Using touchscreen by pointing means

Abstract

A method for selecting a function on a touchscreen. At least one element is displayed on the screen for providing a function. The function is arranged to be executed in response to activating the element. A cursor comprising a handle part and a pointing part is arranged to be shown on the screen. The handle part of the cursor is arranged substantially at a point on the screen indicated by a user such that the pointing part resides on the screen substantially at a different point than the indicated point. The element indicated by the pointing part is activated in response to the user selecting the element.

1 . A method comprising: 
 arranging a handle part of a cursor substantially at a point on touchscreen indicated by a user by a pointing means such that a pointing part resides on the touchscreen substantially at a different location than the point indicated, and    activating an element indicated by the pointing part in response to the user selecting the element for execution of a function.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 arranging a threshold value to be stored in a memory for a distance between a point indicated on the touchscreen and a previous location of the pointing part,    comparing the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part with the threshold value, and    activating a predetermined operation mode in response to a relation between said threshold value and the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 displaying said handle part on the touchscreen such that it does not conceal other information on the touchscreen.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying said point indicated by the user by means of a touch of the pointing means on the touchscreen, and    selecting the element indicated by the pointing part in response to releasing the touch.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the touchscreen is configured to identify the intensity of a touch, whereby    said point indicated by the user is identified in response to touching the touchscreen substantially lightly, and    the element indicated by the pointing part is selected in response to a substantially more intense touch.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying said point indicated by the user by means of the pointing means residing substantially close to the surface of the touchscreen, and    selecting the element indicated by the pointing part in response to touching the touchscreen.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 arranging a threshold value to be stored in a memory for a distance between a point indicated on the touchscreen and a previous location of the pointing part,    comparing the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part with the threshold value, and    selecting said element indicated by the pointing part in response to the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part being shorter than said threshold value, or    scrolling the touchscreen in response to the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part being longer than said threshold value.    
   
   
       8 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a handle part of a cursor configured to be adjusted substantially at a point on a touchscreen indicated by a user by a pointing means such that said pointing part resides on the touchscreen substantially at a different location than the indicated point; and    an element indicated by the pointing part for activation in response to the user selecting the element.    
   
   
       9 . The electronic device according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 the device is configured to store in a memory a threshold value for a distance between a point indicated on the touchscreen and a previous location of the pointing part,    the device is configured to compare the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part with the threshold value, and    a predetermined operation mode is activated in response to a relation between said threshold value and the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part.    
   
   
       10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 said handle part is configured for display on the touchscreen such that it does not conceal other information on the touchscreen.    
   
   
       11 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the device is configured to identify said point indicated by the user by means of a touch of the pointing means on the touchscreen, and    the device is configured to select the element in response to releasing the touch.    
   
   
       12 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the touchscreen is configured to identify the intensity of a touch, whereby    the device is configured to identify said point indicated by the user in response to touching the touchscreen substantially lightly, and    the device is configured to select the element in response to a substantially more intense touch.    
   
   
       13 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the device is configured to identify said point indicated by the user by the pointing means residing substantially close to the surface of the touchscreen, and    the device is configured to select the element in response to touching the touchscreen.    
   
   
       14 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the device is configured to store in a memory a threshold value for a distance between a point indicated on the touchscreen and a previous location of the pointing part, and    the device is configured to compare the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part with the threshold value, and    the device is configured to select the element indicated by the pointing part in response to the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part being shorter than said threshold value, or    the device is configured to scroll the touchscreen in response to the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part being longer than said threshold value.    
   
   
       15 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the handle part and the pointing part are substantially separate parts.    
   
   
       16 . Device comprising: 
 means for arranging a handle part of a cursor substantially at a point on a touchscreen indicated by a user by a pointing means such that a pointing part resides on the touchscreen substantially at a different location than the point indicated, and    means for activating an element indicated by the pointing part in response to the user selecting the element for execution of a function.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for arranging a threshold value to be stored in a memory for a distance between a point indicated on the touchscreen and a previous location of the pointing part,    means for comparing the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part with the threshold value, and    means for activating a predetermined operation mode in response to a relation between said threshold value and the distance between the point indicated on the touchscreen and the previous location of the pointing part.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for displaying said handle part on the touchscreen such that it does not conceal other information on the touchscreen.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for identifying said point indicated by the user by means of a touch of the pointing means on the touchscreen, and    means for selecting the element indicated by the pointing part in response to releasing a touch.