Abstract:
Touch-sensitive electric devices and window operation methods thereof are provided. The window operation method is applicable to an electronic device including a touch-sensitive screen, a storage unit and a processing module. The window operating method includes the following steps of: storing a touch-control database including a touch-control event in the storage unit; analyzing a touch-control gesture received via the touch-sensitive screen by the processing module and determining whether the touch-control gesture corresponds to the touch-control event; if yes, generating a transparent window and a marked frame, and covering the transparent window on the touch-sensitive screen transparently and displaying the marked frame on the periphery of the window by the processing module; and operating the window correspondingly by the processing module according to a touch-control command received on a display area of the transparent window. Thus, the window operating method may enhance convenience for users during touch-control operations of the window.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 099109274, filed on Mar. 26, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates generally to touch-sensitive electric apparatuses and window operation methods thereof, and, more particularly to touch-sensitive electric apparatuses and window operation methods thereof that utilize a finger or a simple gesture to operate a window of the electric apparatuses. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With the maturity of touch panel technologies, and the function of multi-point touch supported by Windows 7 of Microsoft, software for touch-sensitive interfaces have been developed and announced by several companies, in which the traditional keyboard and mouse input manner has been replaced by a touch-control manner; thus allowing the operational interface of computers to become more user friendly and appropriate for human behavior. 
         [0006]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a window provided by a general operating system. When a user wants to move the position of a window  10  or adjust the size of the window  10 , the movement and adjustment of the window  10  can be respectively performed in a movement window area  12  and an adjustment window area  11  by utilizing the touch-control manner. However, since the size of both the adjustment window area  11  and the movement window area  12  are small, it is inconvenient to perform related operations within the areas by utilizing the touch-control manner. Therefore, due to the inconvenience for operating the window  10  via the touch panel, users always select the traditional keyboard and mouse input manner for input, reducing the advantages of the touch-control manner with interfaces which are more user friendly and appropriate for human behavior. 
         [0007]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows the architecture of a conventional operating system having touch-control capabilities. When a user generates a touch-control operation on a touch-sensitive screen (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), a touch-sensitive processing module  21  will generate touch-control information according to the touch-control operation, and transmit the touch-control information to a touch-sensitive engine  22  of the operating system. The touch-sensitive engine  22  determines whether the touch-control operation conforms to a touch-control gesture. When the touch-control operation conforms to the touch-control gesture, the touch-sensitive engine  22  further locates an application  23  which needs to receive the touch-control gesture, and locates an application  23  which obtains a window focus. If the application  23  which obtained the window focus has registered to receive the touch-control gesture in the operating system, the touch-sensitive engine  22  will transmit the touch-control information to the application  23 . However, if the registered application  23  does not obtain the window focus, the application  23  will not receive the touch-control information. Therefore, in the working environment of a general operating system, the touch-sensitive engine  22  does not allow the application  23  to receive a global gesture. That is, the application  23  cannot receive any touch-control data occurring in an area outside of a content display area for the application  23 . Further, the application  23  cannot receive the touch-control gesture when it runs in a background 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Touch-sensitive electric devices and window operation methods thereof are provided to overcome the mentioned problems. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of a window operation method for use in an electronic device comprising a touch-sensitive screen, a storage unit and a processing module, a touch-control database comprising a touch-control event is stored in the storage unit. A window is displayed in the touch-sensitive screen. A touch-control gesture received via the touch-sensitive screen is analyzed by the processing module, and it is determined whether the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event. When the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event, a transparent window and a marked frame are generated in the touch-sensitive screen by the processing module, wherein the transparent window is covered on the touch-sensitive screen transparently, and the marked frame is displayed on the periphery of the window. Then, the window is correspondingly operated by the processing module according to a touch-control command received on a display area of the transparent window in the touch-sensitive screen. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the touch-control command is used to adjust the display area of the window, adjust the position of the window in the touch-sensitive screen, or close the window. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, when several windows are provided, wherein the windows are overlapped to display, the processing module can select the top window, and display the marked frame on the periphery of the top window. 
         [0012]    An embodiment of a touch-sensitive electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive screen, a storage unit and a processing module. The storage device comprises a touch-control database comprising a touch-control event. The touch-sensitive screen can receive a touch-control gesture, and display a window. The processing module electrically couples to the storage unit and the touch-sensitive screen, and analyzes the touch-control gesture to determine whether the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event. When the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event, the processing module generates a transparent window and a marked frame in the touch-sensitive screen, and covers the transparent window on the touch-sensitive screen transparently, and displays the marked frame on the periphery of the window. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the processing module further operates the window according to a touch-control command received on a display area of the transparent window in the touch-sensitive screen. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the processing module adjusts the display area of the window, adjust the position of the window in the touch-sensitive screen, or close the window according to the touch-control command. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, when several windows are provided, wherein the windows are overlapped to display, the processing module further selects the top window, and displays the marked frame on the periphery of the top window. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, when the touch-control gesture does not conform to the touch-control event, the processing module generates multi-point touch-control information according to the touch-control gesture, and transmits the multi-point touch-control information to an operating system executed on the electronic device. 
         [0017]    Therefore, the touch-sensitive electric devices and window operation methods thereof of the present disclosure can easily control a window by inputting touch-control gestures via a window, to enhance convenience for users during touch-control operations of the window. 
         [0018]    Window operation methods of a touch-sensitive electric device may take the form of a program code embodied in a tangible media. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a window provided by a general operating system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the architecture of a conventional operating system having touch-control capabilities; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a touch-sensitive electronic device of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is an architecture diagram illustrating the processing of a touch-control gesture by the touch-sensitive electronic device in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen applied with a horizontal touch-control gesture of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen applied with an upward touch-control gesture of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen applied with a downward touch-control gesture of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5D  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen applied with a cross touch-control gesture of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen of the touch-sensitive electronic device in a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen with a single point touch of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6C  is a schematic diagram illustrating a transformation window of the touch-sensitive electronic device in the second embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a window operation method of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Touch-sensitive electric devices and window operation methods thereof are provided. 
         [0034]    Please refer to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , wherein  FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a touch-sensitive electronic device of the invention, and  FIG. 3B  is an architecture diagram illustrating the processing of a touch-control gesture by the touch-sensitive electronic device in  FIG. 3A . In  FIG. 3A , the touch-sensitive electronic device  2  comprises a storage unit  31 , a processing module  32 , and a touch-sensitive screen  33 . The processing module  32  is electrically coupled to the storage unit  32  and the touch-sensitive screen  33 . 
         [0035]    The storage unit  31  may be a hard disk, a Solid State Hard Disk, an optical disc, or other suitable storage media, for storing a touch-control database  310 . The touch-control database  310  comprises at least one preset touch-control event  311 . 
         [0036]    The touch-sensitive screen  33  can display windows and receive touch-control gestures. When a user wants to activate an application, the processing module  32  will display at least one window  330  corresponding to the application in the touch-sensitive screen  33 . When the user performs a touch-control gesture on the touch-sensitive screen  33 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , a touch-control data analysis unit  321  of the processing module  32  will analyzes the raw data generated according to the touch-control gesture to calculate data, such as coordinates of contact points corresponding to the touch-control gesture. A touch-control comparison unit  322  of the processing module  32  will compare the calculated data and the touch-control event  311 , to determine whether the touch-control gesture input by the user conforms to the touch-control event  311 . When the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event  311 , the processing module  32  will execute a window management application  324 , which is executed in background. When the touch-control gesture does not conform to the touch-control event  311 , a touch-control recovery unit  323  will generate multi-point touch-control information according to the touch-control gesture, and transmit the multi-point touch-control information to an operating system  34  executed in the touch-sensitive electronic device  3  of the present invention. In some embodiments, the multi-point touch-control information may be a HID (Human Interface Device) report, such that the operating system  34  can handle the touch-control gesture according to the HID report. In some embodiments, the touch-control gesture may be generated when a user simultaneously uses four fingers to touch four contact points  331  of the touch-sensitive screen  33 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . It is understood that, the touch-control gesture in  FIG. 4  is only an example of the invention, and is not limited thereto. 
         [0037]    When the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event  311 , the window management application  324  can obtain a window handle of a window  330 , which is currently displayed in the touch-sensitive screen  33  via the window API (Application Interface) of the operating system  34 , and lock the picture of the touch-sensitive screen  33 . The processing module  23  can generate a transparent window  332  and a marked frame  333  in the touch-sensitive screen  33 , and cover the transparent window  332  on the touch-sensitive screen  33  transparently, and display the marked frame  333  on the periphery of the window  330 . It is noted that, “transparently covering” means the background of the transparent window  332  is transparent, and the transparent window  332  is displayed above the touch-sensitive screen  33  to obtain the display effect as shown in  FIG. 4 . In some embodiments, the coverage of the transparent window  332  may be the whole desktop of the touch-sensitive screen  33 . In some embodiments, the transparent window  332  is generated by setting a transparent attribute of the transparent window  332  as semi-transparency via the window API of the operating system; thereby, achieving the display effect in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    Concurrently, the user can input a touch-control command within the display area of the transparent window  332  by using a gesture or click, such that the processing module  32  can operate the window  330  according to the touch-control command. In some embodiments, the touch-control command is used to adjust the display area of the window  330 , adjust the position of the window  330  in the touch-sensitive screen  33 , or close the window  330 . 
         [0039]    For example, when the touch-control command is used to adjust the display area of the window  330 , a user can use two fingers to input a horizontal touch-control gesture  51  by horizontally closing or separating the fingers from each other on the touch-sensitive screen  33 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . The processing module  32  can calculate a scale ratio according to the closed or opened distance of the two fingers, adjust the size of the window  330  by using an application, such as ShowWindow/SetWindowPos in the window API, and maintain the aspect ratio of the window  330 . When the user inputs an upward touch-control gesture  52 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , the processing module  32  can maximize the size of the window  330  according to the upward touch-control gesture  52 . When the user inputs a downward touch-control gesture  53 , as shown in  FIG. 5C , the processing module  32  can minimize the size of the window  330  according to the downward touch-control gesture  53 . Further, the processing module  3  can also display a touch-control adjustment point  334  at a corner of the window  330 , and adjust the size of the window  330  according to an offset of the touch-control adjustment point  334  which is dragged by the user. 
         [0040]    When the touch-control command is used to adjust the position of the window  330 , a user can use a finger to press on the window  330 , and drag the window  330  to an appropriate position. Additionally, when the user performs a flick along a specific direction on the touch-sensitive screen  33 , the processing module  32  can calculate an initial speed according to a movement vector of the contact points corresponding to the flick, and perform a movement for the window  330  in the specific direction according to the initial speed and a predefined damping coefficient. It is noted that, the movement of the window  330  may have an inertia effect of drifting. 
         [0041]    When a user inputs a cross touch-control gesture  54  on the touch-sensitive screen  33 , as shown in  FIG. 5D , the processing module  32  can close the window  330 . 
         [0042]    It is noted that, after the touch-sensitive electronic device  3  receives the touch-control gesture, the processing module  2  can first determine whether the touch-control gesture is the touch-control event  311 , and accordingly determine whether to transmit the touch-control gesture to the operating system  34 . 
         [0043]    Further, when the user wants to leave the touch-control operation (control of the window  330  via the touch-control gesture), the user can also input the touch-control gesture as in  FIG. 4 , and the processing module  32  can stop displaying the transparent window  332  and the marked frame  333 . It is understood that, the user can still use the default touch-control function provided by the operating system  34 . Additionally, if the touch-control function for windows of the touch-sensitive electronic device  3  of the present invention malfunctions, due to some unexpected reasons, the processing module  32  will directly transmit the touch-control information corresponding to the touch-control gesture to the operating system  34 , such that the touch-control function for windows of the touch-sensitive electronic device  3  can be suspended. Therefore, mistakes of determinations due to malfunction of the touch-control function for windows can be avoided. 
         [0044]    Please refer to  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch-sensitive screen of the touch-sensitive electronic device in a second embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, the touch-sensitive screen  33  of the second embodiment further comprises windows  330   a ,  330   b  and  330   c , wherein the windows are overlapped for displaying. Other components of the two embodiments are similar, and related discussions are omitted here. When a user inputs a touch-control gesture, the processing module  32  will display the marked frame  333  on the periphery of the top window having the highest Z-order, such as the window  330   c . It is noted that, Z-order is an ordering of overlapping two-dimensional objects, such as windows in a graphical user interface (GUI). When two windows overlap, their Z-order determines which one appears on top of the other. Consequently, the window which the user wants to operate can be marked. 
         [0045]    Additionally, when the user wants to operate other windows, the user can click another window, as shown in  FIG. 6B . The processing module  32  can determine the coordinates of the contact point  335  using a windows management tool application, cause the corresponding window  330   b  obtains a focus according to the coordinates, and display the marked frame  333  on the periphery of the window  330   b , as shown in  FIG. 6C . In this way, the switching among windows can be efficiently accomplished, and the user can perform related touch-controls for the switched window. 
         [0046]    Even though the above embodiments have clearly discussed the window operation method of the present invention, a flowchart is also discussed below for better understanding. 
         [0047]    Please refer to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a window operation method of the invention. The window operation method can be used in an electronic device having a touch-sensitive screen, such as the touch-sensitive electronic device  3  of the above embodiments (as shown in  FIG. 3A ), but it is not limited thereto. 
         [0048]    In step S 10 , a touch-control database is stored in the storage unit, wherein the touch-control database comprises a touch-control event. 
         [0049]    In step S 20 , a window is displayed in the touch-sensitive screen. 
         [0050]    In step S 30 , a touch-control gesture received via the touch-sensitive screen is analyzed, and it is determined whether the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event. When the touch-control gesture conforms to the touch-control event, the procedure goes to step S 40 . When the touch-control gesture does not conform to the touch-control event, the procedure goes to step S 31 . 
         [0051]    In step S 40 , a transparent window and a marked frame are generated, wherein the transparent window is covered on the touch-sensitive screen transparently, and the marked frame is displayed on the periphery of the window. When several windows are displayed in the touch-sensitive screen, the marked frame is displayed on the periphery of the top window having the highest Z-order. 
         [0052]    In step S 50 , the window is correspondingly operated according to a touch-control command received on a display area of the transparent window. 
         [0053]    In step S 31 , multi-point touch-control information is generated according to the touch-control gesture, and the multi-point touch-control information is transmitted to the operating system executed on the electronic device. 
         [0054]    Window operation methods for a touch-sensitive electronic device, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of a program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of a program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits. 
         [0055]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.