Extended touch-sensitive control area for electronic device

Abstract

A touch-sensitive display screen is enhanced by a touch-sensitive control area that extends beyond the edges of the display screen. The touch-sensitive area outside the display screen, referred to as a ''gesture area'', allows a user to activate commands using a gesture vocabulary. In one aspect, the present invention allows some commands to be activated by inputting a gesture within the gesture area. Other commands can be activated by directly manipulating on-screen objects. Yet other commands can be activated by beginning a gesture within the gesture area, and finishing it on the screen (or vice versa), and / or by performing input that involves contemporaneous con-tact with both the gesture area and the screen.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 115,992, entitled "Extended Touch-Sensitive Control Area for Electronic Devices," filed May 6, 2008, Its content is hereby incorporated by reference. [0003] This application relates to U.S. Serial No. 11 / 379,552, filed April 20, 2006, entitled "Keypad and SensorCombination to Provide Detection Region that Overlays Keys" patent application, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0004] Various embodiments of the present invention relate to input mechanisms for controlling electronic devices, and more particularly to touch-sensitive control areas on such electronic devices that extend beyond the edges of the display screen. Background technique [0005] It is known to provide electronic devices with touch sensitive screens. Touch-sensitive screens enable electronic displays to function as input devices, a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Screen layouts can be designed so that important components are less likely to be blurred; however, this design cannot accommodate right-handers and left-handers

[0012] Another disadvantage of touch-sensitive screens is that their dynamic nature makes it difficult for the user to provide input when not looking at the screen

The user typically cannot understand the current state of the device without looking at it, and therefore cannot determine the current location or state of the various on-screen buttons and controls at any given moment

This makes it difficult to control the device when it is in a pocket, or when the user is too busy to view the device

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