Disambiguation of touch-based gestures

Abstract

A system, and computer program product for disambiguation of touch-based gestures are provided in the illustrative embodiments. At an application executing using a processor in a touch-sensitive device, a detection is made that the touch-based gesture does not correspond to a perimeter defining a action, wherein the touch-based gesture is made relative to the touch-sensitive device. A set of possible actions intended by the touch-based gesture is determined. Using a disambiguation rule, an action is selected from the set of possible actions, wherein the selected action matches an action computed using the disambiguation rule. The selected action is caused to occur at the touch-sensitive device.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A computer usable program product comprising a computer readable storage device including computer usable code for disambiguation of a touch-based gesture, the computer usable code comprising:
 computer usable code for computer usable code for detecting, at an application executing using a processor in a touch-sensitive device, that the touch-based gesture does not correspond to a perimeter defining a action, wherein the touch-based gesture is made relative to the touch-sensitive device;   
       computer usable code for determining a set of possible actions intended by the touch-based gesture; 
       computer usable code for selecting, using a disambiguation rule, an action from the set of possible actions, wherein the selected action matches an action computed using the disambiguation rule; and
 computer usable code for causing the selected action to occur at the touch-sensitive device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 computer usable code for recording, at a time prior to the touch-based gesture, a sequence of actions in a context related to a second context in which the touch-based gesture is made, the context and the second context comprising a set of circumstances during which the touch-based gesture is made; and   computer usable code for constructing, based on the sequence, a workflow disambiguation rule, wherein when the workflow disambiguation rule is used in the second context, the disambiguation rule identifies an action in the sequence that should occur in the second context responsive to the touch-based gesture.   
     
     
         12 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 computer usable code for recording, at each time in a plurality of times prior to the touch-based gesture, whether a particular action selected from a group of action choices available at said each time, wherein the recording occurs in a context related to a second context in which the touch-based gesture is made, and wherein the context and the second context each comprises a common set of circumstances, the common set of circumstances being applicable when the touch-based gesture is made;   computer usable code for counting a first number of instances when the first action is selected from the group of action choices;   computer usable code for counting a second number of instances when the second action is selected from the group of action choices;   
       computer usable code for assigning a first weight to the first action, wherein the first weight is proportional to the first number of instances; 
       computer usable code for assigning a second weight to the second action, wherein the second weight is proportional to the second number of instances; and
 computer usable code for constructing, based on the first weight and the second weight, a weighting disambiguation rule, wherein when the weighting disambiguation rule is used in the second context, the disambiguation rule identifies a higher weighted action from the first action and the second action as an unambiguous action that should occur in the second context responsive to the touch-based gesture. 
 
     
     
         13 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 computer usable code for manipulating the touch-based gesture to form a manipulated touch-based gesture; and   computer usable code for passing the manipulated touch-based gesture to a second application such that the manipulated touch-based gesture causes the second application to perform the selected action.   
     
     
         14 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 computer usable code for selecting the disambiguation rule from a set of disambiguation rules, wherein the disambiguation rule applies to a context in which the touch-based gesture is made, the context comprising a set of circumstances during which the touch-based gesture is made.   
     
     
         15 . The computer usable program product of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 computer usable code for determining a portion of the context where the touch-based gesture is made, wherein different disambiguation rules apply to different portions of the context, and wherein the portion of the context comprises an activity being performed on the touch-sensitive device and the touch-based gesture is intended to manipulate the activity.   
     
     
         16 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , wherein each action in the set of possible actions has a related perimeter in a set of perimeters, the set of perimeters being available on the touch-sensitive device at the time the touch-based gesture is made, and wherein a particular action in the set of possible action is intended by the touch-based gesture when the touch-based gesture corresponds with a perimeter related to the particular action. 
     
     
         17 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , wherein the touch-based gesture does not correspond to the perimeter by overlapping with the perimeter and a second perimeter simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing system. 
     
     
         19 . The computer usable program product of  claim 10 , wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium associated with the remote data processing system. 
     
     
         20 . A data processing system for disambiguation of a touch-based gesture, the data processing system comprising:
 a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and   
       a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises:
 computer usable code for computer usable code for detecting, at an application executing using a processor in a touch-sensitive device, that the touch-based gesture does not correspond to a perimeter defining a action, wherein the touch-based gesture is made relative to the touch-sensitive device; 
 
       computer usable code for determining a set of possible actions intended by the touch-based gesture; 
       computer usable code for selecting, using a disambiguation rule, an action from the set of possible actions, wherein the selected action matches an action computed using the disambiguation rule; and 
       computer usable code for causing the selected action to occur at the touch-sensitive device.