Abstract:
A gesture operation input system includes one or more subsystems to receive an input indicating a modifier input, receive a gesture input, wherein the gesture input indicates an action to be performed, and receive an indication that the modifier input is no longer being received. After receiving the gesture input, the gesture operation input system then determines the action to be performed using the gesture input and performs the action.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a gesture operation input system for an information handling system. 
         [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    Certain IHSs allow users of the IHS to perform functions using a multi-touch gesture library. The gesture library is generally a variety of motions provided to the IHS to get the IHS to perform a function. The gesture library, however, is so complex it is difficult for one to remember all the gestures. For example, gestures may require the user to use a thumb and one or more fingers of the same hand to perform the gesture motions. This use of multiple fingers on the same hand performing different motions may be difficult for operators. The gestures may interfere with the visibility of images on the display, reduce visual efficiency, and elicit dexterity discomfort. In addition, the gesture library/hand strokes may not be intuitive to the average IHS user. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved gesture operation input system absent the disadvantages discussed above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to one embodiment, a gesture operation input system includes one or more subsystems to receive an input indicating a modifier input, receive a gesture input, wherein the gesture input indicates an action to be performed, and receive an indication that the modifier input is no longer being received. After receiving the gesture input, the gesture operation input system then determines the action to be performed using the gesture input and performs the action. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of and information handling system (IHS). 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for an IHS to receive gesture inputs. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for an IHS to receive gesture inputs. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of and IHS with a gesture operation input system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS  100  includes any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an IHS  100  may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS  100  may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, read only memory (ROM), and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the IHS  100  may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS  100  may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one IHS  100 . The IHS  100  includes a processor  102  such as an Intel Pentium™ series processor or any other processor available. A memory I/O hub chipset  104  (comprising one or more integrated circuits) connects to processor  102  over a front-side bus  106 . Memory I/O hub  104  provides the processor  102  with access to a variety of resources. Main memory  108  connects to memory I/O hub  104  over a memory or data bus. A graphics processor  110  also connects to memory I/O hub  104 , allowing the graphics processor to communicate, e.g., with processor  102  and main memory  108 . Graphics processor  110 , in turn, provides display signals to a display device  112 . In an embodiment, the display device  112  may be a touch screen display device. A touch screen display device allows the IHS  100  to receive input from a user via the display device  112 . 
         [0012]    Other resources can also be coupled to the system through the memory I/O hub  104  using a data bus, including an optical drive  114  or other removable-media drive, one or more hard disk drives  116 , one or more network interfaces  118 , one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports  120 , and a super I/O controller  122  to provide access to user input devices  124 , etc. The IHS  100  may also include a solid state drive (SSDs)  126  in place of, or in addition to main memory  108 , the optical drive  114 , and/or a hard disk drive  116 . It is understood that any or all of the drive devices  114 ,  116 , and  126  may be located locally with the IHS  100 , located remotely from the IHS  100 , and/or they may be virtual with respect to the IHS  100 . 
         [0013]    Not all IHSs  100  include each of the components shown in  FIG. 1 , and other components not shown may exist. Furthermore, some components shown as separate may exist in an integrated package or be integrated in a common integrated circuit with other components, for example, the processor  102  and the memory I/O hub  104  can be combined together. As can be appreciated, many systems are expandable, and include or can include a variety of components, including redundant or parallel resources. 
         [0014]    A gesture operation input system allows a user of an IHS  100  to dynamically and easily interact with the IHS  100  via touch gestures. In an embodiment, the user of the IHS  100  draws a symbol or character on a touch surface with a finger, stylus, or other device while engaging a modifier. The modifier may be a keyboard key, a switch, a button, or other similar input device. In addition, the modifier may be a real, physical device or a virtual device on a touch screen, touch pad, or the like. Using a modifier and a character/symbol rather than using multiple fingers on the same hand is easier to perform and requires less hand dexterity than other gesture systems. In other words, it is easier to have a shortcut system that allows users to “draw” the desired functionality via a character by pressing a touch modifier to capture the character and execute the desired behavior. By pressing a touch modifier, the user can perform special operations similar to use of the control key on a keyboard (e.g., draw a “P” to print a file). 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the gesture operation input system of the present disclosure utilizes control key shortcuts available in software applications. In other words, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system for using a modifier key (e.g., a control key, a dedicated modifier key, or other modifier input) in which the user of the IHS  100  draws a character or symbol to execute some behavior for any IHS application. For example, modifier button plus: B=bold; C=cut; I=italics; N=new; P=print; Z=undo, and a variety of other characters and symbols may be used. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure may operate with any operating system and any application. 
         [0016]    It is to be understood that the gesture operation input system of the present disclosure may use a touch interaction following the launch of an application on the IHS  100 . In addition, the system may operate on notebooks, desktop displays, all-in-ones, telephones, media devices (e.g., MP3 devices), keyboards, and any other device that utilizes a touch screen or other input area and applications with embedded control+key or similar type commands. It is to be understood that a software for this system may operate with or without toolbars and may operate with word processing, spreadsheets, slide presentations, scrapbooks, gaming, and a variety of other applications. The gesture system of the present disclosure may perform various data manipulations in the file by capturing/selecting areas data from an area of a document, printing, pasting, and/or performing other operations in the application. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method  140  for an IHS  100  to receive gesture inputs. The method  140  begins at block  142  when a user of an IHS  100  engages a modifier button, such as a control key  192  on a keyboard  190  or an on-screen virtual modifier button  194  on display device  112 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The method  140  then proceeds to block  144  where the method  140  displays an input screen, such as the input screen  198  on the display device  112  or the method  140  highlights/backlights a touchpad  196 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The touchpad  196  may be incorporated into the IHS  100  or may be a stand alone device. The method  140  then proceeds to block  146  where the user may then interact with the IHS  100  via the input device (e.g., the touch pad  196  or the input screen  198 ). Then, the method  140  ends at block  148 . After the IHS  100  receives the gesture input, the IHS  100  may recognize the gesture input and perform any function. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method  160  for an IHS  100  to receive gesture inputs. The method  160  begins at block  162  where the IHS  100  is operating and capable of receiving an input from a user via a modifier button  192 ,  194 . The method  160  proceeds to block  164  when a user of the IHS presses or otherwise engages a modifier button  192 ,  194 . After the modifier button  192 ,  194  is engaged, the IHS  100  may pop-up an input screen  198  or activate/illuminate a touchpad  196  to indicate to the user that the user may write, draw, or otherwise enter a gesture on the input device  196 ,  198 . The method  160  then proceeds to block  166  where the user of the IHS  100  inputs the gesture into the input device  196 ,  198 . Next, the method  160  proceeds to block  168  where the user releases the modifier button  192 ,  194 . It should be understood that in an embodiment, the method  160  may operate by having the engagement of the modifier button  192 ,  194  become a latching button where the engagement of the modifier  192 ,  194  latches on until the user presses the modifier button  192 ,  194  a second time or some other system releases the latching modifier. Next, the method  160  proceeds to block  170  where the method  160  recognizes the gesture input. In an embodiment, the gesture inputs may follow common control+key type inputs, such as those provided in Table 1. However, other gesture inputs may be used for these and other operations (e.g., shift key+control key+a “T” gesture could indicate cropping on the application). 
         [0000]                              TABLE 1                   Modifier + Gesture input operations            Modifier + Gesture   Operation               Modifier + A   Select All       Modifier + B   Bold       Modifier + C   Copy (can also be used as an alternative           to Modifier + Break to terminate an           application)       Modifier + D   Font Window (Word Processing)       Modifier + E   Center Alignment (Word Processing)       Modifier + F   Find (usually a small piece of text in a           larger document)       Modifier + G   Go to (Line Number)       Modifier + H   Replace, or History in browsers       Modifier + I   Italic       Modifier + K   Insert Hyperlink (Word processing)       Modifier + L   Create List       Modifier + M   Decrease Margin       Modifier + N   New (window, document, etc.)       Modifier + O   Open       Modifier + P   Print       Modifier + Q   Quit Application       Modifier + R   Refresh Page       Modifier + S   Save       Modifier + T   Open New Tab       Modifier + U   Underline       Modifier + V   Paste       Modifier + W   Close window or tab       Modifier + X   Cut       Modifier + Y   Redo (sometimes ctrl + shift + Z is used for           this)       Modifier + End   Bottom (end of document or window)       Modifier + Home   Top (start of document or window)       Modifier + Ins   Copy       Modifier + PgDn   Next tab       Modifier + PgUp   Previous tab       Modifier + Tab   Next window or tab       Modifier + Shift + Tab   Previous window or tab       Modifier + ←   Previous Word       Modifier + →   Next Word       Modifier + Delete   Delete Next Word       Modifier + Backspace   Delete Previous Word       Modifier + Alt + Delete   Task Manager/Restarting the Computer                    
The method  160  then proceeds to block  172  where the system recognizes that the modifier  192 ,  194  is no longer engaged and resumes normal inputs, such as keyboard, mouse, touch screen, and any other inputs. In an embodiment, the method  160  proceeds to block  174  where the method  160  displays the received gesture on the touch pad  196  and/or on the input screen  198 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the method  160  may display the character “S” as the input gesture on the input pad  196  and/or on the input screen  198  after the user engages the modifier  192 ,  194  and then the user inputs the character “S” into the touch pad  196  or the input screen  198  of a touch screen display device  112 , using the user&#39;s finger, a stylus, or other input device. As shown in Table, 1, the gesture “S” may be used to save a copy of the document, spreadsheet, slide presentation, or other application. The method  160  then proceeds to block  176  where the method  160  performs the operation (e.g., the save operation when a “S” gesture is provided) in the application operating on the IHS  100 . The method  160  then ends at block  178  where the operation running on the IHS  100  returns to normal operation.
 
         [0019]    A touch interaction as disclosed in the present application may utilize one-finger movements for each hand and thus differentiates Windows® operating system users from Mac® operating system users. The present disclosure also reduces a learning curve to touch interaction for controlling the IHS  100 . Additionally, embodiments of this touch interaction may work across any application, may be specific to all languages, do not require continuous movements without raising the writing device, work on touch screens and touch pads and promotes new design interfaces for software applications. 
         [0020]    It should be readily understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the systems and methods of the present disclosure solves several problems associated with IHS touch interaction. First, the systems and methods of the present disclosure reduces the difficulty and ambiguity associated with multi-touch gestures. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure utilizes an application&#39;s Control+Key library. In addition, the present disclosure may be applied with the Apple®+Key used for Apple® computers. Second, embodiments of the systems and methods of the present disclosure do not create another language, but rather treat touch interaction synonymous with traditional keyboard commands. As such, users who are familiar with shortcut command keys can easily user their knowledge to operate the present disclosure. Third, existing software applications do not need additional programming such as gesture application programming interfaces (APIs) or software development kits (SDKs). If software applications implement shortcut keys, the present systems may leverage that application&#39;s command key library. Fourth, the systems and methods of the present disclosure make touch interaction simple by only requiring a single finger interaction on each hand, which is more ergonomic and requires less hand dexterity than systems requiring use of multiple fingers on the same hand to perform the gestures. Fifth, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may work using any IHS application that implements shortcut command key behaviors. Thus, the present disclosure may use a touch modifier key  192 ,  194 , which could be in the form of a capacitive button on a bezel, a dedicated area on a touchpad, a fixed icon the touch screen or other input systems. The modifier key  192 ,  194  may be programmed to behave similar to the control key  192 . In an embodiment, when the user of the IHS  100  presses and holds the modifier key  192 ,  194  with one finger on a first hand, one finger from a second hand may be used to draw the gesture command key character on a dedicated display  196 ,  198 . The on-screen display  198  may be optional for advanced IHS users. Users may use their finger, a stylus and/or any other device to input the gesture character into the input device  196 ,  198 . Similar to hand-writing recognition applications, the interface of the present disclosure may be programmed to recognize the characters for faster learning. Sixth, the systems and methods of the present disclosure are not be constrained by continuous and simultaneous writing movements as are other gesture systems. Rather, users draw the command key character (printed or cursive) as they would see it on a keyboard (e.g., draw an “X” by making a first diagonal line, picking up the writing device and then making a second diagonal line crossing the first diagonal line, rather than making a variation of an “X” made without lifting the writing finger or instrument). Seventh, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may be global and work anywhere as the application implemented command functions. For example, users could draw Asian characters and the characters may be recognized by the interface. Finally, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may allow software developers to create unique software applications in which the interfaces do not have to implement a traditional menu or tool bar. Rather, the present disclosure may allow more direction object manipulation with a touch screen, reduce visual clutter (i.e., tool bar), and make an interface more inviting. 
         [0021]    It is also to be understood that in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the applications themselves may define their own hot keys and what they do on a per-application basis. Thus, the present disclosure gets the character/gesture input from the user, converts it into a character, adds the modifier  192 ,  194 , (e.g., the ‘alt’ key, the ‘ctrl’, etc.) and hands that character combination to the application for it to process. 
         [0022]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.