Smack! Apple Granted another Classic Touch & Gesture Patent
When I first began covering Apple's patents, this one was one of the first to really excite the Mac Community, even though the negative naysayers were pounding the table saying that Apple would never, ever again touch a tablet after the failed Newton. Well, we all know how wrong they were, again. Today, Apple has been granted yet another classic touch and gesture patent to add to their already impressive roster of key touch related patents. Apple has smacked another touch related patent out of the park and delivered more grief for their copycat competitors. Apple's patent covers their classic pinch and zoom feature along with and a number of virtual controls such as a scroll wheel, floating controls, page-turns for eBooks and more.
Apple Granted a Major Multi-Touch Patent
Apple has received a major Granted Patent relating to gestures and methods of implementing gestures with touch sensitive devices. Examples of touch sensitive devices include touch screens and touch pads. The invention also pertains to user interfaces and methods of implementing user interfaces with displays. Much of Apple's granted patent relates to a virtual scroll wheel and buttons.
In one embodiment, Apple's invention relates to a method performed on a computing device having a display and a touch sensing input device. The method includes sensing touches. The method also includes displaying and enabling a GUI element when a touch is detected. The GUI element is based on at least one of the following: (a) the application currently running on the computing device; (b) the current state of the application; and/or (c) one or more characteristics of the touch. The characteristics include, for example, touch location, touch ID, number of touches, and touch motion.
The method further includes disabling and removing the GUI element from display when one of the following events occurs: (a) the touch is no longer detected, (b) a touch has not been detected for a preset amount of time, (c) a certain amount of time has gone by since the step of displaying and enabling was first presented and (d) a user selection.
In yet another embodiment, Apple's invention relates to a computing system. The computing system includes a display device configured to display a graphical user interface. The system also includes a touch screen positioned over the display device. The touch screen is configured to detect touches that occur over the display device. The system further includes a processor operatively coupled to the display device and the touch screen. The processor instructs the display device to display one or more GUI elements in response to a touch, and performs actions associated with the GUI element when touch events are detected relative to the displayed GUI elements.
And lastly, Apple's invention relates to a computing device. The computing device includes a processor. The computing device also includes a touch screen capable of sensing touch events. The computing device further includes a display configured to simultaneously display a plurality of media items and a virtual scroll wheel. The virtual scroll wheel provides a region where touch events are performed in order to implement a scrolling action. The scrolling action allows a user to traverse through the plurality of media items.
Classic Touch Based Methods
Apple's Granted Patent Covers their Classic Pinch & Zoom Feature
Apple credits Steve Hotelling, Brian Huppi, Joshua Strickon, Duncan Kerr, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, Christie Greg and believe it or not, Jonathan Ive as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q1 2005 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. For those wishing to review this patent in its entirety, check out this classic patent.
Apple's Patent Includes other Key Patents by Reference
Apple's patent also includes a number of other referenced and supported patents relating to different gestures. Examples of scrolling through lists can be found in U.S. Patent Publication Numbers 2003/0076303A1, 2003/0076301A1, 2003/0095096A1, which are herein incorporated by reference. Additionally, U.S. Patent Numbers 5,612,719 and 5,590,219, assigned to Apple Computer, Inc. describe some other uses of gesturing. U.S. Paten number 5,612,719 discloses an onscreen button that is responsive to at least two different button gestures made on the screen on or near the button. U.S. Patent number 5,590,219 discloses a method for recognizing an ellipse-type gesture input on a display screen of a computer system.
Notice
Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.
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This kind of things is what make apple a great company, the research and innovation is the key for great products, and this GUI system looks very good.
Posted by: juancvas | August 07, 2012 at 07:46 PM
I can see why Apple wanted this patent, as it can be argued that a scroll wheel is a vital part of their trade dress related to the iPod, but who else is going to use that? Samsung? Maybe, but I don't even know if they're that brazen.
Posted by: Fraydog | August 07, 2012 at 08:07 AM