive an indication of a mark as a container marking, attribute one or more container attributes to the container marking, and store the container mark and the container attributes associated with the container mark.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computer program product features “Info Dial UI,” a degree-based and tactilely-initiated dialing gesture for providing product information to a user. This feature allows the user to tactilely control the amount of product information displayed to the user as the user tactilely moves an indicia along an arc. It also features a related “Circle a Product” feature. This method, system and computer program product provides the user with prompts and guidance for improving product purchases via mobile encoding technology and personal computing devices.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch screen for inputting text and hardware buttons for performing functions. A user inputs a sequence of letters and then actuates the hardware button which causes the system to perform an auto-correction if the input text is not recognized as a word and a space after the word. The hardware button can have multiple actuation modes including a touch actuation and a depression actuation. Each actuation mode can perform different system functions.

Abstract: A display control device that facilitates an operation on a touch panel, for the timeline display of a moving image. A synthesis section controls display on a touch panel. A touch state-detecting section detects any touched position on the touch panel, and determines whether two touched positions are detected on a single display object displayed on the touch panel. Determining that two touched positions are detected on the single display object, the touch state-detecting section determines whether the detected touched positions are moved while keeping their touched states. When the touched positions are determined to be moved while keeping their touched states, an overall controller extracts frame images of which the number depends on a distance between the two touched positions after the movement thereof, and controls the synthesis section to display the extracted frame images between the two moved touched positions.

Abstract: A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide haptic feedback are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a goal condition at a mobile device, requesting information from a host device using a first close-proximity communication, receiving the information at a mobile device using a second close-proximity communication, determining a level of haptic feedback based on the received information and the goal condition, and causing a haptic effect on the mobile device based on the level of haptic feedback. Other implementations are possible.

Abstract: A mobile terminal capable of sensing a touch input, and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes: a display unit configured to display screen information; a sensing unit configured to sense a touch input applied to the display unit; and a controller configured to display an indicator bar including at least one icon together with the screen information, and select any one of icons displayed in the indicator bar.

Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-screen hold and page-flip gesture are described. In various embodiments, a hold input is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system, and the hold input is recognized when held to select a journal page that is displayed on the first screen. A motion input is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the motion input is recognized while the hold input remains held in place. A hold and page-flip gesture can then be determined from the recognized hold and motion inputs, and the hold and page-flip gesture is effective to maintain the display of the journal page while one or more additional journal pages are flipped for display on the second screen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs.

Abstract: One embodiment of the user interface system comprises: a volume of fluid; a tactile layer; a retaining wall substantially impermeable to the fluid; a permeable layer; a displacement device; and a touch sensor. The tactile layer, with a back surface, defines a second region, operable between: a retracted state, wherein the second region is substantially flush with a first region; and an expanded state, wherein the second region is substantially proud of the first region. The permeable layer, joined to the back surface of the first region, includes a plurality of fluid ports that communicate a portion of the fluid through the permeable layer to the back surface of the second region. The displacement device directs the fluid through the fluid ports to the back surface to transition the second region from the retracted state to the expanded state. The touch sensor detects a user touch on the tactile layer.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal is presented. The method includes detecting a first touch on the mobile terminal for a predetermined time when the mobile terminal is in a locked state, simultaneously displaying a locking icon and an unlocking icon in response to the detected first touch, and detecting a second touch on the locking icon or the unlocking icon, wherein touching the locking icon for a predetermined time will partially unlock the mobile terminal, and wherein touching and dragging the unlocking icon to the locking icon will fully unlock the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to provision of haptic feedback to users of computing devices with touch-sensitive displays are described. First haptic feedback is provided to assist a user in localizing a finger or thumb relative to a graphical object displayed on a touch-sensitive display, where no input data is provided to an application corresponding to the graphical object. A toggle command set forth by the user is subsequently identified; thereafter, an input gesture is received on the touch-sensitive display, and second haptic feedback is provided to aid the user in setting forth input data to the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback to touch-sensitive input devices are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes an input device having a housing having an exterior surface; a touch-sensitive surface configured to transmit a contact signal indicating a contact with the touch-sensitive surface; a sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor configured to sense movement of the input device and to transmit a sensor signal indicating movement of the input device; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect based on an actuator signal, the actuator signal based at least in part on the contact signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a portable device to be unlocked using a tactile user interface and a control method thereof. The portable device includes a touch sensitive display unit to sense a touch input, a tactile feedback unit to generate tactile feedback, and a control unit to control the other units. The control unit is configured to detect a first touch gesture with respect to a first region corresponding to an application on the display unit, the first touch gesture entering the first region from the outside of the first region, to generate tactile feedback indicating that the first touch gesture enters the first region, to unlock a user interface in response to the first touch gesture, to detect a second touch gesture of activating the application, the second touch gesture being input consecutively to the first touch gesture, and to execute the application in response to the second touch gesture.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method, a portion of an electronic document is displayed on a touch screen display of a portable multifunction device. The displayed portion has a vertical position and a horizontal position in the electronic document. An object is detected on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document. In response to detecting the object, a vertical bar and a horizontal bar are displayed on top of the displayed portion. The vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion. The horizontal bar has a horizontal position on top of the displayed portion that corresponds to the horizontal position in the electronic document of the displayed portion. After a predetermined condition is met, display of the vertical bar and of the horizontal bar is ceased.

Abstract: An element is initially displayed on an interactive touch-screen display device with an initial orientation relative to the interactive touch-screen display device. One or more images of a user of the interactive touch-screen display device are captured. The user is determined to be interacting with the element displayed on the interactive touch-screen display device. In addition, an orientation of the user relative to the interactive touch-screen display device is determined based on at least one captured image of the user of the interactive touch-screen display device. Thereafter, in response to determining that the user is interacting with the displayed element, the initial orientation of the displayed element relative to the interactive touch-screen display device is automatically adjusted based on the determined orientation of the user relative to the interactive touch-screen display device.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a casing, a movement detection sensor that detects a movement of the casing, an input unit having an input operation surface, a pressing force detection sensor that detects a pressing force applied to the input unit through the input operation surface, and a control unit. The input unit is provided to the casing and capable of detecting an input operation position within the input operation surface. The control unit judges whether one of the pressing force detected and an amount of a change based on the change in the pressing force exceeds a first threshold value, performs a process of an input determination in a case where the one of the pressing force and the amount of the change in the pressing force exceeds the first threshold value, and changes the first threshold value in accordance with a degree of the movement of the casing detected.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a control unit made of a display panel and a touch panel display for providing preview display, the touch panel display includes: a finished state preview controller for displaying the finished state of a hard copy formed by the image forming apparatus, on the display panel; and a confirmatory display controller for displaying preview images for confirmation in a turning manner. The display panel includes a first display area for displaying the finished state of the hard copy, a second display area for displaying a image of the page to be turned for confirmation and a third display area for displaying the images that have been displayed for confirmation, in order in a layered manner.

Abstract: A method of managing user interface content, including performing character entry without a keyboard, is disclosed. The method includes displaying a character entry area and a character selection indicia, wherein the character selection indicia is displayed at a first predefined location, and the character selection indicia includes locations corresponding to respective characters in a plurality of characters; detecting a point of contact over the character selection indicia; in response to detecting the contact over the character selection indicia, displaying at a second predefined location distinct from the first predefined location a temporary character that represents a character to be selected; while displaying the temporary character, detecting a character selection gesture; and, in response to detecting the character selection gesture, selecting a character corresponding to the temporary character for placement in the character entry area.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an operation unit that receives a user operation, input assistance means used when a user inputs information to the operation unit and that can change a user's sensory perception, and a control unit that, in response to an operation performed by a user using the input assistance means, guides a user operation to a prescribed operation by changing a sensory perception given to the user by the input assistance means.

Abstract: A setting item for specifying a setting detail to be set is displayed on a setting screen for making a setting about contents. A content item representing the content is displayed on a content screen for displaying the content. An object touching the setting item on the setting screen is given a tactile sensation according to the touched setting item. The object touching the content item on the content screen is given the same tactile sensation as that given when the setting item for specifying the setting detail set for the touched contents is touched.

Abstract: A system may include a display to present a visualization comprising a plurality of graphical indicators, each of the graphical indicators associated with a respective one of a plurality of entities of interest, a touch-sensitive input surface to receive a touch input at a first portion of the visualization representing a current physical location of the apparatus and a drag input on the display device from the first portion to a second portion of the visualization, and a processor to filter the plurality of graphical indicators based on a distance between the first portion and the second portion. Filtering of the plurality of graphical indicators may include determination of a second distance based on the distance between the first portion and the second portion, and determination of at least one of the plurality of entities of interest, each of the at least one of the plurality of entities of interest located less than the second distance from the current physical location of the apparatus.

Abstract: An approach is provided for improved messaging user interfaces. A subset of available messaging services is selected based, at least in part, on a touch control area of a user interface of a device. The user interface includes, at least in part, tabs corresponding to each of the available messaging services. Presentation of the user interface is caused, at least in part, at the device. The tabs presented in the user interface correspond to the subset.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a touch screen display, a vibrator, an area display module, a touch position detector, and a vibration controller. The vibrator is configured to vibrate the touch screen display. The area display module is configured to display a first area on the touch screen display. The touch position detector is configured to detect a touch position on the touch screen display. The vibration controller is configured to control the vibrator in order to vibrate with a first pattern, if the touch position moves from an inside of the first area to an outside of the first area.

Abstract: A mobile device for providing a shortcut in the form of tactile feedback based on a user touch input and a method controlling the same are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying a user interface; receiving a first touch input to the user interface for selecting an item from the displayed interface, wherein the first touch input is for setting a shortcut interface of the selected item; displaying a virtual image corresponding to the selected item in a first region based on the first touch input; receiving a second touch input to the user interface for moving the virtual image from the first region to a second region or for selecting the second region; and setting the shortcut interface of the selected item at the second region based on the second touch input.

Abstract: The electronic device includes: a display device capable of displaying a captured image and an item image; a touch screen panel for accepting an operation by a user; and a control circuit for calculating a displayed position and a displayed size for the item image based on a position and a size of a reference object in the captured image, generating a synthetic image in which the item image is merged with the captured image, and causing the display device to display the synthetic image, the control circuit generating a synthetic image in which the displayed position and displayed size of the item image are adjusted in accordance with an operation on the touch screen panel by the user.

Abstract: A user terminal apparatus including: a display configured to have flexibility and display a user interface (UI) screen; a feedback provider which locally provides a feedback effect in at least one area of the display; and a controller configured to control the feedback provider to locally provide the feedback effect to the at least one area of the display, among all areas of the display in response to determining that the user intends to provide an input on the UI screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving an input by a user on an interactive touchscreen display based, electronic data and communication device, the input comprising a contact gesture, which further comprises touchscreen single or multiple simultaneous contacts. The contact gestures are classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, universal and non-universal contact gestures. The method further includes performing an operation or entering an operational mode based on the user input.

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.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected to an apparatus including a layout data storage unit storing layout data, a display part data storage unit storing part data, and a customization data storage unit storing customization data, the image processing apparatus including a menu construction unit that generates the menu based on at least the part data, a menu generation unit that modifies the menu based on the customization data, a display unit that displays the menu modified based on the customization data and accepts an operation for the display part, and a device cooperation unit that requests the apparatus to provide the function and setting information of the function, the function having been accepted via a second display unit.