Patent Publication Number: US-2010110020-A1

Title: Virtual press number pad

Description:
SUMMARY 
     The present invention is defined by the claims below. Embodiments of the present invention solve at least the problem of associating a gesture, in contact with a touch screen on a device, with characters. Illustrative embodiments of characters include numbers, letters, and symbols. 
     In a first aspect, media having computer-useable instructions perform a method of associating a gesture that is in contact with a surface of a device to a unique character. The gesture is received on the surface of the device. The gesture made on the surface of the device is recognized. Upon recognition of the gesture, the gesture is converted into a vector identified by Cartesian coordinates. The Cartesian coordinates determine a direction of the gesture. Based on the direction of the gesture, the unique character is assigned to represent the gesture. 
     In another aspect, media having computer-useable instructions perform a method of recognizing a gesture in association with a character. A surface of a device is divided into regions. The gesture is received in contact with the surface of the device in a first region of the regions. The gesture includes movements on the surface within a time frame. The gesture in the first region is converted into coordinates in the first region. The coordinates are associated with the character such that the gesture is associated with the character. An identical gesture received in a second region is associated with another character. 
     In yet another aspect, media having computer-useable instructions perform a method of providing a configuration that establishes how inputs are received into a computing device. A configuration is selected from configurations stored in the computing device. The configurations establish how gestures can be received on a surface of the computing device. The surface of the computing device is modified when the configuration is selected so that touches or movements on the surface are recognized respectively gestures. The gestures are mapped respectively to characters. The characters are displayed on a display device on the computing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a multi-directional movement configuration displayed on a surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a horizontal movement configuration displayed on a surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a vertical movement configuration displayed on a surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary environment for receiving and recognizing a gesture on a surface of a device when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates an exemplary environment for associating a gesture made on a surface of a device with a character when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate a surface of a device that is logically divided into zones that can receive single-touch, double-touch, or triple-touch gestures in a first zone that correspond respectively to characters; 
         FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate a surface of a device that is logically divided into zones that can receive single-touch, double-touch, or triple-touch gestures in a middle zone that correspond respectively to characters; 
         FIGS. 6A-B  illustrate a surface of a device that is logically divided into zones that can receive single-touch, double-touch, or triple-touch gestures in a last zone that correspond respectively to characters; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary flowchart for associating a gesture in contact with a surface of a device to a unique character when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary flowchart for recognizing a gesture and associating it to a character when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary flowchart for providing a configuration that establishes how inputs are received into a computing device when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary flowchart for configuring a surface of a device into a set of regions when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary flowchart for recognizing touches in association with a character when implementing an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  illustrates another exemplary flowchart for providing configurations that establish how inputs are received into a computing device when implementing an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide media that implement methods for associating a gesture in contact with a touch screen with a character. More specifically, the present invention links a user&#39;s movement on a surface of a device to represent a character. For example, in an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a user may swipe a surface on their device such as a cell phone. A swipe in a first direction may represent a number. The swipe in another direction may represent another number. A tap in a particular region may represent yet another number, and so forth. 
     Various technical terms are used throughout this description. An illustrative resource that fleshes out various aspects of these terms can be found in  Newton&#39;s Telecom Dictionary  by H. Newton, 24 th  Edition (2008). 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as, among other things: a method, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, the embodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. In one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a computer-program product that includes computer-useable instructions embodied on one or more computer-readable media. 
     Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and nonremovable media, and contemplates media readable by a database, a switch, and various other network devices. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media comprise media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations. Media examples include, but are not limited to information-delivery media, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. These technologies can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary surface  105  of a device is depicted in a multi-directional configuration and is referenced generally by the numeral  100 . A user&#39;s movement creates gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160  which represent respectively a character. A character as described herein is any letter, number, or symbol. Other embodiments of the multi-directional configuration include a spoke-and-wheel configuration, a star configuration, or another configuration encompassing several directions. Although  FIG. 1  depicts the multi-directional configuration in accordance with the present invention, the invention should not limited to the configurations that are discussed. For example, there may be a horizontal configuration, vertical configuration, or diagonal configuration that may be implemented. These different configurations shall be discussed further below. 
     The surface  105  is located on the device. The surface  105  enables the user to make the gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160  which are mapped to the respective character. One embodiment of the surface  105  includes a touch screen on the device. Embodiments of the device include a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, or another portable computing device. For example, the user may make contact with the surface  105  and simultaneously create a sliding motion across the surface. This combination of actions of touching and sliding creates a gesture which culminates in a character. 
     Each of the gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160  are created by the user&#39;s movement to represent a different character. For example, the gesture  110  represents a different character from the gestures  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160 . In this sense, although the gestures may look similar, they each represent a different character. The gestures in  FIG. 1  are movements made by the user&#39;s finger, thumb, hand, appendage, or pointing tool. For simplification purposes, the user&#39;s finger, thumb, hand, appendage, or pointing tool shall be referred to as the user&#39;s appendage throughout. Embodiments of gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160  include a swipe, a slide, a sweeping movement, a tapping movement, a touch, a press, or another continuous movement made by the user in contact with the surface  105  of the device. For example, the gestures  150  and  160  include a tapping movement as made by the user&#39;s appendage to associate with either the number “0” or “5.” A single tap represents the number “5” while a double tap represents the number “0.” The gesture  120  includes a slide to the upper right-hand corner to represent the number “3.” 
     The gesture  150  is recognized as a tap, a press, or a touch when the user&#39;s appendage maintains continuous contact with the surface  105  within a certain time frame. For example, the invention includes the recognition of the gesture  150  as the tap if the user removes the appendage from the surface within a time period. Otherwise, the invention may recognize the gesture as another movement such as a swipe. Additionally, the gesture  160  is recognized as a double tap, a double press, or a double touch to distinguish movement over the gesture  150 . So, if two taps are recognized within a time period, the embodiment recognizes the two taps as a single gesture. Correspondingly, the two taps are associated with the number “0.” 
     Each of the gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 , and  160  is oriented to be directed toward ten unique directions. The user can start at any point on the surface  105  and depending on the direction the user moves in the unique directions, a set of coordinates is assigned. The present invention is limited to just these directions as pictured in  FIG. 1  and other embodiments may be implemented using different directions and orientations. 
     Having briefly described an overview of the embodiments of the present invention, a scenario of associating a gesture with a character is described herein. In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, a user may use their cell phone to call a number such as “123-4567.” The present invention recognizes each gesture that the user makes and associates it to represent a number, such as the gesture  110  to represent the number “1,” the gesture  115  to represent the number “2,” the gesture  120  to represent the number “3,” the gesture  145  to represent the number “4,” the gesture  150  to represent the number “5,” the gesture  125  to represent the number “6,” and the gesture  140  to represent the number “7.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary surface  205  of a device is depicted in a horizontal configuration with horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  and is referenced generally by the numeral  200 . Within the horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  a user&#39;s appendage produces gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  that are converted to a set of coordinates which are associated with a character. Although  FIG. 2  displays three horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 , the present invention is not limited to just these regions and other embodiments may be implemented with a different number of regions. For example, there may be one region, four regions, five regions, six regions, etc. The regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  are also referred to as zones or sections and these names are interchangeably used throughout this document. Further, since there are gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  in the figure, the present invention is not limited to these gestures. Other embodiments of the present invention may include more or fewer gestures. 
     The surface  205 , also seen in  FIG. 1  as surface  105 , is located on a device for a user to provide the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265  and  270 . The gestures are converted respectively into a set of coordinates and respectively associated with a character. As discussed above in  FIG. 1 , embodiments of the device include a cell phone, a PDA, a laptop, or another portable computing device. The gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  are converted into a vector or the set of coordinates when the gesture is made within one of the horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  on the surface  205 . Based on the vector or the set of coordinates, the gesture is associated with the character. In an implementation of an embodiment, the user may start anywhere within the region  210  to produce a sliding motion gesture to the left such as the gesture  225 . This gesture  225  can occur on a touch screen of a cell phone. The gesture  225  is converted to a set of coordinates which are associated with the number “1.” 
     The horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  receive the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  to represent the corresponding character. The regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  may be configured automatically or manually defined by the user. For example, a user may access a configuration page through a user interface to specify the number of regions and desired type of regions, e.g. horizontal, parallel, or diagonal. This is discussed further in  FIG. 8 . Although the gestures  225 ,  240 , and  255  received in the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 , respectively, are the same type of gestures such as a sliding motion to the left side of the surface  205 , each of these gestures  225 ,  240 , and  255  are received in a different region and converted to different sets of coordinates. In this manner, each gesture is converted to the set of coordinates or the vectors in the three different regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  that are associated with the character. Thus, each gesture is associated with a different character. In this sense, the three identical gestures  225 ,  240 , and  255  may seem similar but are received in the three different regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  and are used to represent different characters. 
     The gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  are movements made by the user&#39;s finger, thumb, hand, appendage, or pointing tool and for simplification purposes this will be referred to as the user&#39;s appendage throughout this document. Embodiments of the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  include a swipe, a slide, a sweeping movement, a tapping movement, a touch, a press, or another sort of continuous movement made by the user&#39;s appendage in contact with the surface  205  of the device. To create the gestures  225 ,  240 , and  255 , the user&#39;s appendage slides to the left by starting anywhere within the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 , respectively. The gestures  230 ,  245 , and  260  are created when the user use a single tap, a press, a touch, etc., within the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 , respectively. The gestures  235 ,  250 , and  260  are created when the user starts within the regions  210 ,  225 , and  220 , respectively, and slides to the right. The gesture  270  is created when the user starts within the region  220  and slides to the bottom of the screen. 
     Further, each of the ten gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  are all produced by the user&#39;s movement in contact with the surface  205 , but each represents a different character. For example, assume a user uses their index finger starting in region  210 , to simulate gesture  235  by sliding to the right. The gesture  235  may represent the number “3.” Thus, each time the user simulates the gesture  235  in the region  210 , the invention associates the gesture  235  with the number “3.” A further example includes a user, starting in the region  215 , slides an appendage to the left to simulate the gesture  240  to associate with the number “4.” The invention recognizes the gestures  230 ,  245 , and  260  as taps, presses, or touches by determining the time period a user maintains continuous contact with surface  200 . For example, the invention will recognize the gestures  230 ,  245 , and  260  as taps, presses, or touches since the user maintains a shorter time frame of continuous contact with the surface  205  than the gestures  225 ,  235 ,  240 ,  250 ,  255 ,  265 , and  270 . The time frame for each gesture is discussed further in  FIG. 8 . 
     Additionally, the user can start at any point on surface  205  within the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 , and depending on the direction the user moves in each of the regions  210 ,  215 , or  220 , a set of coordinates or a vector is assigned. Embodiments of the set of coordinates or vector include the Cartesian coordinate system, polar coordinate system, parabolic coordinate system, or other sort of two-dimensional coordinate system. For example, assume the bottom left-hand corner of the surface  205  has coordinates (0, 0). Then, if a user makes a tapping movement gesture  230  in region  210 , the new coordinates may be (50, 100). A further example includes assuming the top right-hand corner having coordinates (0, 0). Then, gesture  260  may be (−50, −100). The set of coordinates will be explained in detail in  FIG. 7 . Based on the set of coordinates or the vector, each of the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  is associated with a different character. 
     Having briefly described an overview of the present invention, a scenario of utilizing a horizontal configuration to receive and recognize a gesture to associate with a character is described herein. In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, a user may choose to use their cell phone to dial a number such as “789-1166.” The user may use a pointing tool to slide to the left of the cell phone surface to create the gesture  255  in the region  220 . Assuming the top right corner of the cell phone surface is associated with coordinates (0, 0), the present invention converts the gesture  255  in the region  220  to the set of coordinates, (−100, −100) which is associated with the number “7.” Using the pointing tool, the user presses down once in the region  220  to create the gesture  260 . The present invention converts the gesture  260  in the region  220  to the set of coordinates (−50, −100) which is associated with the number “8.” Sliding to the right with the pointing tool in the region  220 , the user creates the gesture  265 . The gesture  265  is converted to the coordinates (0, −100) which is associated with the number “9.” The user slides to the left in the region  210  to create the gesture  225 , which is converted to the coordinates (−100, 0) and is associated with the number “1.” The user repeats this gesture twice to get another “1.” The user slides to the right in the region  215  to create the gesture  250 , which is converted to the coordinates (0, −50) and is associated with the number “6.” The user repeats this gesture twice to get another “6” to dial the number “789-1166.” 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , an exemplary surface  305  of a device is implemented to practice the present invention and is referenced generally by the numeral  300 . The surface  305 , also seen as the surface  105  in  FIG. 1  and the surface  205  in  FIG. 2 , is depicted in a vertical configuration with vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 . Within the vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 , a user&#39;s appendage produces gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , and  365  that are converted to a set of coordinates, which are associated with a character. 
     The vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  receive the gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , and  365  to represent the character. Embodiments of the vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  include configurations that are user defined or pre-defined by the present invention. Further, the invention should not be limited to just the regions depicted in  FIG. 3A . For instance, there may be four regions, five regions, etc. 
     The gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360  and  365  are converted to the set of coordinates which are associated with the character. The gestures  325 ,  340 , and  355  are considered continuous contact sliding motions to the top of the surface  305  created by the user&#39;s appendage within the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 , respectively. Embodiments of the gestures  330 ,  345 , and  360  seen as the gestures  230 ,  245 , and  260  in  FIG. 2  include a single touch, tap, or press by the present invention. Embodiments of the gestures  325 ,  340 , and  355  include an upward swipe, an upward slide, an upward sweeping movement, or another sort of upward continuous movement made by the user&#39;s appendage in contact with the surface  305  within the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 , respectively. Embodiments of the gestures  335 ,  350 , and  365  include a downward swipe, a downward slide, a downward sweeping movement, or another sort of downward continuous movement made by the user&#39;s appendage in contact with the surface  305  within the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 . 
     Each of the gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , and  365  represents a unique character. The present invention senses each of the gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , and  365  and based on each of the directions, associates each of these gestures with the different set of coordinates as discussed in  FIG. 2 . Each of the different sets of coordinates is then associated with the unique character. Thus, based on each of the directions of these gestures, the present invention recognizes these gestures as representative of the unique character. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3B , an embodiment of practicing the present invention is depicted and is referenced generally by the numeral  300 . The surface  305  on the device, also depicted in  FIG. 3A , illustrates receiving and recognizing the gesture  350  as made by a user&#39;s appendage  370  within the region  315  to represent and display a character on a display screen  375 . The surface  305  includes a touch screen located on the device, divided into the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 . 
     The regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 , also seen in  FIG. 3A , on the surface  305  are depicted in the vertical configuration. One embodiment of the regions  305 ,  310 , and  315  includes the horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and yet another embodiment includes the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  illustrated in a diagonal configuration. 
     The region  315  receives the gesture  350 , also illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The gesture  350  includes the user&#39;s appendage  370  in contact with the surface  305  to create a downward sliding movement. Although  FIG. 3B  depicts the gesture  350  at a start point in the middle of the region  315 , the gesture  350  may start anywhere in the region  315 . For example, the gesture  350  may start at the top of the region  315  or near the bottom of the region  315 . In this sense, there may be an offset of the gesture  350 . Based on this downward direction, the gesture  350  is associated with a set of coordinates. The set of coordinates is then associated with the character. The character is displayed in the display screen  375  on the device; this is further illustrated in  FIG. 3C . 
     Now moving on to  FIG. 3C , an embodiment of practicing the present invention is depicted and is referenced generally by the numeral  300 . The surface  305  on the device, also depicted in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , illustrates receiving and recognizing the gesture  350  as made by the user&#39;s appendage  370  within the region  315  to represent and display the character on the display screen  375 . The regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  on the surface  305  also discussed in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , receive the gestures as created by the user&#39;s appendage  370 . 
     In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, the user&#39;s appendage  370  is used to create a downward movement as depicted by the gesture  350 . The present invention senses the gesture  350  and respectively assigns a set of coordinates. The set of coordinates are associated with the number “6” which is displayed on the display screen  375  to the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , a surface  405  of a device illustrates utilizing a single-touch gesture  425  in a zone  410  to represent a character and is referenced generally by the numeral  400 . The surface  405  of the device, discussed as surface  105  in  FIG. 1 , surface  205  in  FIG. 2 , and surface  305  in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C , includes a touch screen surface on the device to receive the gesture  425 . 
     Embodiments of the regions  410 ,  415 , and  420 , include the vertical configuration with the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  as depicted in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C  or the horizontal configuration with the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Embodiments of the gesture  425  include a single-touch, a single-tap, or a single-press as created by a user&#39;s appendage in contact with the surface  405 . The present invention senses the gesture  425  and converts the gesture  425  to a set of coordinates as previously discussed. The set of coordinates is then associated with a character. For example, the user&#39;s appendage  370  in  FIG. 3C  creates the single-touch gesture  425  which is converted to the set of coordinates to associate with the number “1.” 
     Turning to  FIG. 4B , the surface  405  of the device illustrates utilizing two-touch gestures  430  and  435  in the zone  410  to represent the character and is referenced generally by the numeral  400 . The surface  405  of the device, previously discussed in  FIG. 4A , receives the two-touch gestures  430  and  435  and represents the gestures  430  and  435  as a character. The regions  410 ,  415 , and  420  were already discussed in  FIG. 4A . 
     The gestures  430  and  435  depict a two-touch gesture and embodiments include two-touch, two-press, two-tap, etc. The present invention senses the gestures  430  and  435  as a two-touch gesture by determining the overlap time period these gestures maintain contact with the surface  405 . For example, the gesture  425  in  FIG. 4A  may be created by the user&#39;s finger in contact with the surface  405  and the gestures  430  and  435  may be created by two of the user&#39;s fingers in contact with the surface  405  at the same time. For example, the user may first place their index finger on the surface  405  to create the gesture  430  and then place the and middle finger on the surface  405  to create the gesture  435 . These gestures  430  and  435  placed on the surface  405  during an overlapping time period represents the character. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4C , the surface  405  of the device illustrates utilizing multi-touch gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  in the zone  410  to represent the character and is referenced generally by the numeral  400 . 
     The gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  depict the multi-touch gesture and embodiments include multi-touch, multi-taps, or multi-presses. Further, embodiments depict the gesture  440 ,  445 , and  450  using more than three gestures such as using all five fingers on a hand, etc. For example, the user may utilize their index finger, middle finger, and ring finger to create the multi-touch in the region  410  to represent the character. As explained in  FIG. 4B , each of the gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  must be in contact with the surface  405  at the same time to be considered the multi-touch gestures by the present invention. 
     Having described an overview of the embodiments of the present invention, a scenario of representing the character string, “123” through the previously discussed gestures  425 ,  430 ,  435 ,  440 ,  445 , and  450  is described herein. For example, the user may choose to dial “123” by using the single-touch gesture  425  to represent the number “1,” the two-touch gestures  430  and  435  to represent the number “2,” and the multi-touch gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  to represent the number “3.” In this example, each gesture, e.g. the single-touch gesture  425 , the two-touch gestures  430  and  435 , and the multi-touch gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  represent a different character. Further, the gestures  425 ,  430 ,  435 ,  440 ,  445 , and  450  in  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 4C  represent different characters in the regions  415  and  420  than in the region  410 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , a surface  505  of a device illustrates utilizing a single touch gesture  525  in a region  515  to represent a character and is referenced generally by the numeral  500 . The surface  505  of the device, discussed as surface  405  in  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 4C  includes a touch screen surface on the device to receive the gesture  525 . Embodiments of the regions  510 ,  515 , and  520 , discussed as the regions  410 ,  415 , and  420  in  FIG. 4 , include the vertical configuration with the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  as depicted in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C  or the horizontal configuration with the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  in  FIG. 2 . Although in  FIG. 5A , the region  515  receives the gesture  525  and is considered a first zone, the region  520  as a second zone, and the region  510  as a third zone, these regions  510 ,  515 , and  520  should not be limited to just this example. For instance, the regions  510 ,  515 , and  520  may also be considered the third zone, the second zone, and the first zone, respectively. Further, as mentioned in  FIG. 4A , there may be four regions, five regions, etc. 
     The single-touch gesture  525 , discussed as single-touch gesture  425  in  FIG. 4A , is received in the region  515  to represent a character. The present invention senses the gesture  525  and converts the gesture to a set of coordinates which is then associated with a character. For example, a user may utilize their finger  370  in  FIG. 3C  to create the single-touch gesture  525  which is converted to a set of coordinates to associate with the number “0.” 
     Turning to  FIG. 5B , the surface  505  of the device illustrates utilizing a two-touch gesture  530  and  535  in the region  515  to represent the character and is referenced generally by the numeral  500 . The surface  505  of the device, previously discussed in  FIG. 5A , receives the two-touch gesture  530  and  535  and represents these gestures as the character. The regions  510 ,  515 , and  520  already discussed in  FIG. 5A , may receive the two-gesture  530  and  535  in other regions not depicted in  FIG. 5B . This is discussed further in  FIG. 6B . 
     Embodiments of the two-touch gesture  530  and  535 , also seen as the two-touch gesture  430  and  435  in  FIG. 4B , includes sensing the gestures  530  and  535  as a two-touch gesture by determining the overlap time period with these gestures touching the surface  505  at the same time. For example, the single-touch gesture  525  in  FIG. 5A  may be created by the user&#39;s finger in contact with the surface  505  and the two-touch gestures  530  and  535  may be created by two of the user&#39;s fingers in contact with the surface  505  at the same time within the region  515 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5C , the surface  505  of the device illustrates utilizing multi-touch gestures  540 ,  545 , and  550  in the region  515  to represent a character and is referenced generally by the numeral  500 . 
     Embodiments of the multi-touch gestures  540 ,  545 , and  550 , also depicted as the multi-touch gestures  440 ,  445 , and  450  in  FIG. 4C , may use more than three gestures such as using all five fingers on a hand, etc. For example, the user may utilize their index finger, middle finger, and ring finger to create the multi-touch in the region  515  to represent the character. As explained in  FIG. 5B , each of the gestures  540 ,  545 , and  550  must be in contact with the surface  505  at the same time to be considered the multi-touch gestures by the present invention. 
     In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, the user may use the previously discussed gestures  525 ,  530 ,  535 ,  540 ,  545 , and  550  to represent the character string, “456.” For example, the user may choose to dial “456” by using the single-touch gesture  525  to represent the number “4,” the two-touch gestures  530  and  535  to represent the number “5,” and the multi-touch gestures  540 ,  545 , and  550  to represent the number “6.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , a surface  605  of a device illustrates utilizing a single touch gesture  625  in a region  620  to represent a character and is referenced generally by the numeral  600 . The surface  605  of the device, discussed as the surface  405  in  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B , and  FIG. 4C  and as the surface  505  in  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5B , and  FIG. 5C , receives the single-touch gesture  625 . Embodiments of the regions  610 ,  615 , and  620 , discussed as the regions  510 ,  515 , and  520  in  FIG. 5A , include the vertical configuration with the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  as depicted in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 3C  or the horizontal configuration with the regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  in  FIG. 2 . Further, as mentioned in  FIG. 4A , there may be four regions, five regions, etc. 
     Embodiments of the single-touch gesture  625 , discussed as the single-touch gesture  425  in  FIG. 4A  and the single-touch gesture  525  in  FIG. 5A , is received in the region  620  to represent a character. The present invention senses the gesture  625  and converts the gesture to a set of coordinates which is then associated with a character. For example, a user may utilize their finger  370  in  FIG. 3C  to create the single-touch gesture  625  which is converted to a set of coordinates to associate with the number “7.” 
     The single-touch gesture  625  within the region  620 , also seen as the gesture  425  received in the region  420  in  FIG. 4A  and the gesture  525  received in the region  515  in  FIG. 5A  are all similar gestures; however, each is received in a different zone and thus converted to a different set of coordinates. Thus, each of these single-touch gestures  425 ,  525 , and  625  represent a different character. For example, the single-touch gesture  425  depicted in  FIG. 4A  represents a different character than the single-touch gesture  525  in  FIG. 5A  and the single-touch gesture  625  in  FIG. 6A . A further example includes the user&#39;s finger  370 , as seen in  FIG. 3B , creating the single-touch gesture  425  in the region  410  in  FIG. 4A  to represent the number “1.” The single-touch gesture  525  the region  510  in  FIG. 5A  to represent the number “4” and the single-touch gesture  625  in the region  610  in  FIG. 6A  to represent the number “7.” 
     Turning to  FIG. 6B , the surface  605  of the device illustrates utilizing a two-touch gesture  630  and  635  in the region  620  to represent the character and is referenced generally by the numeral  600 . The surface  605  of the device, previously discussed in  FIG. 6A , receives the two-touch gestures  630  and  635  and represents this gesture as the character. The present invention senses the gesture  630  and  635  as the two-touch gesture by determining an overlap time period with the gestures touching the surface  605  at the same time. For example, the single-touch gesture  625  in  FIG. 6A  may be created by the user&#39;s finger in contact with the surface  605  and the two-touch gesture  630  and  635  may be created by two of the user&#39;s fingers in contact with the surface  605  at the same time within the region  620 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6C , the surface  605  of the device illustrates utilizing a multi-touch gesture  640 ,  645 , and  650  in the region  620  to represent the character and is referenced generally by the numeral  600 . 
     Embodiments of the multi-touch gestures  640 ,  645 , and  650 , also depicted as the multi-touch gestures  540 ,  545 , and  550  in  FIG. 5C , include multi-touch, multi-taps, or multi-presses. Further embodiments depict the multi-touch gestures  640 ,  645 , and  650  using more than three gestures such as using all five fingers on a hand, etc. For example, the user may utilize their index finger, middle finger, and ring finger to create the multi-touch gesture in the region  620  to represent the character. As explained in  FIG. 6B , each of the gesture  640 ,  645 , and  650  must be in contact with the surface  605  at the same time to be considered the multi-touch gestures by the present invention. 
     In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, the user may use the previously discussed gestures  625 ,  630 ,  635 ,  640 ,  645 , and  650  to represent the character string, “789.” For example, the user may choose to dial “789” by using the single-touch gesture  625  to represent the number “7,” the two-touch gestures  630  and  635  to represent the number “8,” and the multi-touch gestures  640 ,  645 , and  650  to represent the number “9.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary flow diagram is depicted for associating a gesture in contact with a surface of a device to a unique character in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is referenced generally by the numeral  700 . The process starts at step  705  to receive a gesture on a surface of a device, and then at step  710 , the present invention recognizes the gesture. Next, at steps  715  and  720 , the gesture is converted into a vector to determine a direction of the gesture. At step  725 , the unique character is assigned to represent the gesture based on the direction of the gesture at step  720 . 
     At step  705 , the process starts when the gesture is received on the surface of the device. An embodiment of the surface includes a touch screen on the device. Embodiments of the device include a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, or other sort of portable computing device. An embodiment of the step  705  include at least one gesture from the gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 , or  150  received on the surface  105  of the device as seen in  FIG. 1 . Another embodiment of step  705  includes at least one gesture from the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270  received within one of the regions  210 ,  215 , or  220  on the surface  205  of the device in  FIG. 2 . Further, another embodiment includes at least one of the gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , or  365  received within one of the regions  310 ,  315 , or  320  on the surface  305  of the device in  FIG. 3A . Yet, a further embodiment of step  705  includes the user&#39;s appendage  370  creating the gesture  350  received in the region  315  on the surface  305  of the device in  FIG. 3B . 
     Next, at step  710 , the gesture received at the step  705  is recognized on the surface of the device. An embodiment of step the  710  includes sensing the gesture within a time frame. Another embodiment of the step  710  includes recognizing the gesture from a certain pressure threshold. For example, a user may lightly brush the surface of the device. In this sense, the process can distinguish an inadvertent gesture from the intended gesture to represent a character. 
     At step  715 , the gesture recognized at the step  710  is converted into the vector. Embodiments of the vector include the set of coordinates which may include a Cartesian coordinate system, a polar coordinate system, a parabolic coordinate system, or another sort of two-dimensional coordinate system. Embodiments of step  715  include the gesture  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 , or  150  received on the surface  105  of the device as seen in  FIG. 1 , being converted to the set of coordinates. Another embodiment of this step  715  includes the gesture  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , or  270  received within one of the regions  210 ,  215 , or  220  on the surface  205  of the device in  FIG. 2 , converted to the set of coordinates. Further, another embodiment of this step  715  includes the gesture  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360 , or  365  received within one of the regions  310 ,  315 , or  320  on the surface  305  of the device in  FIG. 3A , converted to the set of coordinates. For example, the user&#39;s appendage  370  creates the gesture  350  by moving downward while in the region  315  while continuous contact with the surface  305  of the device in  FIG. 3B . The gesture  350  may be converted into the set of Cartesian coordinates such as (−50, −100). 
     At step  720 , the direction of the gesture is determined based on the vector at the step  715 . For instance, following with the previous example, assume the top right corner of the surface of device has the coordinates (0, 0) then the gesture  350  converted into the coordinates (−50, −100) indicates the gesture is directed towards the bottom part of the screen in the region  315  in  FIG. 3B . In this case, the process can distinguish this gesture  350  from the other gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  355 ,  360  or  365  in  FIG. 3A . 
     At step  725 , the unique character is assigned to the gesture based on the direction of the vector in the step  720 . An embodiment of this step  725  includes the number “6” as indicated on the display screen  375  to represent the gesture  350  in  FIG. 3C . Another embodiment includes each of the ten gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  or  160  as seen in  FIG. 1 , being converted to the different set of coordinates. Based on the direction in each of the sets of coordinates, the unique character is assigned. For example, the gesture  110  represents the number “1,” the gesture  115  represents the number “2,” the gesture  120  represents the number “3,” the gesture  125  represents the number “4,” etc. Thus, each of the ten gestures  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  or  160  has a unique direction based on the set of coordinates and each is associated with the unique character. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an exemplary flow diagram is depicted for recognizing a gesture in association with a character in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is referenced generally by the numeral  800 . The process starts at step  805  to divide a surface of a computing device into a set of regions. Next, at step  810 , a gesture is received in a first region in the set of regions. At steps  815  and  820 , the gesture is converted into a set of coordinates and the coordinates are associated with the character. 
     At step  805 , the surface is divided into the set of regions. This may include a user-defined configuration or a pre-defined configuration. For example, the user may utilize a user interface to specify the number of regions and desired type of regions, i.e. horizontal, parallel, or diagonal. An embodiment of this step  805  includes dividing the surface  205  of the device in  FIG. 2  into the horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220 . Another embodiment of step  805  includes dividing the surface  305  in  FIG. 3A  into the vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320 . 
     At step  810 , the gesture is received in the first region in the set of regions. Embodiments of this step include the gesture  350  created by the user&#39;s appendage  370  within the region  315  as seen in  FIG. 3C . The set of regions includes the regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  to receive the first gesture  350  within the first region  315 . Any of the vertical regions  310 ,  315 , and  320  in  FIG. 3A  may be considered a first region since it depends in which region the first gesture is received. A further embodiment includes the gesture  355  created in an upward swipe in the first region  320  in  FIG. 3A . An additional embodiment includes receiving the gesture  230  within the first region  210  in  FIG. 2 . As mentioned previously, any of the horizontal regions  210 ,  215 , and  220  in  FIG. 2  may be considered the first region. 
     At step  815 , as depicted at steps  715  and  720  in  FIG. 7 , the gesture received at the step  810  is converted into the set of coordinates. At step  820 , as depicted at step  725  in  FIG. 7 , the set of coordinates in step  815  is associated with the character. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an exemplary flow diagram is depicted for providing a configuration that establishes how inputs are received into a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is referenced generally by the numeral  900 . The process starts at step  905  to select the configuration from a set of configurations stored on the computing device, and then at step  910 , the present invention modifies the surface of the computing device to recognize a gesture. Next, at steps  915  and  920 , the gesture is mapped to a character and the character is displayed on a display device on the computing device. 
     At step  905 , the configuration is selected from the set of configurations stored on the computing device to establish how the gesture is to be received. An embodiment of this step, as seen in  FIG. 8  at the step  805 , of dividing the surface of the computing device into the set of regions. Another embodiment of this step  905  includes the multi-directional configuration as seen in  FIG. 1 , the horizontal configuration as seen in  FIG. 2 , or the vertical configuration as seen in  FIG. 3A . The gestures are received based on each of the configurations. For example, the gestures  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 ,  245 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265  and  270  corresponding to the horizontal configuration in  FIG. 2  are created and received in a different manner compared to the gestures  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  355 ,  360  and  365  corresponding to the vertical configuration in  FIG. 3A . 
     At step  910 , the surface of the computing device is modified when the configuration is selected so a movement in contact with the surface of the computing device is recognized as the gesture. As explained at the step  905 , embodiments of this step  910  include modifying the surface of the device to include the multi-directional configuration in  FIG. 1 , the horizontal configuration in  FIG. 2 , or the vertical configuration in  FIG. 3A . Based on each of the configurations, the gestures are recognized. 
     At step  915 , the gestures as recognized at the step  910  are mapped to the character. Embodiments of step  915  include step  725  in  FIG. 7  to assign a unique character to represent the gestures. A further embodiment includes the gesture  350  mapped to the number “6” as seen in  FIG. 3C . 
     At step  920 , the character is displayed on the device in the computing device. An embodiment of this step includes the number “6” as indicated on the display screen  375  to represent the gesture  350  in  FIG. 3C . 
     In  FIG. 10 , a process for configuring a surface of a device into a set of regions is shown in a method  1000 . In a step  1005 , a request is received to configure the surface ( 205  and  305 ) of a device into regions ( 210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  310 ,  315 , and  320 ). In a step  1010 , a configuration is determined from the configurations in the device. The configuration is selected in a step  1015 . Each region is identified on the surface of the device in a step  1020 . In a step  1025 , the boundaries of each region are defined by associating with coordinates. Once each region is defined and established, a gesture is detected on the surface of the devices using the coordinates in a step  1030 . In a step  1035 , the gesture is detected in each region to represent a character. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , a process for recognizing touches in association with a character is shown in a method  1100 . In a step  1105 , a surface ( 205  and  305 ) of a device is divided into regions ( 210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  310 ,  315 , and  320 ). Touches are received in contact with the surface of the device in a step  1110 . In a step  1115 , touches are received in a first region of the regions ( 210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  310 ,  315 , and  320 ). When the touches are made, a timer records the amount of time between touches. The touches are made within a time frame in a step  1120 . In a step  1125 , the touches are associated with characters. In a step  1130 , the same touches performed in a second region of the regions result in different characters. 
     In  FIG. 12 , a process for providing configurations that establish how inputs are received into a computing device is shown in a method  1200 . In a step  1205 , a configuration is selected from a set of configurations in a computing device. In a step  1210 , based on the type of configuration that is selected, the surface of the computing device is modified to identify distinct regions on the surface. Software is activated in the computing device so that when touches on the surface are received within a time frame, the touches are recognized respectively as gestures (step  1215 ). In a step  1220 , the gestures are mapped respectively to characters. In a step  1225 , the characters are displayed on a display device in the computing device. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.