Microsoft Patenting Multi-Screen, Multi-Touch Gestures
Microsoft is trying to patent a number of touchscreen gestures including Pinch and Expand, Dual Tap, Hold and Tap, Hold and Drag, Object-Hold and Page-Change, and more.
Microsoft is attempting to patent numerous touchscreen gestures seemed geared for tablets, many of which include bezel gestures and a dual-screen layout similar to the ill-fated Courier slate. Recently made viewable to the public, Microsoft applied for the patents back in February of 2010, but have yet to be granted. Below are all eight patents as described in their abstracts:
Off-Screen Gestures to Create On-Screen Input
"Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures."
"Embodiments of a multi-screen dual tap gesture are described. In various embodiments, a first tap input to a displayed object is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system. A second tap input to the displayed object is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the second tap input is recognized approximately when the first tap input is recognized. A dual tap gesture can then be determined from the recognized first and second tap inputs."
Multi-Sreen Pinch and Expand Gestures
"Embodiments of multi-screen pinch and expand gestures are described. In various embodiments, a first input is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system, and the first input includes a first motion input. A second input is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the second input includes a second motion input. A pinch gesture or an expand gesture can then be determined from the first and second motion inputs that are associated with the recognized first and second inputs."
Multi-Screen Bookmark Hold Gesture
"Embodiments of a multi-screen bookmark hold 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 in place proximate an edge of a journal page that is displayed on the first screen. A motion input is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system while the hold input remains held in place. A bookmark hold gesture can then be determined from the recognized hold and motion inputs, and the bookmark hold gesture is effective to bookmark the journal page at a location of the hold input on the first screen."
Multi-Screen Hold and Page-Flip Gesture
"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."
Multi-Screen Hold and Tap Gesture
"Embodiments of a multi-screen hold and tap 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 displayed object on the first screen. A tap input is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the tap input is recognized when the displayed object continues being selected. A hold and tap gesture can then be determined from the recognized hold and tap inputs."
"Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures."
Radial Menus With Bezel Gestures
"Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures."
Patenting motions to use devices is about the lowest form of patent that could be envisioned.
This should fall under the same rules as a company trying to patent numbers.
Patenting motions to use devices is about the lowest form of patent that could be envisioned.
This should fall under the same rules as a company trying to patent numbers.
^this, and aside from that I dont see how this can in any way be valid, since this can already be done with 1 screen. In a way itll be conflicting on the other patents.
Hmm , today I feel like trying to patent the way that I walk. Tomorrow I want to patent the way I take that corner down the street in my car, and then on Sunday I'm going to patent the way I sit and watch TV. All wonderful ideas.
Since when has 'conflicting with other patents' ever stopped new patents from passing through the patent office. The whole system is stupid. Welcome to the age of tech sector patent lawsuit extravaganza.
Microsoft already has a patent for 'double clicking the mouse'
Incidentally, in a few generations time the tablet will also be controlled by none physical input, eventually the technology will be miniaturised further and the Kinect system will find its way onto laptops and tablets, hold it up in front of you and control it like it the same way.
No one has gone Mr Crazy about the Kinect, because you understand the technology and Microsoft still own the patents. This is a clear case of too many people jumping on the bandwagon of hating on the patent system and not enough people understanding what they are patenting or how the patent system works.
Meh.. No Homo, good luck with the basic diagram.. =o)