Automatic Derivation Of Analogous Touch Gestures From A User-Defined Gesture

Abstract

Embodiments enable a mobile device to execute an action analogous to a user-defined action in response to receipt of a gesture analogous to a user-defined gesture. In an embodiment, a user input is received that defines a first touch gesture to initiate a first action on an application of the mobile device. A second touch gesture is received on a touch screen of the mobile device. The second touch gesture is similar, but not identical, to the first touch gesture, and has a different orientation, size or position from the first touch gesture. In response to receipt of the second touch gesture, a second action is determined on the application of the mobile device according to a difference between the first and second touch gestures in orientation, size or position on the screen of the mobile device. Finally, the second action is initiated.

1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically interpreting touch gestures on a mobile device, comprising:
 receiving a user input that defines a first touch gesture to initiate a first action on an application of the mobile device, the touch gesture having a shape;   receiving a second touch gesture on a touch screen of the mobile device, wherein the second touch gesture is similar, but not identical, to the first touch vesture, and has a different orientation, size or position on the touch screen of the mobile device from the first touch gesture;   in response to receipt of the second touch gesture, determining as second action, different from but related to the first action, on the application of the mobile device according to a difference between the first and second touch gestures in orientation, size or position on the screen of the mobile device; and   also in response to receipt of the second touch gesture, initiating the second action on the application of the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises determining the second action, wherein the second action is opposite to the first action. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second touch gesture has an opposite direction from the first touch gesture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second actions are to pause or resume music playback on a music application of the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second actions are to mute or unmute sound on the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second actions are to skip ahead to a next track of media or to skip back to a previous track of media on a media player application of the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises determining the second action, wherein the first and second actions differ in magnitude. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second touch gestures differ in position or size. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first action changes the volume of the mobile device to a first level, wherein the second action changes the volume of the mobile device to a second level, wherein a ratio of the first to the second level corresponds to a difference in size or position between the first and second touch gestures. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining comprises determining the second action according to differences between the first and second touch gestures in orientation, size and position on the screen of the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for automatically interpreting touch gestures on a mobile device, comprising:
 a gesture definition module that receives a user input to define a first touch gesture to initiate a first action on an application of the mobile device, the touch gesture having a shape;   a touch receiver that receives a second touch gesture on a touch screen of the mobile device, wherein the second touch gesture is similar, but not identical, to the first touch gesture, and has a different orientation, size or position on the touch screen of the mobile device from the first touch gesture;   a gesture interpretation module that, in response to receipt of the touch gesture, determines a second action, different from but related to the first action, on the application of the mobile device according to a difference between the first and second touch gestures in orientation, size or position on the screen of the mobile device, and initiates the second action on the application of the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second action is opposite to the first action. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second touch gesture has an opposite direction from the first touch gesture. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second actions are to pause or resume music playback on a music application of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second actions are to mute or unmute sound on the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second actions are to skip ahead to a next track of media or to skip back to a previous track of media on a media player application of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second actions differ in magnitude. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second touch gestures differ in position or size. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first action changes the volume of the mobile device to a first level, wherein the second action changes the volume of the mobile device to a second level, wherein a ratio of the first to the second level corresponds to a difference in size or position between the first and second touch gestures. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein gesture interpretation module determines the second action according to differences between the first and second touch gestures in orientation, size and position on the screen of the mobile device.