Microsoft patenting multi-touch Screen, multi-touch gestures

Jordan Crook studied English literature at the University of New York before entering the tech space. Prior to joining TechCrunch Crook dabbled in mobile marketing and mobile apps, as well as doing reviews of devices for MobileMarketer and MobileBurn. Kruk, fascinated with the production of alternative sources of energy and greentech. It is currently for CrunchGear writer. ? Read More

(Update: the patent is not granted, only recently released.)

Back in February 2010, Microsoft, applies to the number of patents related to touch screen gestures on the tablet. Many of them relate to the dual screen device, conjuring up images of slate courier times greatly anticipated. Other mainly framed gestures. These patents went public today, though they do not actually have been provided yet.

With the IP wars rage around the world, it's definitely worth taking a look at the technology that Microsoft is trying to claim. So off we go:

Off-screen gestures to create on-screen input:

This is pretty interesting. It basically brings the bezel into the equation, as gestures go. A patent provides the single touch gestures, multi-finger hand gestures and multi-finger gestures by various parties, all of which can run along the border, the transition from from the inside or the outside inside. Now all Microsoft needs for multi-toe various foot gestures and frame belongs to them. There is also mention of frame gestures, stirring up a drop-down menu.

We have already seen something similar to this on a BlackBerry PlayBook. The device wake-up Pavement you slide your finger up the screen bezel. -Mul'tizadacnost' requires the same gesture, but the party slate in the screen.

Radial menu frame gestures:

So, we have another patent related to the frame, this time dealing with a radial menu. It basically describes how access, navigation and use of a radial menu on the screen by using frame gestures. We haven't seen a lot of pie radial menu, with the exception of Microsoft Surface and a little taste of one in honeycombs in the browser. Honeycomb pie menu works by placing half of a finger on the screen, half on the front panel while the screen is only part of the device to receive input.

Multi-finger gestures:

However, another frame of the patent. But the last of the bunch, I promise. This really is very similar to the first there, but covers exactly what the name suggests: multi-finger gestures. It also covers the use of multi-finger gestures associated with one or more drawers exposable (and perhaps custom). It also disseminates gestures for use on a device with multiple screens.

And with this we can head on over to another package of patents completely focused on the multi-screen gestures.

Multi-screen Double Tap gesture:

This next patent focused mainly on classic double-tap, and how it is used on two-(or multi-) screen of the device. From what I understand, it looks like it handles double-tap as a way to transition to full-screen mode and Microsoft is calling "pocketing" knocked object. That's when the device uses a combination of cross display screen. However, if the device is in split-screen mode, double-tap displays knocked the image in full screen on one display and compressed, on the other.

Multi-Screen pinch and expand gestures:

Another classic touch gesture, but with the added awesomeness multi-screen system: pinch zoom. Unlike the double-tap a patent, it doesn't seem to be any mention of funky pinch zoom split screen commands. There's nothing really super new about it, except for the introduction of multiple screens.

Multi-screen bookmarks hold gesture

This is very interesting. This particular patent describes a way to bookmark certain "magazine" page on the device through a corner of the page history on the first screen, and perform a rolling motion on the second screen to confirm that the bookmark. We assume that the use of the term "inner page" refers to all content types. Then choose the link tab on the first screen and be identified by a log portion of the page, showing how the bookmark icon.

Multi-screen retention and page flip gesture:

Retention and page flip patent has to do with split screen viewing. By holding one finger on the screen whose content you would like to continue to view and run any movement of unspecified "input" on another screen content above the fold "will," while the content on another screen will change, or "flip".

Multi-screen retain and Tap gesture:

And last, but definitely not least we have the hold and use the patent. This one is the relationship between the two screens. In one case, a display object on the first screen and conversations will move second said object from the first screen on the second screen, right where you are. As another example, retention and TAP gesture can be used to copy the object held on the second screen. If the display object on the first screen happens to be a function and this function and the second screen will apply this function displays an object on the second screen.

Who knows when, if ever, these patents will be crowned with success? But Microsoft is trying to control technology, other designers tablet should take note of these patents. Especially if the multi-screen device in the works (read Sony).

[via Microsoft news]

Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is a veteran software company, best known for its Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite of ...

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Microsoft patents the flat slider phone form factor, multi-touch gaming mice

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He wrote for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts, it would like you to read: the perils of externalization of knowledge | Generation I | Surveillant society | Select two | Frame war | User manifesto | Our great sin his personal site — coldewey. cc. ? Read More

We've seen a lot of interesting patents from Apple in the last few days, but Microsoft loves patent stuff too — and they were given only a bunch of nice little designs for mobile phones in a special format and some Kinect slider and mouse tech for download.

They are patenting a simple slider, of course. They are patenting several specific designs of the sliding mechanism, which, after you finish sliding action, keyboard and screen are mostly similar to the plane. "i.e., mainly the flush. Check this:

Potentially, the advantage is more comfortable typing experience. Many complained to recruit around G1's "Chin", and other phones with sunken keyboards have similar problems. My problem with the design as it is that additional loops and such may increase weight and sturdiness. The second design looks more interesting, however, reduce the display, rather than increasing the keyboard. That actually could work.

I'd like to see is some patents on the slider keyboard with keys that are actually fun to type on. Or maybe a slide-out keyboard for tablets that do not increase the weight of the thing at 500%.

Microsoft also received a patent that explicitly refers to Kinect is the definition of the potential of space to gestures and track user's movement within a cone. I wouldn't say this is particularly interesting, but if you are interested in Kinect and Microsoft for its implementation, it could make for some fun reading this weekend.

More up my alley, Microsoft has patented a method of interaction with games through multi-touch mice. I'm very surprised this patent came because the games just a form of software, and must be hundreds of patents in the game on the interaction of the software and multi-touch surface. Mostly I liked looking at patent because they use illustrations that times back in the days of yore when multi-touch mice were a novel proposal.

[via WMPoweruser]

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