ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND SCREEN CONTROLLING METHOD APPLIED THERETO

An electronic device includes a screen, a processor and a storage device communicatively coupled to the processor. The storage device storing computer-executable instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to detect a touch motion in a preset area that is located in an edge area of the screen, determine whether the touch motion is a preset touch motion when the touch motion is detected in the preset area, and execute a first preset function corresponding to the touch motion when the touch motion is the preset touch motion. The first preset function is defined as generating and displaying a first shortcut icon of a prediction function corresponding to an application interface currently displayed on the screen according to a previous touch motion received by the application interface. A screen controlling method is also provided.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to touch technology, and particularly to an electronic device and a screen controlling method applied thereto.

BACKGROUND

One-handed operation of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is quite common. However, electronic devices are becoming larger in size as the display screens are appearing more frameless. Thus, one-handed operation of the electronic device may lead to inadvertent touches that may unintendedly open a software application. At the same time, current software design lacks context-awareness in a smart design. Improvement in the art is preferred.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “comprising” when utilized, means “include, but is not limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. The term “coupled” when utilized, means “either a direct electrical connection between the things that are connected, or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices, but is not limited to”.

FIG. 1shows an electronic device10in accordance with an embodiment. The electronic device10includes, but is not limited to, a processor11, a screen12, and a storage device13. The electronic device10can be a portable electronic device such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant) or other portable device. The electronic device10can include a full-screen display, the screen12can be part of the full-screen.

The processor11can be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or other data processing chip.

The screen12is configured to provide an interactive interface to implement user interaction with the electronic device10. The screen12is a touch screen for displaying the interactive interface, and sensing operations on the touch screen, generating corresponding electrical signals, and transmitting the electrical signals to the processor11.

The storage device13is embedded in the electronic device10. In an alternative embodiment, the storage device13can also be a separate external memory card, for example, an SM card (Smart Media Card), an SD card (Secure Digital Card), or the like.

The screen controlling system200is installed and operated in the electronic device10. The screen controlling system200can be divided into one or more modules, the one or more modules are computer-executable instructions stored in the storage device13, and executed by the one or more processors11, so that the electronic device10responds to operations on the screen12to implement interaction(s) between the user and the electronic device10according to the interactive interface. InFIG. 2, the screen controlling system200includes a setting module100, a detecting module101, a first determining module102, a second determining module103, and a starting module104.

In the present embodiment, the detecting module101detects a touch motion in a preset area24(FIG. 3) that is located in an edge area of the screen12.

In the present embodiment, referring toFIG. 3, the screen12includes a touch area14, and the touch area14is roughly rectangular. The edge area includes a first edge area20, a second edge area21, a third edge area22, and a fourth edge area23. The first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, and the fourth edge area23are set along edges of the touch area14. The first edge area20is opposite to the second edge area21, and the third edge area22is opposite to the fourth edge area23.

The preset area24is an area having a preset shape and a preset size in the first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, or the fourth edge area23. The preset area24can approximate the portion or portions of a display screen likely to be touched by user fingertips during one-handed operation. The preset area24having a preset shape and a preset size can be a rectangular area having a preset length and a preset width. The preset length is preferably longer than the preset width. The preset area24extends in a direction along a lengthwise edge of the screen12. In the present embodiment, the preset area24has a rectangular area that is perpendicular to a widthwise edge of the screen12. The preset length is equal to or less than a length of the edge area.

Notably, there is only one preset area24in the present embodiment. That is, one preset area24covers only one of the first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, and the fourth edge area23.

There can be multiple preset areas24. That is, the multiple preset areas24can be provided in more than one of the first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, and the fourth edge area23.

In general, when the electronic device10is vertically oriented, a longer side of the screen12is in the length direction and extends longitudinally, and a shorter side of the screen12is in the width direction and extends laterally. So, when the electronic device10is oriented along a longitudinal direction, the first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, and the fourth edge area23are respectively identified as a left edge area, a right edge area, an upper edge area, and a lower edge area of the screen12. The preset area24, when provided in the first edge area20or the second edge area21, is a rectangular area extending along the length of the screen12. The preset area24, when provided in the third edge area22or the fourth edge area23, is a rectangular area extending along the width of the screen12.

When there are multiple preset areas24, the multiple preset areas24can have same preset length and preset width, or can have different preset lengths and preset widths.

In the present embodiment, a preset touch motion is a slide gesture in a preset direction. The preset direction includes a first direction P1, a second direction P2, a third direction P3, and a fourth direction P4. The first direction P1is opposite to the second direction P2, the third direction P3is opposite to the fourth direction P4. The first direction P1is perpendicular to the third direction P3and the second direction P2is perpendicular to the fourth direction P4. The slide gesture is defined as continuously touching the screen12for a preset time duration and then sliding on the screen12in a direction. The preset time can be preset in the storage device13by the setting module100. For example, the preset time can be half a second, one second, or two seconds.

In a first embodiment, referring toFIG. 3, when the electronic device10is vertically oriented, the first direction P1is a direction from bottom to top in the first edge area20and the second edge area21. The second direction P2is a direction from top to bottom in the first edge area20and the second edge area21. The third direction P3is a direction from right to left in the third edge area22and the fourth edge area23. The fourth direction P4a direction from left to right in the third edge area22and the fourth edge area23.

In a second embodiment, referring toFIG. 4, when the electronic device10is horizontally, the first edge area20, the second edge area21, the third edge area22, and the fourth edge area23respectively correspond to the left edge area, the right edge area, the upper edge area, and the lower edge area of the screen12. The preset area24provided in the first edge area20or the second edge area21is set as a rectangular area extending along the length of the screen12, and the preset area24provided in the third edge area22or the fourth edge area23is set as another rectangular area that extends along the width of the screen12. The first direction P1is a direction from bottom to top in the third edge area22and the fourth edge area23. The second direction P2is a direction from top to bottom in the third edge area22and the fourth edge area23. The third direction P3is a direction from right to left in the first edge area20and the second edge area21. The fourth direction P4is a direction from left to right in the first edge area20and the second edge area21.

In the present embodiment, the setting module100sets a preset function corresponding to the preset standard touches and touch motions. Each preset touch motion corresponds to one preset function. Each preset touch motion can be a first slide gesture, a second slide gesture, a third slide gesture, or a fourth slide gesture. The first slide gesture is the slide gesture along the first direction P1, the second slide gesture is the slide gesture along the second direction P2, the third slide gesture is the slide gesture along the third direction P3, and the fourth slide gesture is the slide gesture along the fourth direction P4. The preset function includes a first preset function, a second preset function, a third preset function, a fourth preset function, and a fifth preset function. Applications corresponding to the first preset function, the second preset function, the third preset function, the fourth preset function, and the fifth preset function are preset by the setting module100and stored in the storage device13. The fourth preset function can vary while the fifth preset function remains unchanged as an application (app) interface changes. The setting module100can also change the preset functions corresponding to the preset touch motion in response to a user's operation.

In the present embodiment, the first determining module102is configured to determine whether the touch motion is a preset touch motion when a touch motion is detected in the preset area24. When the detected touch motion matches the preset touch, then the first determining module102determines that the detected touch motion is a preset touch motion. When the first determining module102determines that the detected touch motion (a preset touch motion) is in the preset area24, the second determining module103determines whether a current screen interface of the screen12is an application interface.

In the present embodiment, the screen12of the electronic device10can display two kinds of interfaces, namely the application interface and a system display interface. The application interface belongs to or related to one or other application installed in the electronic device10. The system display interface belongs to or related to an operating system of the electronic device10.

In the present embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the first slide gesture, the starting module104executes the first preset function. When the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the second slide gesture, the starting module104executes the second preset function. The first preset function and the second preset function can include functions such as volume adjustment, dialing to a contact, executing a preset application, or the like. For example, in one embodiment, the first preset function is defined as increasing a volume, the second preset function is defined as decreasing the volume. In a second embodiment, the first preset function is defined as immediately dialing to the telephone number of a preset contact, the second preset function is defined as immediately executing a WECHAT® application. For example, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the first slide gesture, the starting module104dials the preset contact immediately. When the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the second slide gesture, the starting module104immediately executes the WeChat® application.

In the present embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104executes the third preset function. The third preset function can be the preset function such as executing an album application or executing a browser. When a plurality of browser applications are installed in a system, the third preset function can be defined as immediately executing a preset browser. For example, in one embodiment, the third preset function is defined as immediately executing the album application. When the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104executes the album application. In a second embodiment, the third preset function is defined as immediately executing the browser. When the current screen interface of the screen12is the system display interface and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104executes the browser.

In the present embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104executes the fourth preset function. The fourth preset function can be defined as generating a first shortcut icon A11of a prediction function corresponding to a function provided by the application interface currently displayed on the screen12. Referring toFIG. 5, an arrow indicates the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture as triggering the fourth preset function, the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface P11. When the starting module104executes the fourth preset function, an overlay menu P12will be generated to overlay the application interface P11. The overlay menu P12can include the first shortcut icon A11, the first shortcut icon A11includes A1and A2, that is, function A shortcut icon A1and function B shortcut icon A2. The function can operation a function related to the application interface. The first shortcut icon A11can be preset in the storage device13by the setting module100. The first shortcut icon A11that appears each time the fourth preset function is executed is not fixed, and it will change with the current application type and the touch motion received by the current application interface. The first shortcut icon A11includes, but is not limited to, notepad, storage and editing.

In a first embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is a text application interface, the text application interface receives a first touch motion. For example, the first touch motion is to select or copy a piece of text. Then there is a second touch motion in the preset area24, and the second touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104generates and displays the first shortcut icon A11corresponding to the text application interface according to the first touch motion, such as providing functions such as notepad, storage, and copying for the user to choose.

In a second embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is a photo application interface, the photo application interface receives the first touch motion. For example, the first touch motion is to select or copy a photo. Then if there is a second touch motion in the preset area24, and if the second touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104generates and displays the first shortcut icon A11of the prediction function corresponding to the photo application interface according to the first touch motion, such as providing notepad, sharing, and editing functions for the user to choose.

In a third embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104executes the fifth preset function. The fifth preset function can be defined as generating a second shortcut icon A12corresponding to a function operation of the application interface. The second shortcut icon A12can include, but is not limited to, forwarding. Referring toFIG. 6, an arrow indicates the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture as triggering the fifth preset function, the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface P21. When the starting module104executes the fifth preset function, an overlay menu P22is generated to overlay the application interface P21. The overlay menu P22can include the second shortcut icon A12, the second shortcut icon A12includes A3and A4, and separately represent the function of forwarding to WeChat® and the function of forwarding to a circle of friends.

For example, in one embodiment, when the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface with the forwarding function and the touch motion is the third slide gesture or the fourth slide gesture, the starting module104generates the second shortcut icon A12corresponding to the forwarding function. Forwarding function may be, for example, providing the function of forwarding information to a friend, a circle of friends, or a social networking site for the user to choose to make a forwarding action. No matter the application, the second shortcut icon A12can provide a consistent forwarding operation interface. That is, consistent forwarding operation between an operation interface and an operation procedure. So that the user does not need to find complicated functions such as the forwarding function in the current application interface or copying web links.

Referring toFIG. 7, a flowchart of an embodiment of screen controlling method is presented. The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated inFIG. 2, for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example method. Each block shown inFIG. 7represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the method. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can be changed. The method can begin at block300. Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks can be added, others removed, and the ordering of the blocks can be changed.

At block300, the setting module100sets different preset functions corresponding to different preset touch motions.

At block301, the detecting module101detects a touch motion in a preset area24, and the preset area24is located in an edge area of the screen. If no touch motion is detected, the detecting module101keeps detecting a touch motion at block301. If a touch motion is detected, then the detecting module101proceeds to block302.

At block302, the first determining module102determines whether the touch motion is a preset touch motion. If the first determining module102determines that the touch motion is not a preset touch motion, then the first determining module102return to block301; and if the first determining module102determines that the touch motion is a preset touch motion, then the first determining module102proceeds to block303.

At block303, the first determining module102determines whether the touch motion is a first slide gesture. If the touch motion is the first slide gesture, then enter into block3031; if the touch motion is not the first slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block304.

At block3031, the starting module104executes a first preset function.

At block304, the first determining module102determines whether the touch motion is a second slide gesture. If the touch motion is the second slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block3041; if the touch motion is not the second slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block305.

At block3041, the starting module104executes a second preset function.

At block305, if the touch motion is a third slide gesture or a fourth slide gesture, the second determining module103determines whether a current screen interface of the screen12is an application interface. If the second determining module103determines that the current screen interface of the screen12is not the application interface, that is, the current screen interface of the screen12is a system display interface, then the current screen interface of the screen12is the application interface, then the second determining module103proceeds to block306.

At block3051, the starting module104executes a third preset function.

At block306, the first determining module102determines whether the touch motion is the third slide gesture. If the touch motion is the third slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block3061; if the touch motion is not the third slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block307.

At block3061, the starting module104executes a fourth preset function.

At block307, the first determining module102determines whether the touch motion is the fourth slide gesture. If the touch motion is the fourth slide gesture, then the first determining module102proceeds to block3071; if the touch motion is not the fourth slide gesture, then the first determining module102return to block301.

At block3071, the starting module104executes a fifth preset function.

In another embodiment, the preset functions performed at the block3061and3071can be interchanged. That is, the starting module104executes the fifth preset function at block3061, and the starting module104executes the fourth preset function at block3071.