Changing an interface mode using an input gesture

Abstract

Method (700) comprising: - displaying (702) an interactive interface on an electronic display (408) of an information processing device (402), the interactive interface comprising a plurality of modes; - receiving (704) an input gesture from a user, wherein the input gesture is detected along an outer surface of a housing of the information processing device by a gesture detector (404); - changing (706) a mode of the interactive interface according to a mode change configuration in response to the received input gesture; and - adjusting the mode change configuration in response to detecting a modification of an orientation of the information processing device (402).

Description

Field of InterestThe subject matter disclosed herein relates to gesture input, and more particularly relates to changing a mode of an interactive interface using an input gesture.BackgroundDescription of the Relevant TechniqueSome information handling devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, etc., include interactive interface functions with which a user may interact using touch input, gesture input, etc. In certain examples, the interactive interface functions include different modes that can be changed by interacting with an element such as a button on the interface functions such as a button. For example, a virtual keyboard may have different keyboard arrangement modes (e.g., letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) that may be changed by pressing a mode switching key on the keyboard.However, in some situations, it may be difficult to press the mode-change button due to the size of the button, the location of the button, etc. It may therefore be advantageous to provide a way to switch an interface mode using gesture input such as a touch gesture, a hover gesture, etc., instead of interacting directly with the mode-change function of the interactive interface.The publication US 2009 / 0 167 706 A1 describes an electronic device having a virtual keyboard and a touchscreen. The virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of key sections. The touch screen has an input area for displaying one of the key sections. When the touch screen detects a sliding movement of a user in the input area, another key portion is displayed in the input area without displaying the other key portions.The publication US 2010 / 0 315 337 A1 discloses a small sensor surface for controlling a smartphone. The sensor surface may be laterally attached to the device at a location where the user's thumb or finger naturally falls when holding the device in the hand. The sensor may include capacitive, optical, and pressure sensitive functions to convert thumb movements to a device controller.Brief SummaryIt is an object of the present invention to enable an improved mode change of an interactive interface on an electronic display of an information processing device.This object is achieved by the subject matters of the main claim 1 and the subordinate claims 14 and 15 which determine the present invention.Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.A method of changing an interface mode using an input gesture is disclosed. An apparatus and a computer program also perform the functions of the method.In one embodiment, a method is described that includes presenting an interactive interface on an electronic display of an information handling device. In another embodiment, the interactive interface includes a plurality of modes. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an input gesture from a user. In certain embodiments, the input gesture along a surface of the information handling device is detected by a gesture detector. In another embodiment, the method includes changing a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture.In another embodiment, the interactive interface includes a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keyboard modes. In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes one or more of a touch gesture and a hover gesture. In one embodiment, the input gesture includes a swiping gesture along an edge of the information handling device such that a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a first mode to a second mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the second mode to the first mode. In another embodiment, a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a second mode to a third mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the third mode to the second mode. In an embodiment, the first direction is opposite the second direction. In some embodiments, a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a second mode to a third mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the third mode to the second mode, where the first direction is opposite the second direction.In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes a tap gesture, wherein tapping along a first edge of the information handling device changes a first mode to a second mode, and tapping along a second edge of the information handling device changes the second mode to the first mode. In another embodiment, typing along a first edge of the information handling device changes a second mode to a third mode and typing along a second edge of the information handling device changes the third mode to the second mode. In one embodiment, the first edge is opposite the second edge. In another embodiment, the input gesture is detected along an edge of the electronic display. In another embodiment, the input gesture changes a mode of the interactive interface from a last mode to a first mode and from a first mode to a last mode. In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes a touch gesture and / or a hover gesture.In one embodiment, the method includes adjusting a mode change configuration in response to detecting a modification of an orientation of the information handling device. In another embodiment, the gesture detector includes a capacitive sensor operatively coupled to an edge of the information handling device and / or an edge of the electronic display. In another embodiment, the method includes enabling and disabling the sensing of an input gesture. In certain embodiments, the gesture detector is selectively turned on or off. In another embodiment, the method includes defining one or more input gestures as mode change input gestures.The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a gesture detector, a processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, and a memory having machine readable code executable by the processor stored thereon. In one embodiment, the machine readable code includes a display module configured to present an interactive interface on the display of the information handling device. In some embodiments, the interactive interface includes a plurality of modes. In another embodiment, the machine readable code includes a gesture module configured to receive an input gesture from a user. In one embodiment, the input gesture is received along a surface of the information handling device by a gesture detector. In another embodiment, the machine readable code includes a mode module configured to change a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture.In one embodiment, the interactive interface includes a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keyboard modes. The input gesture, in one embodiment, includes a swiping gesture along an edge of the information handling device such that a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a first mode to a second mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the second mode to the first mode. In another embodiment, a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a second mode to a third mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the third mode to a second mode. In an embodiment, the first direction is opposite the second direction.In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes a tap gesture, wherein tapping along a first edge of the information handling device changes a first mode to a second mode, and tapping along a second edge of the information handling device changes the second mode to a first mode. In another embodiment, typing along a first edge of the information handling device changes a second mode to a third mode and typing along a second edge of the information handling device changes the third mode to the second mode. In one embodiment, the first edge is opposite the second edge.In another embodiment, the input gesture is detected along an edge of the electronic display. In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes a touch gesture and / or a hover gesture. In another embodiment, the machine readable code includes a configuration module configured to adjust a mode change configuration in response to detecting a modification of an orientation of the information handling device. In one embodiment, the machine readable code includes a detector enable module configured to enable or disable detection by the input gesture. In certain embodiments, the gesture detector is selectively turned on and off. In yet another embodiment, the machine readable code includes a gesture assignment module configured to define one or more input gestures as mode change input gestures.A program product is disclosed that includes a computer readable storage medium storing the machine readable code executable by a processor to perform the operations. In one embodiment, the operations include presenting an interactive interface on an electronic display of an information handling device, the interactive interface including a plurality of modes. In another embodiment, the operations include receiving an input gesture from a user, wherein the input gesture is detected along a surface of the information processing device by a gesture detector. In another embodiment, the operations include changing a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture.Brief Description of the DrawingsA more detailed description of the embodiments briefly described above is provided by reference to the specific embodiments shown in the appended drawings. It is to be understood that these drawings show only some embodiments and are therefore not to be considered as limiting the scope, the embodiments being described and explained with additional specifications and details using the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for changing an interface mode using an input gesture; FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus for changing an interface mode using an input gesture; FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus for changing an interface mode using an input gesture; FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an information handling apparatus having a gesture detector; FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of changing an interface mode using an input gesture; FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of changing an interface mode using another input gesture; FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for changing an interface mode using an input gesture; and FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for changing an interface mode using an input gesture.Detailed DescriptionAs will be understood by those skilled in the art, aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as a system, method, or program product. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of a full hardware embodiment, a full software embodiment (including firmware, memory resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment that combines software and hardware aspects with one another, which may be referred to generally herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system.". Further, embodiments may take the form of a program product embodied in one or more computer readable storage devices that store machine readable code. The storage devices may be tangible, persistent, and / or non-transitory.Many of the functional units described in this specification have been referred to as modules in order to emphasize particularly their independent implementation more. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising common VLSI circuits or gate arrays, standard semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be incorporated into programmable hardware devices, such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic arrays, programmable logic devices, or the like.Modules may also be implemented in machine readable code and / or software for execution by different types of processors. An identified module of machine readable code may, for example, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code, which may be organized as, for example, an object, method, or function. Nevertheless, applications of an identified module need not be physically arranged together, but may include various instructions stored in different locations which, when logically joined, form the module and fulfil the specified purpose of the module.Indeed, a module of machine readable code may be a single instruction or multiple instructions, and may even be distributed among multiple different code segments, among different programs, and across some storage devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and represented herein by modules, and may be implemented in any suitable form and organized within any suitable form of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set or may be distributed across different locations, including across different computer readable storage devices, and may exist, at least in part, only as electronic signals on a system or network. Where a module or portions of a module are implemented in software, the software portions are stored on one or more computer readable storage devices.Any combination of one or more computer readable media may be used. The computer readable medium may be a machine readable signal medium or a storage device. The computer readable medium may be a storage device storing the machine readable code. The memory device may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the memory device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain a program or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.A machine readable signal medium may be a propagated data signal with machine readable code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, an electromagnetic form, an optical form, or any suitable combination thereof. A machine readable signal medium may be any storage device that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Machine readable code embodied on a storage device may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wired, optical fiber, radio frequency (RF), etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.Machine readable code for performing operations for embodiments may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional programming languages such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The machine readable code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, or partly on a user's computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).Reference throughout this specification to a "single embodiment," "one embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in a single embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language in this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "comprising," "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. A numbered listing of items does not mean that any or all items are mutually exclusive unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a", "an", and "the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise.Further, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as, for example, programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database requests, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. On the other hand, well-known structures, materials, and methods are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment.Aspects of the embodiments are described with reference to schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams of methods, apparatuses, systems, and program products according to the embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams, and combinations of the blocks in the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams, may be embodied by machine readable code. This machine readable code may be provided to a processor of the general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that the functions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus produce means for performing the functions / acts specified in the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams or blocks.The machine readable code may also be stored in a storage device that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner such that the instructions stored in the storage device produce an article of manufacture including instructions embodying the function / action specified in the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams or blocks.The machine readable code may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus or other devices to cause a series of method steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus and other devices to generate a computer implemented process such that the program code executed on the computer or other device provides processes for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram or blocks.The schematic flow diagrams and / or block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and methods of possible implementations of the devices, systems, methods, and program products according to the various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the schematic flow diagrams and / or schematic block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions of the program code for implementing the specified logical function(s).It should also be noted that in alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may also occur out of the order that appears in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may actually be performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be performed in the reverse order depending on the functionality involved. Other steps and methods may be conceivable that are equivalent in function, logical, or affect one or more blocks or portions of the blocks of the figures shown.Although different arrow types and line types may be used in the flowchart and / or block diagrams, they should not be understood as limiting the scope of the respective embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or other connections may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the embodiment shown. For example, an arrow may indicate a wait or monitor period of unspecified duration between a number of steps of the illustrated embodiment. It is also noted that each block of the block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of the blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be embodied by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform specific functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and machine-readable code.The descriptions of the figures may refer to elements described in previous figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a system 100 for changing an interface mode using an input gesture. In one embodiment, the system 100 includes an information handling apparatus 102, a mode switching device 104, a data network 106, and a server 108, which are described in more detail below.In one embodiment, the system 100 includes an information handling device 102. In some embodiments, the information handling device 102 includes a mobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a PDA, a smart watch, and / or the like. In certain embodiments, the information handling device 102 includes a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, a monitor, a smart TV, various input devices such as a trackpad, a mouse, a remote controller, and / or the like. The information handling device 102, in certain embodiments, includes a touch-active display that detects and receives input from a touch input device, such as a stylus, a user's finger, and / or the like. In another embodiment, the information handling device 102 receives gesture input from a gesture input detector, such as a capacitive sensor, installed around an edge of the device, around the device display, and / or along any surface of the information processing device 102. In certain embodiments, the gesture detector detects gesture input from a user, such as a swiping gesture, a tap gesture, a press gesture, a hover gesture, and / or the like.In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a mode switching device 104 configured to present an interactive interface on an electronic display of an information handling device 102. In one embodiment, the interactive interface includes a plurality of modes. In another embodiment, the mode switching device 104 receives an input gesture from a user, which is detected along a surface of the information handling device 102 by a gesture detector. The mode switching device 104 changes the mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture in another embodiment. The mode switching device 104, in one embodiment, includes one or more modules that perform operations associated with enlarging a viewport around a cursor. The mode switching device 104 including its associated modules is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.In another embodiment, the system 100 includes a data network 106. The data network 106, in a particular embodiment, is a digital communication network 106 that transmits digital communications. The digital communication network 106 may include a wireless network such as a wireless telephone network, a local wireless network such as a Wi-Fi network, and the like. The digital communication network 106 may include a wide area network ("WAN"), storage area network ("SAN"), local area network ("LAN"), optical fiber network, the Internet, or other digital communication networks known in the art. The digital communication network 106 may include two or more networks. The digital communication network 106 may include one or more servers, routers, switches, and / or other network devices. The digital communication network 106 may also include a computer readable storage medium such as a hard disk drive, an optical drive, a non-volatile memory, a random access memory ("RAM"), or the like.The system 100 includes a server 108 in another embodiment. The server 108, in some embodiments, includes a mainframe computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a cloud server, and / or the like. In certain embodiments, the server 108 stores data accessed by an information handling device 102 via the data network 106.FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 200 for changing an interface mode by means of an input gesture. In certain embodiments, the apparatus 200 includes a mode switching apparatus 104. The mode switching device 104, in another embodiment, includes a display module 202, a gesture module 204, and a mode module 206, which are described in more detail below.The mode switching apparatus 104, in another embodiment, includes a display module 202 configured to present an interactive interface of an electronic display of an information handling device 102. In another embodiment, the interactive interface includes a plurality of modes. In certain embodiments, the interactive interface includes a virtual keyboard that is presented on the electronic display of the information handling device 102. The virtual keyboard, in a particular embodiment, includes a plurality of keyboard modes. For example, one keyboard mode of the virtual keyboard may display letters, another keyboard mode may display numbers, and yet another keyboard mode may display icons. Similarly, the virtual keyboard may include a toggle key mode, a fix key mode, and / or the like. In certain embodiments, the interactive interface may switch between different modes based on input received from a user.In another embodiment, the mode switching device 104 includes a gesture module 204 configured to receive an input gesture from a user. In certain embodiments, the input gesture along a surface of the information handling device 102 is detected by a gesture detector. In some embodiments, gesture module 204 uses a capacitive sensor installed under a surface of information handling device 102 to detect different input gestures, such as swiping gestures, tap gestures, hover gestures, and / or the like. For example, the capacitive sensor may be incorporated along an edge of a smartphone or along an edge surrounding the display of a tablet computer. One skilled in the art will recognize that other types of sensors may be used to sense the gesture inputs. In certain embodiments, the gesture module 204 receives an input gesture detected by the gesture detector through a cover selectively coupled to the information handling device 102.In one embodiment, the mode switching device 104 includes a mode module 206 configured to change a mode of an interactive interface in response to the input gesture received from the gesture module 204. For example, a user may swipe along an edge of a smartphone, which would cause the mode module 206 to change the mode of a virtual keyboard displayed on the smartphone display (e.g., changing the virtual keyboard from a displayed letter layout to a numeral layout). Alternatively, the user may tap on either the bottom or the top of a tablet computer, which is perceived by the capacitive sensor and would cause the mode module 206 to change a mode of the interactive interface.In some embodiments, the received input gesture includes a swiping gesture detected along an edge of the information processing device 102 such that a swiping gesture in a first direction causes the mode module 206 to change a first mode of the interactive interface to a second mode, and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the second mode to the first mode. In certain embodiments, the first direction is opposite the second direction, e.g., sweeping up the right side of the smartphone causes the virtual keyboard layout to change from letters to numbers, and sweeping down the left side of the smartphone causes the virtual keyboard layout to change from numbers to letters. Further, in response to a swiping gesture in a first direction, the mode module 206 changes a second mode to a third mode and a third mode to a fourth mode, and so forth. In one embodiment, the mode module 206 returns the interactive interface to the first mode in response to receiving a swiping gesture in a first direction. For example, an interactive interface may have three modes and, when the interface is in the third mode, a swiping gesture that intends to change the interface mode to an non-existing fourth mode will change the interface mode back to the first mode. Alternatively, a swiping gesture in the second direction may change the interface mode from the first mode to the last mode.In another embodiment, the received input gesture includes a tap gesture such that tapping along a first edge of the information handling device 102 changes a first mode to a second mode and tapping along a second edge of the information handling device 102 changes the second mode to the first mode. In certain embodiments, the first edge is opposite the second edge. For example, typing on the right side of a smartphone causes the virtual keyboard layout to change from letters to numbers, and typing on the left side of the smartphone causes the virtual keyboard layout to change from numbers to letters. Similar to the above example, in response to a tap gesture along a first edge, the mode module 206 changes a second mode to a third mode, a third mode to a fourth mode, and so forth. In one embodiment, the mode module 206 returns the interactive interface to the first mode in response to receiving a tap gesture along a first edge. For example, an interactive interface may have three modes and, if the interface is in a third mode, a tap gesture that intends to change the interface mode to an non-existing fourth mode will change the interface mode back to the first mode. Alternatively, a tap gesture along the second edge may change the interface mode from the first mode to the last mode.FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 300 for changing an interface mode by means of an input gesture. In certain embodiments, the apparatus 300 includes a mode switching apparatus 104. The mode switching device 104, in one embodiment, includes a display module 202, a gesture module 204, and a mode module 206 that are substantially similar to the display module 202, gesture module 204, and mode module 206 described with reference to FIG. 2. The mode switching device 104, in another embodiment, includes a configuration module 302, a detector activation module 304, and a gesture assignment module 306, which are described in more detail below.The mode change device 104, in one embodiment, includes a configuration module 302 configured to adjust a mode change configuration in response to detecting a modification of an orientation of the information handling apparatus 102. For example, for a smartphone that is maintained in a horizontal position, typing on the tip or bottom of the smartphone may change the mode of a virtual keyboard displayed on the smartphone; however, when the orientation of the phone is changed from a horizontal to a vertical position, the configuration module 302 adjusts the mode change configuration such that the new tip and bottom, when touched, change the mode of the virtual keyboard. In certain embodiments, the configuration module 302 uses an accelerometer or other device incorporated into the information handling device 102 that detects changes in acceleration and position to detect when to adjust the mode change configuration of the information handling device 102.In another embodiment, the mode switching device 104 includes a detector activation module 302 configured to activate and deactivate sensing of the input gesture. In certain embodiments, the detector activation module 304 selectively turns the gesture detector on and off. In another embodiment, the detector activation module 304 determines, with software running on the information handling device 102, whether to accept input gestures detected by the gesture detector. For example, a user may configure the information handling device 102 in the software settings such that input gestures detected by the gesture detector are detected or not detected. Alternatively, the user may turn the gesture detector on and off via the settings of the information handling device 102 or by using a physical switch, a button, or the like disposed on the housing of the information handling device 102.In yet another embodiment, the mode switching device 104 includes a gesture assignment module 306 configured to define one or more input gestures as mode change input gestures. For example, gesture assignment module 306 may define a swiping gesture as a virtual keyboard layout mode swap gesture. Alternatively, the gesture assignment module 306 may assign a tap gesture to turning a virtual keyboard parking key mode on or off. In certain embodiments, gesture assignment module 306 receives an input gesture from a user and allows the user to specify an action associated with the input gesture.In one embodiment, the gesture assignment module 306 may set the information handling device 102 in a gesture definition mode. In the gesture definition mode, in another embodiment, the gesture assignment module 306 receives a customized gesture from a user and presents a list of one or more actions associated with the information handling device 102 that the user can select to assign the gesture. For example, in the gesture definition mode, the user may input a swiping gesture along a bottom edge of a smartphone and associate this action with switching a keyboard layout mode of a virtual keyboard. In some embodiments, gesture definition module 306 recognizes one or more input gestures received by gesture module 204 as a mode change gesture. Thus, when a gesture that is not recognized as a mode change gesture by gesture assignment module 306 is received, the received gesture may be ignored.FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an information handling device 402 with a gesture detector 404, 406. In one embodiment, the information handling device 402 includes a gesture detector 404 along the outer surface of the housing of the information handling device 402. In another embodiment, a gesture detector 406 is disposed beneath the surface of the information handling device 102 around the edge of the display 408. In one embodiment, the gesture detector 404, 406 includes a capacitive sensor. One skilled in the art will recognize that other gesture detection sensors may be used within the information handling device 102. In one embodiment, in response to a user interacting with a gesture detector 404, 406, an interactive interface mode is changed. Thus, in the embodiment shown, a keyboard mode of the virtual keyboard 410 is changed in response to a user interactively acting on the gesture detector 404, 406 using a mode switching input gesture. In certain embodiments, the information handling device 402 includes both the gesture detector 404 along the edge of the information handling device 402 and the gesture detector 406 around the edge of the display 408. In another embodiment, the information processing device 402 includes only one of the gesture detectors 404, 406.FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of changing an interface mode using an input gesture. In one embodiment, the information handling device 502 includes a gesture detector 504 along the edge of the device 502 and / or a gesture detector 506 around the edge of the display 508. In one embodiment, a display module 202 displays an interactive interface on the display 508, which in this case includes a virtual keyboard in a letter display layout mode 510 a. In the embodiment shown, a gesture module 204 receives an input gesture from a user, such as a swipe down gesture 512 or a swipe up gesture 514.In one embodiment, the mode module 206 switches the virtual keyboard mode in response to the gesture module 204 receiving a swiping gesture 512, 514 from a user. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the mode module 206 changes the layout mode from a letter display layout mode 510 ato a number display layout mode 510 b. In one embodiment, a swiping input gesture in the opposite direction will change the layout mode back to the letter display mode 510 a. In some embodiments, when the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of modes, the mode module 206 flips through the different modes of the virtual keyboard in response to an input gesture.FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of changing an interface mode using another input gesture. In certain embodiments, the input gesture received by the gesture module 204 includes a tap gesture 612 a, 612 bdetected by a gesture detector 604, 606. The tap gesture 612 a, 612 bmay be received on any surface of the information handling device 602 configured to receive tap gestures 612 a, 612 b. In another embodiment, a tap gesture 612 a, 612 bchanges a mode of the interactive interface, e.g., a virtual keyboard, presented on a display 608 of the information handling device 602. For example, a tap gesture 612 a received near the top of the information handling device 602 may switch the virtual keyboard from a letter display mode 610 ato a number display mode 610 b. Further, a tap gesture 612 b, received near the bottom of the information handling device 602, may switch the virtual keyboard from a number display mode 610 bback to a letter display mode 610 a. Alternatively, the tap gesture 612 a, 612 bmay change the virtual keyboard mode by activating and / or deactivating the toggle key, a parking key mode, and / or the like. In some embodiments, for flipping through different modes of the interactive interface, the tap gestures 612 a, 612 bare performed on opposite edges of the information processing device 602.FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a method 700 for changing an interface mode using an input gesture. In one embodiment, the method 700 begins and a display module 202 displays an interactive interface on a display of an information handling device 102 at 702. In certain embodiments, the interactive display includes a plurality of modes. A gesture module 204 receives an input gesture from a user at 704, in another embodiment. In certain embodiments, the input gesture along a surface of the information handling device 102 is detected by a gesture detector. In another embodiment, at 706, a mode module 206 changes a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture and the method 700 ends.FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a method 800 for changing an interface mode using an input gesture. In one embodiment, the method 800 begins and a display module 202 provides an interactive interface on a display of an information handling device 102 at 802. In certain embodiments, the interactive display includes a plurality of modes. For example, a virtual keyboard may include different keyboard layout modes, such as a letter layout mode, a number layout mode, a symbol layout mode, and / or the like. Alternatively, the virtual keyboard may change modes in response to activation of a switching key, a parking key, or the like.In one embodiment, a detector activation module 304 determines whether the gesture detector is activated at 804. In one embodiment, the method 800 ends when the detector activation module 304 determines at 804 that the gesture detector is not activated. Alternatively, in another embodiment, if the detector activation module 304 determines at 804 that the gesture detector is activated, a gesture module 204 receives an input gesture from a user at 806. In certain embodiments, the input gesture includes a swiping gesture, a tap gesture, a hover gesture, and / or the like.In another embodiment, at 808, a gesture assignment module 306 determines whether the gesture is a mode change gesture. In one embodiment, if the gesture assignment module 306 determines at 808 that the gesture is not a mode change gesture, namely the received gesture is not defined as a mode change gesture, the method 800 ends. On the other hand, in another embodiment, if the gesture assignment module 306 determines at 808 that the received gesture is a mode change gesture, a mode module 206 will change a mode of the interactive interface in response to the received input gesture at 308. For example, a virtual keyboard may be changed to a number display layout mode in response to a swiping gesture received along an edge of the information handling device 102. And method 800 ends.Embodiments may be practiced in other specified forms. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

A method (700) comprising: - presenting (702) an interactive interface on an electronic display (408) of an information processing device (402), the interactive interface comprising a plurality of modes; - receiving (704) an input gesture from a user, the input gesture being detected along an outer surface of a housing of the information processing device by a gesture detector (404); - changing (706) a mode of the interactive interface according to a mode change configuration in response to the received input gesture; and - adjusting the mode change configuration in response to detecting a modification of an orientation of the information processing device (402).The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the interactive interface comprises a virtual keyboard (410), wherein the virtual keyboard (410) comprises a plurality of keyboard modes.The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the input gesture comprises one or more of a touch gesture and a hover gesture.The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the input gesture comprises a swiping gesture along the outer surface of the housing of the information processing device (402) such that a swiping gesture in a first direction changes a first mode to a second mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the second mode to the first mode, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.The method (700) of claim 4, wherein a swiping gesture in a first direction changes the second mode to a third mode and a swiping gesture in a second direction changes the third mode to the second mode, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the input gesture comprises a tapping gesture, wherein tapping along a first edge of the outer surface of the housing of the information processing device (402) changes a first mode to a second mode, and tapping along a second edge of the outer surface of the housing of the information processing device (402) changes the second mode to the first mode, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge.The method (700) of claim 6, wherein a tap along the first edge of the outer surface of the housing of the information processing device (402) changes the second mode to a third mode and a tap along the second edge of the information processing device (402) changes the third mode to the second mode, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge.The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the input gesture changes a mode of the interactive interface from a last mode to a first mode and from a first mode to a last mode.The method (700) of claim 1, wherein the gesture detector (404) comprises a capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor is operatively coupled to one or more of an edge of the information processing device (402).The method (700) of claim 1, further comprising enabling and disabling the sensing of the input gesture, wherein the gesture detector (404) is selectively turned on or off.The method (700) of claim 10, wherein the gesture detector (404) is selectively turned on or off based on settings of the information processing device (402).The method (700) of claim 10, wherein the gesture detector (404) is selectively turned on or off by using a switch disposed on the housing of the information processing device (402).The method (700) of claim 1, further comprising defining one or more input gestures as mode change input gestures.An apparatus (104) comprising: a gesture detector (204); a processor; a display (202) operatively coupled to the processor; and a memory storing machine readable code executable by the processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing machine readable code executable by a processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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