Patent Description:
With the continuous development of mobile terminal technologies, handheld terminals (such as smartphones, tablets, or e-book readers) with large screens are becoming more and more popular.

In order to facilitate users' operations, sides of a terminal with respect to the display screen usually have some buttons or keys with specific functions. The positions and functions of the side keys can be different for different manufacturers or models of terminals. For example, in related technologies, the left side of a terminal can be provided with a volume key, and the right side can be provided with a power key. Alternatively, the left side of another terminal can be provided with a power key, and the right side can be provided with a volume key. As another example, a power key and a volume key can be provided on one side of a terminal, and no buttons or keys are provided on the other side.

However, in the related prior art, the positions and functions of the keys on the side(s) of terminals are fixed, which affects the ease of operation of the keys on the sides of the terminals.

Subject-matter related to the present disclosure is disclosed by <CIT> describes a method of providing virtual buttons in a device includes detecting a grip around a perimeter of the device, where the perimeter of the device includes one or more ultrasonic sensors; determining one or more locations of one or more fingers of a user using data collected by the one or more ultrasonic sensors; and providing one or more virtual buttons around the perimeter of the device based on the one or more locations of the one or more fingers of the user, <CIT> discloses that a graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed on a display unit in an apparatus which may include a tactile sensor unit. When a contact by a user is detected at the tactile sensor unit, a control unit may receive a contact detection signal therefrom. Based on the contact detection signal, the control unit may determine a contact pattern and may then display the GUI corresponding to the contact pattern. The GUI may be displayed and modified depending on the location and pressure of contacts by a user's manipulating fingers. , and <CIT> discloses an operation detection method and apparatus, and a mobile terminal, where the method includes determining a contact region of a hand of a user on a side face of a mobile terminal and a dynamic change of the hand of the user using electrical characteristics of two capacitive touch display screens of the mobile terminal based on detected capacitance signals on the two capacitive touch display screens, determining a gesture operation of the hand on the side face, improving sensitivity of identifying a gesture on the side face, and accurately identifying the gesture operation of the hand of the user on the side face.

The present invention provides a key setting method, a key setting device and a storage medium as claimed in the independent claims.

Preferably the method step of, setting a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function in the pressure sensing area on the target side includes:.

Preferably the method step of, obtaining a key position of the pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function on the target side includes:.

Preferably the method step of, detecting a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal includes:.

Preferably the method step of, obtaining the grip posture according to the grip region includes:.

Preferably the grip region includes at least one touch region on a left side and at least one touch region on a right side, the left side is a side of the terminal located on the left of the screen display region, and the right side is a side of the terminal located on the right of the screen display region;
wherein obtaining the grip posture according to the grip region includes:.

Preferably, a display screen of the terminal includes two main display regions, and the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions respectively;
wherein before detecting a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal, the method further includes:.

Preferably, the key setting module includes:.

Preferably, the key position obtaining sub-module is configured to:.

Preferably, the grip posture detection module includes:.

Preferably, the posture determination sub-module is configured to:.

Preferably, the grip region includes at least one touch region on a left side and at least one touch region on a right side, the left side is a side of the terminal located on the left of the screen display region, and the right side is a side of the terminal located on the right of the screen display region;
wherein the posture determination sub-module is configured to:.

Preferably, a display screen of the terminal includes two main display regions, and the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions respectively;
the terminal further includes:.

The technical solutions provided by the present invention have the following beneficial effects:
By using a touch sensor distributed on the surface of the terminal to detect a user's grip posture for gripping the terminal, a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture is determined. The key setting mode indicates a key function corresponding to a target side among at least one side. In the pressure sensing area on the target side, a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function is set. In this way, depending on different grip postures of the user, the terminal can set keys with different functions on the sides with respect to the screen display region, thereby automatically switching the functional keys on the sides of the terminal, extending the setting mode of the keys on the sides of the terminal, and improving the ease of operation of the keys on the sides of the terminal.

The implementations set forth in the following description of exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the invention. Instead, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related to the invention as recited in the appended claims.

It should be understood that "some" mentioned herein means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. The expression "and/or" describes the association relationship between related objects and indicates that there can be three types of relationships. For example, A and/or B can indicate that there are three cases: A exists alone, A and B both exist, and B exists only. The character "/" generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

The present invention provides solutions that can automatically set functional keys on a side of a terminal relative to a screen display region according to a grip posture when a user grips the terminal. In a possible implementation manner, the solutions may customize the functions and/or positions of the keys on the sides of the terminal based on the pressure sensing area set on the side(s) of the terminal.

<FIG> is a hardware structural diagram of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment. The terminal may be a terminal such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, or the like. As shown in <FIG>, the terminal includes a display screen <NUM>, a pressure sensing area <NUM>, and a touch sensor <NUM>.

As shown in part (a) of <FIG>, the display screen <NUM> on the front of the terminal includes a screen display region 110a.

The display screen <NUM> may include a display screen provided on the front of the terminal. For example, the display screen may include a full screen or a non-full screen on the front of the terminal. The full screen refers to a type of display in which the screen ratio in the terminal is close to <NUM>%.

According to other embodiments, the display screen <NUM> may further include a display screen disposed on the back of the terminal.

For example, in a possible implementation, the display screen provided on the front of the terminal is the main display screen, and the display screen provided on the back of the terminal is the secondary display screen. The size of the main display screen may be greater than or equal to the size of the secondary display screen. For example, the main display screen may be a full screen, and the secondary display screen may be a non-full screen; or, the main display screen and the secondary display screen may both be full screens; or the main display screen and the secondary display screen may both be non-full screen screens.

In another possible implementation, when the display screen <NUM> includes the display screens disposed on the front and back of the terminal, the main display screen and the secondary display screen may not be fixed, but may be changed according to the actual usage of the user. For example, the display screen on the side facing the user can be set as the main display screen, and the display screen on the other side may be set as the secondary display screen.

The display screen <NUM> may also be a foldable screen. In a possible implementation, the two display regions in the foldable screen are respectively disposed on different housings, and the two housings are connected by a folding mechanism (such as a hinge). When the two housings are bent by the folding mechanism, the two display regions in the foldable screen can be folded. Generally, a part or all of the area of the foldable screen is a flexible screen. For example, the part of the foldable screen corresponding to the folding mechanism is a flexible screen.

According to the orientation of the folded screen, the foldable screen can be divided into an inward foldable screen and an outward foldable screen. The inward foldable screen refers to a foldable screen which faces inward after being folded; the outward foldable screen refers to a foldable screen which faces outward after being folded. In some embodiments of the present invention, the foldable screen is the outward foldable screen which faces outward after being folded.

Depending on different folding directions, the outward foldable screen can be divided into left and right outward foldable screens, upper and lower outward foldable screens, and outward double foldable screens.

For the left and right outward foldable screen, the screen is left-right folded, the folding line is in the middle of the screen, and at least one of the left and right surfaces after being folded is used as the display region.

For the upper and lower outward foldable screen, the screen is upper-lower folded, the folding line is in the middle of the screen, and at least one of the upper and lower surfaces after being folded is used as the display region.

For the outward double foldable screens, the folding of the left and right sides of the screen toward the middle along different folding lines, and the size of the left and right folded areas is consistent with the size of the remaining screen area in the middle.

The screen display region 110a is a full or partial display region in the display screen <NUM>.

For example, when the display screen <NUM> is a full screen or a non-full screen, or the display screen <NUM> is a foldable screen and is in an unfolded state, the screen display region <NUM> a may be all the display region in the display screen <NUM>.

Alternatively, when the display screen <NUM> is an outward foldable screen and is in a folded state, the screen display region 110a may be a display region facing a certain direction in the display screen <NUM>, for example, a display region facing the direction of the user's face after being folded.

The pressure sensing area <NUM> is provided on at least one side of the terminal with respect to the screen display region 110a.

The pressure sensing region <NUM> is a region for detecting a pressure on the outer surface. For example, the pressure sensing area <NUM> may be an area where a pressure sensor is disposed under the outer surface of the terminal. The pressure sensor is a device or apparatus that can sense the pressure signal and can convert the pressure signal into a usable output electrical signal according to a certain rule.

The at least one side may be at least one of left and right side surfaces and upper and lower side surfaces of the terminal with respect to the screen display region 110a.

The screen display region 110a refers to an area that is being displayed on the display screen <NUM>. The sides of the terminal with respect to the screen display region 110a refer to other surfaces of the terminal that are perpendicular to the surface on which the screen display region 110a is located. For example, the side of the screen display region 110a in the terminal is the front side of the terminal, and any one of the four sides of the front side, i.e., the upper side, the lower side, the left side and the right side, can be provided with the pressure sensing area <NUM>.

For example, in the terminal shown in <FIG>, the pressure sensing area <NUM> is provided on a left side and a right side with respect to the screen display region 110a. In other possible solutions, the pressure sensing area <NUM> may be disposed on one of the left side and the right side with respect to the screen display region 110a, or the pressure sensing area <NUM> may also be disposed on the left side, the right side, and the upper side with respect to the screen display region 110a. As to which sides the pressure sensing area <NUM> is disposed with respect to the screen display region 110a, embodiments of the present do not impose specific limitations on this.

According to embodiments, the pressure sensing area <NUM> may be provided in a part of the area on the side where the pressure sensing area <NUM> is located, or the pressure sensing area <NUM> may also be provided in the entire area on the side where the pressure sensing area <NUM> is located.

For example, when the terminal is a full-screen terminal, a non-full-screen terminal, or a foldable screen terminal in a unfolded state, all or part of the areas on the left and right sides of the display of the terminal may be the pressure sensing area <NUM>.

When the terminal is an outward foldable screen terminal, all or part of the folding area in the foldable screen of the terminal may be provided with a pressure sensor. When the terminal is in a folded state, the side where the folding area is located is referred to as the sides with respect to the screen display region 110a, the area where the pressure sensor is disposed on the side may be the pressure sensing area <NUM> described above.

The above-mentioned touch sensor <NUM> may be distributed in various positions in the terminal except the screen display region 110a. For example, the touch sensor <NUM> may be distributed in a position of the terminal that a user may grip, such as a side and a back of the terminal with respect to the screen display region 110a. For example, as shown in parts (a) and (b) of <FIG>, the touch sensors <NUM> are distributed on the back and sides of the terminal.

For example, the touch sensor <NUM> may be provided in the display screen of the terminal, that is, the touch operation is detected through the display screen. For example, when the terminal is a terminal provided with a display screen on both the front and the back, or when the terminal is a foldable screen terminal and the screen is in a folded state, the display region on the opposite side of the surface where the current screen display region 110a is located in the terminal can be regarded as the area where the touch sensor <NUM> is located, that is, the display screen other than the screen display region 110a may implement the function of the touch sensor <NUM>.

Alternatively, the touch sensor <NUM> may be provided outside the display screen, that is, a touch sensor is additionally provided in an area other than the display screen of the terminal. For example, when the terminal is a full-screen terminal, and the back of the full-screen terminal does not include the screen or the screen area on the back is small, a touch sensor <NUM> may be additionally provided on an area of the sides or the back of the terminal that does not include a display screen.

The types of the touch sensor <NUM> may be classified into a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electromagnetic type, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) type, an infrared type, and the like.

The solutions shown in the subsequent embodiments of the present invention can be based on the structure of the terminal shown in <FIG>, and the customized setting of the keys on the sides of the terminal may be realized depending on the user's grip posture when gripping the terminal.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing a key setting method according to an exemplary embodiment. The key setting method may be performed by a terminal. A pressure sensing area is provided on at least one side of the terminal with respect to a screen display region. For example, the terminal may be a terminal shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the key setting method may include the following steps:.

According to embodiments, setting a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function in the pressure sensing area on the target side includes:.

According to embodiments, obtaining a key position of the pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function on the target side includes:.

According to embodiments, before determining the key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture, the method further includes:.

According to embodiments, determining a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture includes:.

According to embodiments, detecting a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal includes:.

According to embodiments, obtaining the grip posture according to the grip region includes:.

According to embodiments, the grip region includes at least one touch region on a left side and at least one touch region on a right side, the left side is a side of the terminal located on the left of the screen display region, and the right side is a side of the terminal located on the right of the screen display region;
wherein obtaining the grip posture according to the grip region includes:.

According to embodiments, the display screen of the terminal is a foldable screen including two main display regions, and when the display screen is in a folded state, the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions respectively;
wherein before detecting a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal, the method further includes:.

In the key setting method according to embodiments of the present invention, by using a touch sensor distributed on the surface of the terminal to detect a user's grip posture for gripping the terminal, a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture is determined. The key setting mode indicates a key function corresponding to a target side among at least one side. In the pressure sensing area on the target side, a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function is set. In this way, depending on different grip postures of the user, the terminal can set keys with different functions on the sides with respect to the screen display region, thereby automatically switching the functional keys on the sides of the terminal, extending the setting mode of the keys on the sides of the terminal, and making operation of the keys on the sides of the terminal easy.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing a key setting method according to another exemplary embodiment. The key setting method may be performed by a terminal, and a pressure sensing area is provided on at least one side of the terminal with respect to a screen display region. For example, the terminal may be the terminal shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the key setting method may include the following steps.

In step <NUM>, a grip region when the terminal is gripped is obtained by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal.

In embodiments of the present invention, touch sensor(s) distributed on a surface of the terminal can collect sensor data in real time and send the sensor data to a processor, and the processor determines the grip region when the terminal is gripped according to the sensor data from the pressure sensor.

For example, the processor may determine the touch region in the terminal by using the sensor data of the touch sensor, and determine the detected touch region as the grip region when the terminal is gripped.

According to embodiments, if the display screen of the terminal includes two main display regions, and the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions outside the terminal. The terminal also obtains touch regions detected in the two main display regions; one of the two main display regions is determined as the screen display region according to the touch regions detected in the two main display regions, respectively.

When the terminal includes two main display regions, and the user cannot see the contents displayed in the two main display regions at the same time, the terminal can automatically select one of the main display regions as the screen display region according to the user's touch region and display the interface in the screen display region.

For example, in a possible implementation, the terminal may determine a main display region with a relatively small detected touch region in the two main display regions as the screen display region.

Further, in order to improve the accuracy of the screen display region and reduce erroneous detection, in embodiments of the present invention, the terminal may further determine the screen display region in combination with other conditions. For example, the terminal may obtain the areas of the touch regions respectively detected in the two main display regions. When the area of the touch region detected in the first main display region is greater than a first area threshold while the area of the touch region detected in the second main display region is smaller than a second area threshold, the second main display region may be determined as the screen display region, where the first area threshold is greater than the second area threshold.

For example, when the above terminal is a terminal with a display screen on the front and back respectively, the terminal may determine the area (referred to as a first area) of the touch region detected on the front display screen, and the area (referred to as a second area) of the touch region detected on the back display screen. When the first area is smaller than <NUM><NUM> and the second area is greater than <NUM><NUM>, the terminal sets the entire region of the front display screen as the screen display region and displays the interface display in this front display screen.

For another example, when the terminal is a terminal with an outward foldable screen and the terminal is in a folded state, the display region in the foldable screen is divided into two main display regions. The two main display regions face opposite directions. According to the grip region when the user grips the terminal, the terminal may determine the area (assuming the area as a third area) of the touch region detected on the main display region <NUM>, and the area (assuming the area as a fourth area) of the touch region detected on the other main display region <NUM>. When the third area is smaller than <NUM><NUM> and the fourth area is greater than <NUM><NUM>, the terminal sets the main display region <NUM> as a screen display region, and displays the interface in the main display region <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, a grip posture of the user gripping the terminal is obtained according to the grip region.

The manner of acquiring the grip posture of the user gripping the terminal according to the grip region may include, but is not limited to, the following two methods:.

The grip posture corresponding to the grip region template includes a left-hand grip posture, a right-hand grip posture, or a two-hand grip posture, or the like.

The grip region template may be a template for indicating a position of the grip region and an area of the grip region. The terminal stores the following three grip region templates (but embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the three templates): a left-hand grip template, a right-hand grip template, or a two-hand grip template. In addition, each of the grip region templates may include at least one grip region template corresponding to a grip posture. The grip posture corresponding to the left-hand grip template is a left-hand grip posture; the grip posture corresponding to the right-hand grip template is a right-hand grip posture; and the grip posture corresponding to the two-hand grip template is a two-hand grip posture.

When the processor in the terminal obtains the grip region when the terminal is gripped, it can match the grip region with various grip region templates to obtain the matching degrees between the grip region and the various grip region templates. When the matching degree between the obtained grip region and a target grip region template is greater than a preset matching degree threshold (for example, <NUM>%), it can be determined that the user's grip posture for gripping the terminal is the grip posture corresponding to the target grip region template.

According to embodiments, in order to eliminate the situation where the user temporarily changes the grip posture, the processor in the terminal may continuously detect the matching degree between the grip region and the target grip region template when determining the grip posture. If the matching degree between the grip region and the target grip region template is continuously greater than the preset matching degree threshold within a preset length of time, then it can be determined that the user's grip posture for gripping the terminal is the grip posture corresponding to the target grip region template.

<NUM>) The grip region includes at least one touch area on a left side and at least one touch area on a right side, the left side is a side of the terminal located on the left of the screen display area, and the right side is a side of the terminal located on the right of the screen display area. The number of at least one touch area on the left side is compared with a number of at least one touch area on the right side; if the number of at least one touch area on the left side is smaller than the number of at least one touch area on the right side, the grip posture is determined as the left-hand grip posture; and if the number of the at least one touch area on the right side is smaller than or equal to the number of the at least one touch area on the left side, the grip posture is determined as the right-hand grip posture.

In another possible implementation, the terminal may also directly determine the grip posture by determining the condition of the touch region. For example, when the screen display region is facing the user, if the user grips the terminal with his left hand, the left thumb will contact the left side of the terminal, and three or four of the other fingers of the left hand will contact the right side of the terminal. Otherwise, if the user grips the terminal with his right hand, the user's right thumb will contact the right side of the terminal, and three or four of the other fingers of the right hand will contact the left side of the terminal. Similarly, if the user grips the terminal with both hands, the left palm of the user will contact the left side of the terminal, and the right palm of the user will touch the right side of the terminal. Based on the above principle, when the terminal detects that the touch region on the left side of the screen display region in the terminal is smaller than the touch region on the right side of the screen display region, it can be determined that the grip gesture is a left-hand grip gesture. Conversely, when the terminal detects that the touch region on the left side of the screen display region is larger than the touch region on the right side of the screen display region, it can be determined that the grip gesture is a right-hand grip gesture. Similarly, when the terminal detects that the touch region on the left side of the screen display region is equal to the touch region on the right side of the screen display region of the terminal, it can be determined that the grip gesture is a grip gesture with both hands.

In step <NUM>, a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture is determined. The key setting mode indicates a key function corresponding to a target side among at least one side.

In embodiments of the present invention, the terminal may set key setting modes corresponding to various grip postures in advance. After the terminal determines the user's current grip posture for gripping the terminal, the terminal may search the key setting modes corresponding to the determined grip posture.

The target sides corresponding to different key setting modes may be different, and different key setting modes may have different key functions on the same side.

For example, in the key setting mode corresponding to the left-hand grip gesture, the target side can include the left side and the right side relative to the screen display region, and the key settings can be as follows: keys from top to bottom in turn on the left side can be the volume control keys and power key, and the keys from top to bottom in turn on the right side can be the AI key or other custom functional keys.

In the key setting mode corresponding to the right-hand grip posture, the target side can include the left side and the right side relative to the screen display region, and the key setting can be as follows: keys from top to bottom in turn on the right side can be the volume control keys and power key, and the keys from top to bottom in turn on the left side can be the AI key or other custom functional keys.

Alternatively, in the key setting mode corresponding to the two-hand grip posture, the target side may include the left side, the right side, and the upper side relative to the screen display region, and the key settings may be as follows: keys on the right side can be the volume control keys, the key on the left side can be the bright control key, and the keys on the upper side can be the AI key or other custom functional keys.

The key setting modes corresponding to the above-mentioned various grip postures can be set in the terminal in advance by a developer.

Alternatively, the key setting modes corresponding to the above various grip gestures can also be customized or changed in the terminal by the user.

For example, in a possible implementation, before determining the key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture, the terminal may also display a function setting interface corresponding to the key setting mode; according to a function selection operation performed in the function setting interface, the key function corresponding to the target side is set.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a setting interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the key function setting may include two parts. The first part relates to whether to set the left-hand grip mode or the right-hand grip mode as the default setting. By setting the left-hand grip mode or the right-hand grip mode as the default setting, the volume adjustment keys and the power key modules and the customized functional key modules are located on which side of the screen display region of the terminal can be determined. The default setting of the left-hand grip mode can be that the volume adjustment keys and power key modules are on the left side of the screen display region, and the customized functional key modules are on the right side of the screen display region. The default setting of the right-hand grip mode is the opposite of the default setting of the left-hand grip mode. The second part relates to the specific setting of the functions of the customized functional keys, including opening a specified software or performing an operation on the terminal, such as taking a screenshot of the terminal screen.

In a possible implementation, when determining the key setting mode corresponding to the grip gesture, the terminal may determine an application program running in the foreground of the terminal; and according to the application program running in the foreground and the grip gesture, the terminal may determine the key setting mode.

For example, when a user uses chat social software in the terminal, it is unavoidable that single-handed operability is usually not available. In order to improve the operability of single-handed use of chat social software, this problem can be solved by setting a customized functional key in conjunction with the software's universal voice sending function. For example, when the application program running in the foreground of the terminal is an application program other than the chat social software and the touch sensor detects the grip posture as a right-hand grip posture, the key setting mode can be determined as follows: volume adjustment keys are set on the right side relative to the screen display region, and a customized functional key is set on the left side relative to the screen display region. When the terminal determines that the application program running in the foreground of the terminal is the chat social software and the touch sensor detects the grip gesture as a right-hand grip posture, the key setting mode can be as follows: a selection key is set on the right side relative to the screen display region to select contacts, and a voice sending key is set on the left side relative to the screen display region, and long pressing the key can send voice messages.

For another example, a user uses game software on a terminal. Traditional game operations are performed on the display screen. When the user grips the terminal with both hands, most users can only operate with the thumbs of both hands. In the solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention, in order to improve the operability of the game, some operation functions can be set on the customized functional keys on the sides. For example, when the terminal determines that the application program running in the foreground of the terminal is game software and the touch sensor detects the grip gesture as a two-hand grip posture, the key setting mode can be as follows: a skill release key is set on the left side relative to the upper side of the screen display region, and a normal attack key is set on the right side relative to the upper side of the screen display region.

For another example, when a user uses video playback software on the terminal, the screen lock function is usually used to prevent the video from being played forward or back by inadvertent touches. In the existing technologies, if the terminal is locked, the brightness cannot be adjusted. In order to improve operability, the brightness adjustment function can be set by using a customized functional key on a side. For example, when the terminal determines that the application program running in the foreground of the terminal is video play software and the touch sensor detects the grip gesture as a two-hand grip posture, the key setting mode can as follows: the brightness adjustment key is on the left side relative to the upper side of the screen display region, and the volume adjustment keys are set on the right side relative to the upper side of the screen display region.

The left side, the right side, and upper side and so on in the embodiments of the present invention are determined based on the display direction of the screen display region. For example, the side above the images displayed in the screen display region is the upper side, and the side corresponding to the left of the images is the left side, and so on.

In step <NUM>, the key position of the pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function is obtained.

The obtained key position may refer to a position of the pressure sensing key in the target side.

After the processor in the terminal obtains the key function indicated by the key setting mode, it can further obtain the key position of the corresponding key function on the target side.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the manner of obtaining the key position of the pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function in the target side may include, but is not limited to, the following two manners:.

In embodiments of the present invention, the position of the functional key on the target side as indicated by each key setting mode may be fixed.

In a possible implementation, key positions corresponding to individual key functions are defined in various key setting modes, and the terminal may directly obtain a key position corresponding to each key function from the determined key setting mode.

For example, the left side and the right side of the terminal with respect to the screen display region each contain <NUM> key positions. Taking the key setting mode corresponding to the left-hand grip gesture as an example, the key setting mode indicates that the functional keys on the left side relative to the screen display region are the volume control keys and the power key, the functional keys on the right side are the AI key and the custom functional keys. In addition, the key setting mode also defines that the position of the volume up key is the first key position on the left side of the screen display region, the position of the volume down key is the second key position on the left side of the screen display region, position of the power key is the third key position on the left side of the screen display region, the position of the AI key is the first key position on the right side of the screen display region, and the position of the customized functional key is the second key position on the right side of the screen display region. The terminal can directly obtain the key positions of the above-mentioned functional keys on the left and right sides of the screen display region of the terminal directly from the key setting mode.

Alternatively, in another possible implementation, the terminal may obtain a corresponding key position of each key function according to an arrangement order of each key function on the target side indicated by the key setting mode.

For example, the left side and the right side of the terminal with respect to the screen display region each contain <NUM> key positions. Taking the key setting mode corresponding to the left-hand grip gesture as an example, the key setting mode indicates that the order of the functional keys on the left side with respect to the screen display region is: the volume control keys and the power key, and the order of the functional keys on the right side with respect to the screen display region is: the AI key and the customized functional key. According to the order of the above key functions, the terminal can determine the position of the volume up key as the first key position on the left side of the screen display region, determine the position of the volume down key as the second key position on the left side of the screen display region, determine the position of the power key as the third key position on the left side of the screen display region, determine the position of the AI key as the first key position on the right side of the screen display region, and determine the position of the customized functional key as the second key position on the right side of the screen display region.

<NUM>) The grip region when the terminal is gripped is obtained, the position of the pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function in the target side is determined according to the position of the grip region.

In embodiments of the present invention, the positions of the functional keys indicated by each key setting mode in the above-mentioned target side may not be fixed.

For example, the left side and the right side of the terminal with respect to the screen display region each contain <NUM> key positions. Taking the key setting mode corresponding to the left-hand grip gesture as an example, the key setting mode indicates that the functional keys on the left side with respect to the screen display region are the volume control keys and the power key. The terminal can obtain the touch position of the grip region on the left side, and determine three key positions closest to the touch position among the <NUM> key positions on the left side, and determine the three key positions from top to bottom as the key positions of the volume up key, the volume down key, and the power key, respectively.

In step <NUM>, the pressure sensing keys are set in the pressure sensing area on the target side according to the key position.

After the processor in the terminal obtains each key function on the target side and the position corresponding to each key function on the target side, the processor can set pressure sensing keys corresponding to the key functions at the obtained key positions. When a pressing operation performed on one of the pressure sensing keys (for example, it is detected that the pressure at the pressure sensing key is greater than a preset pressure threshold) is detected, a corresponding function and operation can be triggered.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic diagram showing key function settings in a left-hand grip mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the order of the functional keys on the left side of the screen display region is: the volume control keys and the power key, and the order of the functional keys on the right side of the screen display region is: the AI key and the customized functional key. When a user holds the terminal (e.g.. a mobile phone) with the user's left hand, a sensor detects that the thumb is measured on the left side of the terminal (the area is smaller) and the other fingers are on the right side of the terminal (the area is larger). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the general-purpose input/output (GPIO) of the keys may be defined based on the key arrangement in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram showing key function settings in a right-hand grip mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the order of the functional keys on the right side of the screen display region is: the volume control keys and the power key, and the order of the functional keys on the left side of the screen display region is: the AI key and the customized functional key. When the user holds the terminal with user's right hand, the thumb is on the right side of the terminal and the other fingers are on the left side of the terminal. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the GPIO may be defined based on the key arrangement in <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> show that when there is switching between the left-hand grip mode and the right-hand grip mode, the key functions on the two sides of the terminal are different.

In view of the above, in the key setting methods according to embodiments of the present invention, by using a touch sensor distributed on the surface of the terminal to detect a user's grip posture for gripping the terminal, a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture is determined. The key setting mode indicates a key function corresponding to a target side among at least one side. In the pressure sensing area on the target side, a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function is set. In this way, depending on different grip postures of the user, the terminal can set keys with different functions on the sides with respect to the screen display region, thereby automatically switching the functional keys on the sides of the terminal, extending the setting mode of the keys on the sides of the terminal, and improving the ease of operation of the keys on the sides of the terminal.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a key setting device according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the key setting device may be implemented as all or part of a terminal through hardware, or software, or a combination of hardware and software to execute steps shown in any of the embodiments described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. A pressure sensing area is provided on at least one side of the terminal with respect to a screen display region. The key setting device may include a grip posture detection module <NUM>, a mode determination module <NUM>, and a key setting module <NUM>.

The grip posture detection module <NUM> is configured to detect a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal.

The mode determination module <NUM> is configured to determine a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture, wherein the key setting mode indicates a key function corresponding to a target side of the at least one side.

The key setting module <NUM> is configured to, in the pressure sensing area on the target side, set a pressure sensing key corresponding to the key function.

According to embodiments, the key setting module includes:.

According to embodiments, the key position obtaining sub-module is configured to:.

According to embodiments, the device further includes:.

According to embodiments, the mode determination module includes:.

According to embodiments, the grip posture detection module includes:.

According to embodiments, the posture determination sub-module is configured to:.

According to embodiments, the grip region includes at least one touch region on a left side and at least one touch region on a right side, the left side is a side of the terminal located on the left of the screen display region, and the right side is a side of the terminal located on the right of the screen display region;
wherein the posture determination sub-module is configured to:.

According to embodiments, a display screen of the terminal includes two main display regions, and the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions respectively;
wherein the terminal further includes:.

It should be noted that division of functional modules when the devices provided in the foregoing embodiments implements functions is only an example, and in practical applications, the above functions may be allocated to different functional modules according to actual needs. That is, the structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

Regarding the devices in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module performs operations has been described in detail in the embodiments of the methods, and will not be explained in detail here.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a key setting device. The key setting device can execute steps shown in any of the embodiments described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. A pressure sensing area is provided on at least one side of the terminal with respect to a screen display region. The key setting device includes a processor and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor.

According to embodiments, a display screen of the terminal includes two main display regions, and the two main display regions face outward of the terminal along different directions respectively;
wherein before detecting a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using a touch sensor distributed on a surface of the terminal, the method further includes:.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a computing device according to an exemplary embodiment. The computing device can be implemented as the terminal described above. The computing device can be implemented as a terminal device with a voice control function in the above embodiments of the present invention. The computing device <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a system memory <NUM> including a random access memory (RAM) <NUM> and a read-only memory (ROM) <NUM>, and a system bus <NUM> connecting the system memory <NUM> and the central processing unit <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> further includes a basic input/output system (I/O system) <NUM> that helps information transfer between various devices in the computing device, and a large capacity storage device <NUM> which is used for storing an operating system <NUM>, application programs <NUM>, and other program modules <NUM>.

The basic input/output system <NUM> includes a display <NUM> for displaying information and an input device <NUM> such as a mouse, a keyboard, or the like for a user to input information. The display <NUM> and the input device <NUM> are both connected to the central processing unit <NUM> through an input-output controller <NUM> connected to the system bus <NUM>. The basic input/output system <NUM> may further include an input/output controller <NUM> for receiving and processing input from a plurality of other devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, or an electronic stylus. Similarly, the input-output controller <NUM> also provides outputs to a display screen, a printer, or other type of output devices.

The large capacity storage device <NUM> is connected to the central processing unit <NUM> through a large capacity storage controller (not shown) connected to the system bus <NUM>. The large capacity storage device <NUM> and its associated computer-readable medium provide non-volatile storage for the computing device <NUM>. That is, the large capacity storage device <NUM> may include a computer-readable medium (not shown) such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM drive.

Generally, the computer-readable medium may include a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable medium implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. For example, the computer storage medium includes RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid-state storage technologies, CD-ROM, DVD or other optical storage device, tape cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. Of course, those skilled in the art may know that the computer storage medium is not limited to the foregoing types. The above-mentioned system memory <NUM> and large capacity storage device <NUM> may be collectively referred to as a memory.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the computing device <NUM> may also be operated by a remote computer connected to a network through a network such as the Internet. That is, the computing device <NUM> may be connected to the network <NUM> through the network interface unit <NUM> connected to the system bus <NUM>, or the network interface unit <NUM> may be used to connect to other types of networks or remote computer systems (not shown ).

The memory further includes one or more programs, the one or more programs are stored in the memory, and the central processing unit <NUM> executes the one or more programs to implement all or a part of the steps in the methods shown in <FIG> or <FIG>.

Those skilled in the art should be aware that in one or more of the above examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, these functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes a computer storage medium and a communication medium including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

An embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer storage medium for storing computer software instructions used by the terminal, the instructions including programs designed to implement the key setting methods described above.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed here. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof and including such departures from the present invention as come within known or customary practice in the art. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the exact construction that has been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Claim 1:
A key setting method, wherein the method is performed by a terminal comprising a display screen (<NUM>), a pressure sensing area (<NUM>) and a touch sensor (<NUM>), the pressure sensing area (<NUM>) is provided on at least one side surface of the terminal with respect to a screen display region (110a), and the display screen (<NUM>) is provided on a front surface of the terminal, and the method comprises:
detecting (<NUM>) a grip posture of a user gripping the terminal by using the touch sensor (<NUM>) distributed on a surface of the terminal;
determining (<NUM>) a key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture, wherein the key setting mode indicates functions of keys, wherein the keys are on a target side surface of the at least one side surface, wherein the target side surface is perpendicular to a surface where the screen display region is located and the keys are operable even after the terminal is in a screen-locked state, and determining the key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture comprises:
determining an application program running in a foreground in the terminal; and
determining the key setting mode for the target side surface according to the application program running in the foreground and the grip posture;
and
setting (<NUM>) a pressure sensing key corresponding to a key function in the pressure sensing area (<NUM>) on the target side surface,
wherein before determining the key setting mode corresponding to the grip posture, the method further comprises:
displaying a function setting interface corresponding to the key setting mode; and
according to a function selection operation performed on the function setting interface, setting the key function corresponding to the target side surface.