U.S. patent application number 12/890499 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-13 for device, method, and graphical user interface for navigation of multiple applications.
Invention is credited to Freddy Allen Anzures, Alessandro Francesco Sabatelli.
Application Number | 20110252364 12/890499 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44761841 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110252364 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anzures; Freddy Allen ; et
al. |
October 13, 2011 |
Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigation of
Multiple Applications
Abstract
A method a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display
includes: detecting a first user input on a first application icon
on the display; in response to detecting the first user input:
activating and displaying a first application associated with the
first application icon in a first region of the display and
displaying a partial view of a second application in a second
region of the display without activating the second application;
detecting a second user input on the partial view of the second
application on the display; in response to detecting the second
user input: suspending the first application and activating a full
view of the second application on the display; detecting a third
user input to deactivate the second application; and, in response
to detecting the third user input: deactivating the second
application and resuming the first application on the display.
Inventors: |
Anzures; Freddy Allen; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Sabatelli; Alessandro Francesco;
(San Francisco, CA) |
Family ID: |
44761841 |
Appl. No.: |
12/890499 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61321864 |
Apr 7, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/790 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 9/451 20180201;
G06F 3/04883 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/790 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: at a computing device with a
touch-sensitive display: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the second
application; detecting a second user input on the partial view of
the second application on the display; and, in response to
detecting the second user input: displaying a full view of the
second application at the predefined scale; and activating the
second application.
2. The method of claim 1, including loading the second application
on the computing device prior to detecting the second input.
3. The method of claim 1, including loading content associated with
the second application on the computing device prior to detecting
the second input.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to detection of the
second user input includes displaying the full view of the second
application as an overlay on the first application.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to detection of the
second user input includes ceasing to display the first
application.
6. A portable multifunction device, comprising: a touch-sensitive
display; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs,
wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and
configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or
more programs including instructions for: detecting a first user
input on a first application icon on the display; in response to
detecting the first user input, activating and displaying a first
application associated with the first application icon in a first
region of the display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a
second application in a second region of the display, distinct from
the first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the
second application; detecting a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display; and, in response to
detecting the second user input: displaying a full view of the
second application at the predefined scale; and activating the
second application.
7. A graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device
with a touch-sensitive display, memory, and one or more processors
to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical
user interface comprising: a first application associated with a
first application icon; a partial view of a second application; and
a full view of the second application; wherein: a first user input
on the first application icon on the display is detected; in
response to detecting the first user input, the first application
associated with the first application icon is activated and
displayed in a first region of the display; the partial view of a
second application is concurrently displayed in a second region of
the display, distinct from the first region, at a predefined scale,
without activating the second application; a second user input on
the partial view of the second application on the display is
detected; and, in response to detecting the second user input: the
full view of the second application on the display is displayed at
the predefined scale; and the second application is activated.
8. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs,
the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when
executed by a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive
display, cause the device to: detect a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activate and display a first application associated
with the first application icon in a first region of the display;
concurrently display a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region, at a
predefined scale, without activating the second application; detect
a second user input on the partial view of the second application
on the display; and, in response to detecting the second user
input: display a full view of the second application at the
predefined scale; and activate the second application.
9. A portable multifunction device, comprising: a touch-sensitive
display; means for detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, means for activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; means for concurrently displaying a partial view of a
second application in a second region of the display, distinct from
the first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the
second application; means for detecting a second user input on the
partial view of the second application on the display; and in
response to detecting the second user input: means for displaying a
full view of the second application at the predefined scale; and
means for activating the second application.
10. An information processing apparatus for use in a portable
multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, comprising:
means for detecting a first user input on a first application icon
on the display; in response to detecting the first user input,
means for activating and displaying a first application associated
with the first application icon in a first region of the display;
means for concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the second
application; means for detecting a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display; and, in response to
detecting the second user input: means for displaying a full view
of the second application at the predefined scale; and means for
activating the second application.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/321,864, filed Apr. 7, 2010, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] This application is related to the following: (1) U.S.
application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled "Device,
Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigation of Multiple
Applications," (Attorney Docket No. P9182US1/63266-5269US); (2)
U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled "Device,
Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigation of Multiple
Applications," (Attorney Docket No. P9182US2/63266-5320US); and (3)
U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled "Device,
Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigation of Multiple
Applications," (Attorney Docket No. P9182US3/63266-5321US), which
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The disclosed embodiments relate generally to electronic
devices with touch-sensitive surfaces, including but not limited to
electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces that enable user
navigation of multiple applications.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for
computers and other electronic computing devices has increased
significantly in recent years. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces
include touch pads and touch screen displays. Such surfaces are
widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display so as
to activate/deactivate applications associated with different user
interface objects.
[0005] But users often find it cumbersome and inefficient when
navigating back and forth between applications using existing
methods of manipulating different user interface objects. For
example, existing methods do not provide a simple, intuitive way
for a user to deactivate or suspend a new application and resume a
previous application from which the new application was launched.
As a result, existing methods create a significant cognitive burden
on a user and reduce the user's willingness to invoke new
applications. In addition, existing methods take longer than
necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is
particularly important in battery-operated devices.
SUMMARY
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for computing devices with
faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for a user to
efficiently navigate back and forth between multiple applications.
Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional
application navigation methods. Such methods and interfaces reduce
the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient
human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices,
such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time
between battery charges.
[0007] The above deficiencies and other problems associated with
user interfaces for computing devices with touch-sensitive surfaces
are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some
embodiments, the device is a desktop computer. In some embodiments,
the device is portable (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer,
or handheld device). In some embodiments, the device has a
touchpad. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive
display (also known as a "touch screen" or "touch screen display").
In some embodiments, the device has a graphical user interface
(GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules,
programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for
performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user
interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and
gestures on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the
functions may include image editing, drawing, presenting, word
processing, website creating, disk authoring, spreadsheet making,
game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant
messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital
videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video
playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions may
be included in a computer readable storage medium or other computer
program product configured for execution by one or more
processors.
[0008] In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed
at a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface. In some embodiments, the display and the touch-sensitive
surface are combined together into a touch-sensitive display. The
method includes: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, without activating the second application; detecting
a second user input on the partial view of the second application
on the display; in response to detecting the second user input:
suspending the first application and activating a full view of the
second application on the display; detecting a third user input to
deactivate the second application; and in response to detecting the
third user input: deactivating the second application and resuming
the first application on the display.
[0009] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more
processors, memory, and one or more programs. The one or more
programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by
the one or more processors. The one or more programs include
instructions for: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, without activating the second application; detecting
a second user input on the partial view of the second application
on the display; in response to detecting the second user input:
suspending the first application and activating a full view of the
second application on the display; detecting a third user input to
deactivate the second application; and in response to detecting the
third user input: deactivating the second application and resuming
the first application on the display.
[0010] In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable
storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed
by a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface, cause the device to: detect a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activate and display a first application associated
with the first application icon in a first region of the display;
concurrently display a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region,
without activating the second application; detect a second user
input on the partial view of the second application on the display;
in response to detecting the second user input: suspend the first
application and activate a full view of the second application on
the display; detect a third user input to deactivate the second
application; and, in response to detecting the third user input:
deactivate the second application and resume the first application
on the display.
[0011] In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user
interface on a multifunction device with a display, a
touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to
execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes a first
application associated with a first application icon; a partial
view of a second application; and a full view of the second
application. In response to detecting a first user input on the
first application icon on the display, a first application
associated with the first application icon is activated and
displayed in a first region of the display; a partial view of a
second application is concurrently displayed in a second region of
the display, distinct from the first region, without activating the
second application. In response to detecting a second user input on
the partial view of the second application on the display: the
first application is suspended; and a full view of the second
application on the display is activated. In response to detecting a
third user input to deactivate the second application: the second
application is deactivated; and the first application is resumed on
the display.
[0012] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region,
without activating the second application; means for detecting a
second user input on the partial view of the second application on
the display; in response to detecting the second user input: means
for suspending the first application and means for activating a
full view of the second application on the display; means for
detecting a third user input to deactivate the second application;
and, in response to detecting the third user input: means for
deactivating the second application and means for resuming the
first application on the display.
[0013] In accordance with some embodiments, an information
processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a
display and a touch-sensitive surface includes: means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region,
without activating the second application; means for detecting a
second user input on the partial view of the second application on
the display; in response to detecting the second user input: means
for suspending the first application and means for activating a
full view of the second application on the display; means for
detecting a third user input to deactivate the second application;
and, in response to detecting the third user input: means for
deactivating the second application and resuming the first
application on the display.
[0014] In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed
at a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface. In some embodiments, the display and the touch-sensitive
surface are combined together into a touch-sensitive display. The
method includes: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display without activating
the second application; detecting a second user input on the
partial view of the second application on the display; in response
to detecting the second user input: suspending the first
application and activating a full view of the second application on
the display; detecting a third user input on a respective icon in
the second application; in response to detecting the third user
input on the respective icon in the second application, activating
a third application on the display; detecting a fourth user input
to deactivate the third application; and, in response to detecting
the fourth user input: deactivating the third application and
resuming the first application on the display.
[0015] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more
processors, memory, and one or more programs. The one or more
programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by
the one or more processors. The one or more programs include
instructions for: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display without activating
the second application; detecting a second user input on the
partial view of the second application on the display; in response
to detecting the second user input: suspending the first
application and activating a full view of the second application on
the display; detecting a third user input on a respective icon in
the second application; in response to detecting the third user
input on the respective icon in the second application, activating
a third application on the display; detecting a fourth user input
to deactivate the third application; and in response to detecting
the fourth user input: deactivating the third application and
resuming the first application on the display.
[0016] In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable
storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed
by a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface, cause the device to: detect a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activate and display a first application associated
with the first application icon in a first region of the display;
concurrently display a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display without activating the second
application; detect a second user input on the partial view of the
second application on the display; in response to detecting the
second user input: suspend the first application and activate a
full view of the second application on the display; detect a third
user input on a respective icon in the second application; in
response to detecting the third user input on the respective icon
in the second application, activate a third application on the
display; detect a fourth user input to deactivate the third
application; and, in response to detecting the fourth user input:
deactivate the third application and resume the first application
on the display.
[0017] In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user
interface on a multifunction device with a display, a
touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to
execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes a first
application associated with a first application icon; a partial
view of a second application; and a full view of the second
application. In response to detecting a first user input on the
first application icon on the display, a first application
associated with the first application icon is activated and
displayed in a first region of the display; a partial view of a
second application is concurrently displayed in a second region of
the display without activating the second application. In response
to detecting a second user input on the partial view of the second
application on the display: the first application is suspended; and
a full view of the second application is activated on the display.
In response to detecting a third user input on a respective icon in
the second application, a third application is activated on the
display. In response to detecting a fourth user input to deactivate
the third application, the third application is deactivated on the
display and the first application is resumed on the display.
[0018] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display without activating the second
application; means for detecting a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display; in response to
detecting the second user input: means for suspending the first
application and activating a full view of the second application on
the display; means for detecting a third user input on a respective
icon in the second application; in response to detecting the third
user input on the respective icon in the second application, means
for activating a third application on the display; means for
detecting a fourth user input to deactivate the third application;
and, in response to detecting the fourth user input: means for
deactivating the third application and means for resuming the first
application on the display.
[0019] In accordance with some embodiments, an information
processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a
display and a touch-sensitive surface includes: means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display without activating the second
application; means for detecting a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display; in response to
detecting the second user input: means for suspending the first
application and activating a full view of the second application on
the display; means for detecting a third user input on a respective
icon in the second application; in response to detecting the third
user input on the respective icon in the second application, means
for activating a third application on the display; means for
detecting a fourth user input to deactivate the third application;
and, in response to detecting the fourth user input: means for
deactivating the third application and means for resuming the first
application on the display.
[0020] In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed
at a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface. In some embodiments, the display and the touch-sensitive
surface are combined together into a touch-sensitive display. The
method includes: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the second
application; detecting a second user input on the partial view of
the second application on the display; and, in response to
detecting the second user input: displaying a full view of the
second application at the predefined scale and activating the
second application.
[0021] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more
processors, memory, and one or more programs. The one or more
programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by
the one or more processors. The one or more programs include
instructions for: detecting a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activating and displaying a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display; concurrently displaying a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display, distinct from the
first region, at a predefined scale, without activating the second
application; detecting a second user input on the partial view of
the second application on the display; and, in response to
detecting the second user input: displaying a full view of the
second application at the predefined scale and activating the
second application.
[0022] In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable
storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed
by a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface, cause the device to: detect a first user input on a first
application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first
user input, activate and display a first application associated
with the first application icon in a first region of the display;
concurrently display a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region, at a
predefined scale, without activating the second application; detect
a second user input on the partial view of the second application
on the display; and, in response to detecting the second user
input: display a full view of the second application at the
predefined scale and activate the second application.
[0023] In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user
interface on a multifunction device with a display, a
touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to
execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes a first
application associated with a first application icon; a partial
view of a second application; and a full view of the second
application. In response to detecting a first user input on the
first application icon on the display, a first application
associated with the first application icon is activated and
displayed in a first region of the display. A partial view of a
second application is concurrently displayed in a second region of
the display, distinct from the first region, at a predefined scale,
without activating the second application. In response to detecting
a second user input on the partial view of the second application
on the display: a full view of the second application is activated
and displayed at the predefined scale.
[0024] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region, at a
predefined scale, without activating the second application; means
for detecting a second user input on the partial view of the second
application on the display; and, in response to detecting the
second user input, means for displaying a full view of the second
application at the predefined scale and means for activating the
second application.
[0025] In accordance with some embodiments, an information
processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a
display and a touch-sensitive surface includes: means for detecting
a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in
response to detecting the first user input, means for activating
and displaying a first application associated with the first
application icon in a first region of the display; means for
concurrently displaying a partial view of a second application in a
second region of the display, distinct from the first region, at a
predefined scale, without activating the second application; means
for detecting a second user input on the partial view of the second
application on the display; and, in response to detecting the
second user input, means for displaying a full view of the second
application at the predefined scale and means for activating the
second application.
[0026] In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed
at a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface. In some embodiments, the display and the touch-sensitive
surface are combined together into a touch-sensitive display. The
method includes: displaying a first view in a first application on
the display, the first view including a first user selectable
object that is associated with a second view in the first
application; detecting a first user input on the first user
selectable object; in response to detecting the first user input,
animatedly replacing display of the first view with display of a
view that includes a second user selectable object at a first
predefined scale, the second user selectable object being
associated with a second application distinct from the first
application; detecting a second user input on the second user
selectable object; in response to detecting the second user input:
animatedly enlarging the second user selectable object from the
first predefined scale to a second predefined scale, activating the
second application, and displaying a deactivation icon on the
display; detecting a third user input on the deactivation icon;
and, in response to detecting the third user input: deactivating
the second application and displaying the second view in the first
application.
[0027] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more
processors, memory, and one or more programs. The one or more
programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by
the one or more processors. The one or more programs include
instructions for: displaying a first view in a first application on
the display, the first view including a first user selectable
object that is associated with a second view in the first
application; detecting a first user input on the first user
selectable object; in response to detecting the first user input,
animatedly replacing display of the first view with display of a
view that includes a second user selectable object at a first
predefined scale, the second user selectable object being
associated with a second application distinct from the first
application; detecting a second user input on the second user
selectable object; in response to detecting the second user input:
animatedly enlarging the second user selectable object from the
first predefined scale to a second predefined scale, activating the
second application, and displaying a deactivation icon on the
display; detecting a third user input on the deactivation icon;
and, in response to detecting the third user input: deactivating
the second application and displaying the second view in the first
application.
[0028] In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable
storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed
by a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface, cause the device to: display a first view in a first
application on the display, the first view including a first user
selectable object that is associated with a second view in the
first application; detect a first user input on the first user
selectable object; in response to detecting the first user input,
animatedly replace display of the first view with display of a view
that includes a second user selectable object at a first predefined
scale, the second user selectable object being associated with a
second application distinct from the first application; detect a
second user input on the second user selectable object; in response
to detecting the second user input: animatedly enlarge the second
user selectable object from the first predefined scale to a second
predefined scale, activate the second application, and display a
deactivation icon on the display; detect a third user input on the
deactivation icon; and, in response to detecting the third user
input: deactivate the second application and display the second
view in the first application.
[0029] In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user
interface on a multifunction device with a display, a
touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to
execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes a first
view in a first application on the display, the first view
including a first user selectable object that is associated with a
second view in the first application. In response to detecting a
first user input on the first user selectable object, the display
of the first view is animatedly replaced with display of a view
that includes a second user selectable object at a first predefined
scale, the second user selectable object being associated with a
second application distinct from the first application. In response
to detecting a second user input on the second user selectable
object, the second user selectable object is animatedly enlarged
from the first predefined scale to a second predefined scale, the
second application is activated and a deactivation icon is
displayed on the display. In response to detecting a third user
input on the deactivation icon, the second application is
deactivated and the second view is displayed in the first
application.
[0030] In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device
includes: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; means for
displaying a first view in a first application on the display, the
first view including a first user selectable object that is
associated with a second view in the first application; means for
detecting a first user input on the first user selectable object;
in response to detecting the first user input, means for animatedly
replacing display of the first view with display of a view that
includes a second user selectable object at a first predefined
scale, the second user selectable object being associated with a
second application distinct from the first application; means for
detecting a second user input on the second user selectable object;
in response to detecting the second user input: means for
animatedly enlarging the second user selectable object from the
first predefined scale to a second predefined scale, means for
activating the second application, and means for displaying a
deactivation icon on the display; means for detecting a third user
input on the deactivation icon; and, in response to detecting the
third user input: means for deactivating the second application and
means for displaying the second view in the first application.
[0031] In accordance with some embodiments, an information
processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a
display and a touch-sensitive surface includes: means for
displaying a first view in a first application on the display, the
first view including a first user selectable object that is
associated with a second view in the first application; means for
detecting a first user input on the first user selectable object;
in response to detecting the first user input, means for animatedly
replacing display of the first view with display of a view that
includes a second user selectable object at a first predefined
scale, the second user selectable object being associated with a
second application distinct from the first application; means for
detecting a second user input on the second user selectable object;
in response to detecting the second user input: means for
animatedly enlarging the second user selectable object from the
first predefined scale to a second predefined scale, means for
activating the second application, and means for displaying a
deactivation icon on the display; means for detecting a third user
input on the deactivation icon; and, in response to detecting the
third user input: means for deactivating the second application and
means for displaying the second view in the first application.
[0032] Thus, multifunction devices with displays and
touch-sensitive surfaces are provided with faster, more efficient
methods and interfaces for navigating between multiple
applications, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and
user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces
may complement or replace conventional application navigation
methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments
of the invention as well as additional embodiments thereof,
reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below,
in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference
numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating portable
multifunction devices with touch-sensitive displays in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0035] FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components
for event handling in accordance with some embodiments.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a
touch screen in accordance with some embodiments.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction
device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0038] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a
menu of applications on a portable multifunction device in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0039] FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary user interface for a
multifunction device with a touch-sensitive surface that is
separate from the display in accordance with some embodiments.
[0040] FIGS. 5A-5M illustrate exemplary user interfaces for
navigating between multiple applications in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0041] FIGS. 6A-6C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of
navigating between applications in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0042] FIGS. 7A-7B are flow diagrams illustrating a method of
navigating between applications in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of navigating
between applications in accordance with some embodiments.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of navigating
between applications in accordance with some embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In
the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not
been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects
of the embodiments.
[0046] It will also be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first
contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second
contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the
scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second
contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
[0047] The terminology used in the description of the invention
herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only
and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the
description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular
forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will
also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to
and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the
terms "includes," "including," "comprises," and/or "comprising,"
when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0048] As used herein, the term "if" may be construed to mean
"when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to
detecting," depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if it
is determined" or "if [a stated condition or event] is detected"
may be construed to mean "upon determining" or "in response to
determining" or "upon detecting [the stated condition or event]" or
"in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],"
depending on the context.
[0049] As used herein, the term "resolution" of a display refers to
the number of pixels (also called "pixel counts" or "pixel
resolution") along each axis or in each dimension of the display.
For example, a display may have a resolution of 320.times.480
pixels. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "resolution" of a
multifunction device refers to the resolution of a display in the
multifunction device. The term "resolution" does not imply any
limitations on the size of each pixel or the spacing of pixels. For
example, compared to a first display with a 1024.times.768-pixel
resolution, a second display with a 320.times.480-pixel resolution
has a lower resolution. However, it should be noted that the
physical size of a display depends not only on the pixel
resolution, but also on many other factors, including the pixel
size and the spacing of pixels. Therefore, the first display may
have the same, smaller, or larger physical size, compared to the
second display.
[0050] As used herein, the term "video resolution" of a display
refers to the density of pixels along each axis or in each
dimension of the display. The video resolution is often measured in
a dots-per-inch (DPI) unit, which counts the number of pixels that
can be placed in a line within the span of one inch along a
respective dimension of the display.
[0051] Embodiments of computing devices, user interfaces for such
devices, and associated processes for using such devices are
described. In some embodiments, the computing device is a portable
communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also
contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player
functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices
include, without limitation, the iPhone.RTM. and iPod Touch.RTM.
devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable
devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive
surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), may also
be used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments,
the device is not a portable communications device, but is a
desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch
screen display and/or a touch pad).
[0052] In the discussion that follows, a computing device that
includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It
should be understood, however, that the computing device may
include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as
a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.
[0053] The device supports a variety of applications, such as one
or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentation
application, a word processing application, a website creation
application, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet
application, a gaming application, a telephone application, a video
conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant
messaging application, a workout support application, a photo
management application, a digital camera application, a digital
video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital
music player application, and/or a digital video player
application.
[0054] The various applications that may be executed on the device
may use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as
the touch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the
touch-sensitive surface as well as corresponding information
displayed on the device may be adjusted and/or varied from one
application to the next and/or within a respective application. In
this way, a common physical architecture (such as the
touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support the variety of
applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and
transparent to the user.
[0055] The user interfaces may include one or more soft keyboard
embodiments. The soft keyboard embodiments may include standard
(QWERTY) and/or non-standard configurations of symbols on the
displayed icons of the keyboard, such as those described in U.S.
patent application Ser. Nos. 11/459,606, "Keyboards For Portable
Electronic Devices," filed Jul. 24, 2006, and 11/459,615, "Touch
Screen Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices," filed Jul. 24,
2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entireties. The keyboard embodiments may include a reduced
number of icons (or soft keys) relative to the number of keys in
existing physical keyboards, such as that for a typewriter. This
may make it easier for users to select one or more icons in the
keyboard, and thus, one or more corresponding symbols. The keyboard
embodiments may be adaptive. For example, displayed icons may be
modified in accordance with user actions, such as selecting one or
more icons and/or one or more corresponding symbols. One or more
applications on the device may utilize common and/or different
keyboard embodiments. Thus, the keyboard embodiment used may be
tailored to at least some of the applications. In some embodiments,
one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective
user. For example, one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored
to a respective user based on a word usage history (lexicography,
slang, individual usage) of the respective user. Some of the
keyboard embodiments may be adjusted to reduce a probability of a
user error when selecting one or more icons, and thus one or more
symbols, when using the soft keyboard embodiments.
[0056] Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable
devices with touch-sensitive displays. FIGS. 1A and 1B are block
diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices 100 with
touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with some embodiments.
Touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a "touch screen"
for convenience, and may also be known as or called a
touch-sensitive display system. Device 100 may include memory 102
(which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums),
memory controller 122, one or more processing units (CPU's) 120,
peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110,
speaker 111, microphone 113, input/output (I/O) subsystem 106,
other input or control devices 116, and external port 124. Device
100 may include one or more optical sensors 164. These components
may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal
lines 103.
[0057] It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example
of a portable multifunction device, and that device 100 may have
more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more
components, or may have a different configuration or arrangement of
the components. The various components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may
be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both
hardware and software, including one or more signal processing
and/or application specific integrated circuits.
[0058] Memory 102 may include high-speed random access memory and
may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic
disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile
solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 102 by other
components of device 100, such as CPU 120 and the peripherals
interface 118, may be controlled by memory controller 122.
[0059] Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and
output peripherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one
or more processors 120 run or execute various software programs
and/or sets of instructions stored in memory 102 to perform various
functions for device 100 and to process data.
[0060] In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and
memory controller 122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as
chip 104. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on
separate chips.
[0061] RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF
signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108
converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and
communicates with communications networks and other communications
devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 may
include well-known circuitry for performing these functions,
including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver,
one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital
signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module
(SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry 108 may communicate
with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World
Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a
cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN)
and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by
wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any of a
plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies,
including but not limited to Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE),
high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), wideband code division
multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA),
time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity
(Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11 g and/or
IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a
protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP)
and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g.,
extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session
Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging
Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service
(IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable
communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet
developed as of the filing date of this document.
[0062] Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide
an audio interface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry
110 receives audio data from peripherals interface 118, converts
the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the
electrical signal to speaker 111. Speaker 111 converts the
electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry 110
also receives electrical signals converted by microphone 113 from
sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal to
audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface
118 for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or
transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108 by peripherals
interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110 also
includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jack
provides an interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable
audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a
headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears)
and input (e.g., a microphone).
[0063] I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device
100, such as touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116,
to peripherals interface 118. I/O subsystem 106 may include display
controller 156 and one or more input controllers 160 for other
input or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160
receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control
devices 116. The other input control devices 116 may include
physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials,
slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some
alternate embodiments, input controller(s) 160 may be coupled to
any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB
port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons
(e.g., 208, FIG. 2) may include an up/down button for volume
control of speaker 111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more
buttons may include a push button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2). A quick
press of the push button may disengage a lock of touch screen 112
or begin a process that uses gestures on the touch screen to unlock
the device, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/322,549, "Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock
Image," filed Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. A longer press of the push button (e.g.,
206) may turn power to device 100 on or off. The user may be able
to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. Touch
screen 112 is used to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or
more soft keyboards.
[0064] Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and
an output interface between the device and a user. Display
controller 156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to
touch screen 112. Touch screen 112 displays visual output to the
user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video,
and any combination thereof (collectively termed "graphics"). In
some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond
to user-interface objects.
[0065] Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or
set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic
and/or tactile contact. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156
(along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in
memory 102) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the
contact) on touch screen 112 and converts the detected contact into
interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft
keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch
screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between
touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a finger of the
user.
[0066] Touch screen 112 may use LCD (liquid crystal display)
technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED
(light emitting diode) technology, although other display
technologies may be used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and
display controller 156 may detect contact and any movement or
breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing
technologies now known or later developed, including but not
limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic
wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or
other elements for determining one or more points of contact with
touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual
capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the
iPhone.RTM. and iPod Touch.RTM. from Apple Inc. of Cupertino,
Calif.
[0067] A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch
screen 112 may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive touchpads
described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,323,846 (Westerman et
al.), 6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or 6,677,932 (Westerman),
and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each of which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, touch
screen 112 displays visual output from portable device 100, whereas
touch sensitive touchpads do not provide visual output.
[0068] A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch
screen 112 may be as described in the following applications: (1)
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,313, "Multipoint Touch
Surface Controller," filed May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/840,862, "Multipoint Touchscreen," filed May 6, 2004;
(3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, "Gestures For
Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jul. 30, 2004; (4) U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264, "Gestures For Touch
Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/038,590, "Mode-Based Graphical User
Interfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jan. 18, 2005;
(6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,758, "Virtual Input
Device Placement On A Touch Screen User Interface," filed Sep. 16,
2005; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,700, "Operation
Of A Computer With A Touch Screen Interface," filed Sep. 16, 2005;
(8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,737, "Activating
Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen Virtual Keyboard," filed Sep. 16,
2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749,
"Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device," filed Mar. 3, 2006. All of
these applications are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
[0069] Touch screen 112 may have a video resolution in excess of
100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video
resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with
touch screen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a
stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user
interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts
and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due
to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In
some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based
input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for
performing the actions desired by the user.
[0070] In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device
100 may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or
deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the
touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the
touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a
touch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or
an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch
screen.
[0071] In some embodiments, device 100 may include a physical or
virtual wheel (e.g., a click wheel) as input control device 116. A
user may navigate among and interact with one or more graphical
objects (e.g., icons) displayed in touch screen 112 by rotating the
click wheel or by moving a point of contact with the click wheel
(e.g., where the amount of movement of the point of contact is
measured by its angular displacement with respect to a center point
of the click wheel). The click wheel may also be used to select one
or more of the displayed icons. For example, the user may press
down on at least a portion of the click wheel or an associated
button. User commands and navigation commands provided by the user
via the click wheel may be processed by input controller 160 as
well as one or more of the modules and/or sets of instructions in
memory 102. For a virtual click wheel, the click wheel and click
wheel controller may be part of touch screen 112 and display
controller 156, respectively. For a virtual click wheel, the click
wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object that
appears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to
user interaction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual
click wheel is displayed on the touch screen of a portable
multifunction device and operated by user contact with the touch
screen.
[0072] Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the
various components. Power system 162 may include a power management
system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating
current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection
circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator
(e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components
associated with the generation, management and distribution of
power in portable devices.
[0073] Device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor
controller 158 in I/O subsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 may include
charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives
light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and
converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction
with imaging module 143 (also called a camera module), optical
sensor 164 may capture still images or video. In some embodiments,
an optical sensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite
touch screen display 112 on the front of the device, so that the
touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder for still and/or
video image acquisition. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is
located on the front of the device so that the user's image may be
obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video
conference participants on the touch screen display. In some
embodiments, the position of optical sensor 164 can be changed by
the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device
housing) so that a single optical sensor 164 may be used along with
the touch screen display for both video conferencing and still
and/or video image acquisition.
[0074] Device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors
166. FIGS. 1A and 1B show proximity sensor 166 coupled to
peripherals interface 118. Alternately, proximity sensor 166 may be
coupled to input controller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. Proximity
sensor 166 may perform as described in U.S. patent application Ser.
Nos. 11/241,839, "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device";
11/240,788, "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device"; 11/620,702,
"Using Ambient Light Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output";
11/586,862, "Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In
Portable Devices"; and 11/638,251, "Methods And Systems For
Automatic Configuration Of Peripherals," which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments,
the proximity sensor turns off and disables touch screen 112 when
the multifunction device is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when
the user is making a phone call).
[0075] Device 100 may also include one or more accelerometers 168.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show accelerometer 168 coupled to peripherals
interface 118. Alternately, accelerometer 168 may be coupled to an
input controller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. Accelerometer 168 may
perform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059,
"Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable Electronic
Devices," and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, "Methods And
Apparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An
Accelerometer," both of which are which are incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety. In some embodiments,
information is displayed on the touch screen display in a portrait
view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from
the one or more accelerometers. Device 100 optionally includes, in
addition to accelerometer(s) 168, a magnetometer (not shown) and a
GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigation system) receiver (not
shown) for obtaining information concerning the location and
orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 100.
[0076] In some embodiments, the software components stored in
memory 102 include operating system 126, communication module (or
set of instructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of
instructions) 130, graphics module (or set of instructions) 132,
text input module (or set of instructions) 134, Global Positioning
System (GPS) module (or set of instructions) 135, and applications
(or sets of instructions) 136. Furthermore, in some embodiments
memory 102 stores device/global internal state 157, as shown in
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3. Device/global internal state 157 includes one
or more of: active application state, indicating which
applications, if any, are currently active; display state,
indicating what applications, views or other information occupy
various regions of touch screen display 112; sensor state,
including information obtained from the device's various sensors
and input control devices 116; and location information concerning
the device's location and/or attitude.
[0077] Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X,
WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes
various software components and/or drivers for controlling and
managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage
device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates
communication between various hardware and software components.
[0078] Communication module 128 facilitates communication with
other devices over one or more external ports 124 and also includes
various software components for handling data received by RF
circuitry 108 and/or external port 124. External port 124 (e.g.,
Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling
directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the
Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external
port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as,
or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on
iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.
[0079] Contact/motion module 130 may detect contact with touch
screen 112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and other
touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel).
Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components for
performing various operations related to detection of contact, such
as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a
finger-down event), determining if there is movement of the contact
and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,
detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if
the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a
break in contact). Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data
from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point
of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, may
include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and
direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or
direction) of the point of contact. These operations may be applied
to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple
simultaneous contacts (e.g., "multitouch"/multiple finger
contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 and
display controller 156 detects contact on a touchpad. In some
embodiments, contact/motion module 130 and controller 160 detects
contact on a click wheel.
[0080] Contact/motion module 130 may detect a gesture input by a
user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have
different contact patterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by
detecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a
finger tap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed
by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or
substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at
the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger
swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a
finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging
events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift
off) event.
[0081] Graphics module 132 includes various known software
components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen
112 or other display, including components for changing the
intensity of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term
"graphics" includes any object that can be displayed to a user,
including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as
user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images,
videos, animations and the like.
[0082] In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data
representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a
corresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applications
etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along
with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property
data, and then generates screen image data to output to display
controller 156.
[0083] Text input module 134, which may be a component of graphics
module 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various
applications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147,
and any other application that needs text input).
[0084] GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and
provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to
telephone 138 for use in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as
picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide
location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page
widgets, and map/navigation widgets).
[0085] Applications 136 may include the following modules (or sets
of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof: [0086] contacts
module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact list);
[0087] telephone module 138; [0088] video conferencing module 139;
[0089] e-mail client module 140; [0090] instant messaging (IM)
module 141; [0091] workout support module 142; [0092] camera module
143 for still and/or video images; [0093] image management module
144; [0094] video player module 145; [0095] music player module
146; [0096] browser module 147; [0097] calendar module 148; [0098]
widget modules 149, which may include one or more of: weather
widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm
clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and other widgets
obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets 149-6; [0099]
widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;
[0100] search module 151; [0101] video and music player module 152,
which merges video player module 145 and music player module 146;
[0102] notes module 153; [0103] map module 154; and/or [0104]
online video module 155.
[0105] Examples of other applications 136 that may be stored in
memory 102 include other word processing applications, other image
editing applications, drawing applications, presentation
applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights
management, voice recognition, and voice replication.
[0106] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller
156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module
134, contacts module 137 may be used to manage an address book or
contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 of
contacts module 137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: adding
name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address
book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical
address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image
with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone
numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate
communications by telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail 140,
or IM 141; and so forth.
[0107] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110,
speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller
156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module
134, telephone module 138 may be used to enter a sequence of
characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more
telephone numbers in address book 137, modify a telephone number
that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct
a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is
completed. As noted above, the wireless communication may use any
of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and
technologies.
[0108] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110,
speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller
156, optical sensor 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact
module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, contact
list 137, and telephone module 138, videoconferencing module 139
includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and
terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other
participants in accordance with user instructions.
[0109] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132,
and text input module 134, e-mail client module 140 includes
executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail
in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image
management module 144, e-mail client module 140 makes it very easy
to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with
camera module 143.
[0110] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132,
and text input module 134, the instant messaging module 141
includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters
corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered
characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example,
using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service
(MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP,
SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive
instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some
embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may
include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other
attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging
Service (EMS). As used herein, "instant messaging" refers to both
telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and
Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or
IMPS).
[0111] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132,
text input module 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music
player module 146, workout support module 142 includes executable
instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or
calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports
devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to
monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and
display, store and transmit workout data.
[0112] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller
156, optical sensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact
module 130, graphics module 132, and image management module 144,
camera module 143 includes executable instructions to capture still
images or video (including a video stream) and store them into
memory 102, modify characteristics of a still image or video, or
delete a still image or video from memory 102.
[0113] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller
156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module
134, and camera module 143, image management module 144 includes
executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or
otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital
slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.
[0114] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller
156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110,
and speaker 111, video player module 145 includes executable
instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos
(e.g., on touch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via
external port 124).
[0115] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system
controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio
circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module
147, music player module 146 includes executable instructions that
allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other
sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC
files. In some embodiments, device 100 may include the
functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple
Inc.).
[0116] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module
132, and text input module 134, browser module 147 includes
executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with
user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and
displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments
and other files linked to web pages.
[0117] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module
132, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser
module 147, calendar module 148 includes executable instructions to
create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated
with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in
accordance with user instructions.
[0118] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module
132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, widget modules
149 are mini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user
(e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget
149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or
created by the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some
embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file.
In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup
Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).
[0119] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module
132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, the widget
creator module 150 may be used by a user to create widgets (e.g.,
turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget).
[0120] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system
controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text
input module 134, search module 151 includes executable
instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or
other files in memory 102 that match one or more search criteria
(e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with
user instructions.
[0121] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller
156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module
134, notes module 153 includes executable instructions to create
and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user
instructions.
[0122] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112,
display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module
132, text input module 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147,
map module 154 may be used to receive, display, modify, and store
maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data
on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular
location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user
instructions.
[0123] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system
controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio
circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, text input module
134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, online video
module 155 includes instructions that allow the user to access,
browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back
(e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via
external port 124), send an e-mail with a link to a particular
online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more
file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging
module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used to send a
link to a particular online video. Additional description of the
online video application can be found in U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/936,562, "Portable Multifunction Device, Method,
and Graphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos," filed Jun.
20, 2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/968,067,
"Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User
Interface for Playing Online Videos," filed Dec. 31, 2007, the
content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
[0124] Each of the above identified modules and applications
correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one
or more functions described above and the methods described in this
application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other
information processing methods described herein). These modules
(i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate
software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets
of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in
various embodiments. For example, video player module 145 may be
combined with music player module 146 into a single module (e.g.,
video and music player module 152, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments,
memory 102 may store a subset of the modules and data structures
identified above. Furthermore, memory 102 may store additional
modules and data structures not described above.
[0125] In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation
of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed
exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a
touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device
for operation of device 100, the number of physical input control
devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device 100
may be reduced.
[0126] The predefined set of functions that may be performed
exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad include
navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the
touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates device 100 to a main,
home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on
device 100. In such embodiments, the touchpad may be referred to as
a "menu button." In some other embodiments, the menu button may be
a physical push button or other physical input control device
instead of a touchpad.
[0127] FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components
for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. In some
embodiments, memory 102 (in FIGS. 1A and 1B) or 370 (FIG. 3)
includes event sorter 170 (e.g., in operating system 126) and a
respective application 136-1 (e.g., any of the aforementioned
applications 137-151, 155, 380-390).
[0128] Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines
the application 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1
to which to deliver the event information. Event sorter 170
includes event monitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some
embodiments, application 136-1 includes application internal state
192, which indicates the current application view(s) displayed on
touch sensitive display 112 when the application is active or
executing. In some embodiments, device/global internal state 157 is
used by event sorter 170 to determine which application(s) is(are)
currently active, and application internal state 192 is used by
event sorter 170 to determine application views 191 to which to
deliver event information.
[0129] In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes
additional information, such as one or more of: resume information
to be used when application 136-1 resumes execution, user interface
state information that indicates information being displayed or
that is ready for display by application 136-1, a state queue for
enabling the user to go back to a prior state or view of
application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue of previous actions taken
by the user.
[0130] Event monitor 171 receives event information from
peripherals interface 118. Event information includes information
about a sub-event (e.g., a user touch on touch-sensitive display
112, as part of a multi-touch gesture). Peripherals interface 118
transmits information it receives from I/O subsystem 106 or a
sensor, such as proximity sensor 166, accelerometer(s) 168, and/or
microphone 113 (through audio circuitry 110). Information that
peripherals interface 118 receives from I/O subsystem 106 includes
information from touch-sensitive display 112 or a touch-sensitive
surface.
[0131] In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the
peripherals interface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response,
peripherals interface 118 transmits event information. In other
embodiments, peripheral interface 118 transmits event information
only when there is a significant event (e.g., receiving an input
above a predetermined noise threshold and/or for more than a
predetermined duration).
[0132] In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit
view determination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer
determination module 173.
[0133] Hit view determination module 172 provides software
procedures for determining where a sub-event has taken place within
one or more views, when touch sensitive display 112 displays more
than one view. Views are made up of controls and other elements
that a user can see on the display.
[0134] Another aspect of the user interface associated with an
application is a set of views, sometimes herein called application
views or user interface windows, in which information is displayed
and touch-based gestures occur. The application views (of a
respective application) in which a touch is detected may correspond
to programmatic levels within a programmatic or view hierarchy of
the application. For example, the lowest level view in which a
touch is detected may be called the hit view, and the set of events
that are recognized as proper inputs may be determined based, at
least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch that begins a
touch-based gesture.
[0135] Hit view determination module 172 receives information
related to sub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application
has multiple views organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination
module 172 identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the
hierarchy which should handle the sub-event. In most circumstances,
the hit view is the lowest level view in which an initiating
sub-event occurs (i.e., the first sub-event in the sequence of
sub-events that form an event or potential event). Once the hit
view is identified by the hit view determination module, the hit
view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch or
input source for which it was identified as the hit view.
[0136] Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines
which view or views within a view hierarchy should receive a
particular sequence of sub-events. In some embodiments, active
event recognizer determination module 173 determines that only the
hit view should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In
other embodiments, active event recognizer determination module 173
determines that all views that include the physical location of a
sub-event are actively involved views, and therefore determines
that all actively involved views should receive a particular
sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touch
sub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with one
particular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain
as actively involved views.
[0137] Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information
to an event recognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments
including active event recognizer determination module 173, event
dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to an event
recognizer determined by active event recognizer determination
module 173. In some embodiments, event dispatcher module 174 stores
in an event queue the event information, which is retrieved by a
respective event receiver module 182.
[0138] In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event
sorter 170. Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter
170. In yet other embodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone
module, or a part of another module stored in memory 102, such as
contact/motion module 130.
[0139] In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality
of event handlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each
of which includes instructions for handling touch events that occur
within a respective view of the application's user interface. Each
application view 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more
event recognizers 180. Typically, a respective application view 191
includes a plurality of event recognizers 180. In other
embodiments, one or more of event recognizers 180 are part of a
separate module, such as a user interface kit (not shown) or a
higher level object from which application 136-1 inherits methods
and other properties. In some embodiments, a respective event
handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, object
updater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from
event sorter 170. Event handler 190 may utilize or call data
updater 176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the
application internal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the
application views 191 includes one or more respective event
handlers 190. Also, in some embodiments, one or more of data
updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178 are included
in a respective application view 191.
[0140] A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information
(e.g., event data 179) from event sorter 170, and identifies an
event from the event information. Event recognizer 180 includes
event receiver 182 and event comparator 184. In some embodiments,
event recognizer 180 also includes at least a subset of: metadata
183, and event delivery instructions 188 (which may include
sub-event delivery instructions).
[0141] Event receiver 182 receives event information from event
sorter 170. The event information includes information about a
sub-event, for example, a touch or a touch movement. Depending on
the sub-event, the event information also includes additional
information, such as location of the sub-event. When the sub-event
concerns motion of a touch the event information may also include
speed and direction of the sub-event. In some embodiments, events
include rotation of the device from one orientation to another
(e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or
vice versa), and the event information includes corresponding
information about the current orientation (also called device
attitude) of the device.
[0142] Event comparator 184 compares the event information to
predefined event or sub-event definitions and, based on the
comparison, determines an event or sub-event, or determines or
updates the state of an event or sub-event. In some embodiments,
event comparator 184 includes event definitions 186. Event
definitions 186 contain definitions of events (e.g., predefined
sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1 (187-1), event 2
(187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events in an event
187 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touch movement,
touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, the
definition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed
object. The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch
begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first
lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase, a second touch
(touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase,
and a second lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase. In
another example, the definition for event 2 (187-2) is a dragging
on a displayed object. The dragging, for example, comprises a touch
(or contact) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a
movement of the touch across touch-sensitive display 112, and
lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments, the event
also includes information for one or more associated event handlers
190.
[0143] In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a
definition of an event for a respective user-interface object. In
some embodiments, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to
determine which user-interface object is associated with a
sub-event. For example, in an application view in which three
user-interface objects are displayed on touch-sensitive display
112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitive display 112, event
comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which of the three
user-interface objects is associated with the touch (sub-event). If
each displayed object is associated with a respective event handler
190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit test to
determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example,
event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with the
sub-event and the object triggering the hit test.
[0144] In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event
187 also includes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event
information until after it has been determined whether the sequence
of sub-events does or does not correspond to the event recognizer's
event type.
[0145] When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the
series of sub-events do not match any of the events in event
definitions 186, the respective event recognizer 180 enters an
event impossible, event failed, or event ended state, after which
it disregards subsequent sub-events of the touch-based gesture. In
this situation, other event recognizers, if any, that remain active
for the hit view continue to track and process sub-events of an
ongoing touch-based gesture.
[0146] In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180
includes metadata 183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or
lists that indicate how the event delivery system should perform
sub-event delivery to actively involved event recognizers. In some
embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags,
and/or lists that indicate how event recognizers may interact with
one another. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includes
configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate whether
sub-events are delivered to varying levels in the view or
programmatic hierarchy.
[0147] In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180
activates event handler 190 associated with an event when one or
more particular sub-events of an event are recognized. In some
embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 delivers event
information associated with the event to event handler 190.
Activating an event handler 190 is distinct from sending (and
deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view. In some
embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated with the
recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flag
catches the flag and performs a predefined process.
[0148] In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include
sub-event delivery instructions that deliver event information
about a sub-event without activating an event handler. Instead, the
sub-event delivery instructions deliver event information to event
handlers associated with the series of sub-events or to actively
involved views. Event handlers associated with the series of
sub-events or with actively involved views receive the event
information and perform a predetermined process.
[0149] In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates
data used in application 136-1. For example, data updater 176
updates the telephone number used in contacts module 137, or stores
a video file used in video player module 145. In some embodiments,
object updater 177 creates and updates objects used in application
136-1. For example, object updater 176 creates a new user-interface
object or updates the position of a user-interface object. GUI
updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUI updater 178 prepares
display information and sends it to graphics module 132 for display
on a touch-sensitive display.
[0150] In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has
access to data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater
178. In some embodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and
GUI updater 178 are included in a single module of a respective
application 136-1 or application view 191. In other embodiments,
they are included in two or more software modules.
[0151] It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion
regarding event handling of user touches on touch-sensitive
displays also applies to other forms of user inputs to operate
multifunction devices 100 with input-devices, not all of which are
initiated on touch screens, e.g., coordinating mouse movement and
mouse button presses with or without single or multiple keyboard
presses or holds, user movements taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on
touch-pads, pen stylus inputs, movement of the device, oral
instructions, detected eye movements, biometric inputs, and/or any
combination thereof, which may be utilized as inputs corresponding
to sub-events which define an event to be recognized.
[0152] FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100
having a touch screen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The
touch screen may display one or more graphics within user interface
(UI) 200. In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a
user may select one or more of the graphics by making contact or
touching the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202
(not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (not
drawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of
one or more graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the
one or more graphics. In some embodiments, the contact may include
a gesture, such as one or more taps, one or more swipes (from left
to right, right to left, upward and/or downward) and/or a rolling
of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upward and/or
downward) that has made contact with device 100. In some
embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may not select the
graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an
application icon may not select the corresponding application when
the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.
[0153] Device 100 may also include one or more physical buttons,
such as "home" or menu button 204. As described previously, menu
button 204 may be used to navigate to any application 136 in a set
of applications that may be executed on device 100. Alternatively,
in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key
in a GUI displayed on touch screen 112.
[0154] In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112,
menu button 204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and
locking the device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber
Identity Module (SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and
docking/charging external port 124. Push button 206 may be used to
turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and
holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time
interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing
the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or
to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an
alternative embodiment, device 100 also may accept verbal input for
activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone
113.
[0155] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction
device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance
with some embodiments. Device 300 need not be portable. In some
embodiments, device 300 is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a
tablet computer, a multimedia player device, a navigation device,
an educational device (such as a child's learning toy), a gaming
system, or a control device (e.g., a home or industrial
controller). Device 300 typically includes one or more processing
units (CPU's) 310, one or more network or other communications
interfaces 360, memory 370, and one or more communication buses 320
for interconnecting these components. Communication buses 320 may
include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects
and controls communications between system components. Device 300
includes input/output (I/O) interface 330 comprising display 340,
which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface 330 also
may include a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device) 350
and touchpad 355. Memory 370 includes high-speed random access
memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid
state memory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as
one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage
devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state
storage devices. Memory 370 may optionally include one or more
storage devices remotely located from CPU(s) 310. In some
embodiments, memory 370 stores programs, modules, and data
structures analogous to the programs, modules, and data structures
stored in memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1),
or a subset thereof. Furthermore, memory 370 may store additional
programs, modules, and data structures not present in memory 102 of
portable multifunction device 100. For example, memory 370 of
device 300 may store drawing module 380, presentation module 382,
word processing module 384, website creation module 386, disk
authoring module 388, and/or spreadsheet module 390, while memory
102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1) may not store
these modules.
[0156] Each of the above identified elements in FIG. 3 may be
stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices.
Each of the above identified modules corresponds to a set of
instructions for performing a function described above. The above
identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need
not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or
modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined
or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some
embodiments, memory 370 may store a subset of the modules and data
structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 370 may store
additional modules and data structures not described above.
[0157] Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user
interfaces ("UI") that may be implemented on portable multifunction
device 100.
[0158] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a
menu of applications on portable multifunction device 100 in
accordance with some embodiments. Similar user interfaces may be
implemented on device 300. In some embodiments, user interface 400A
includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:
[0159] Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless
communication(s), such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals; [0160] Time
404; [0161] Bluetooth indicator 405; [0162] Battery status
indicator 406; [0163] Tray 408 with icons for frequently used
applications, such as: [0164] Phone 138, which may include an
indicator 414 of the number of missed calls or voicemail messages;
[0165] E-mail client 140, which may include an indicator 410 of the
number of unread e-mails; [0166] Browser 147; and [0167] Music
player 146; and [0168] Icons for other applications, such as:
[0169] IM 141; [0170] Image management 144; [0171] Camera 143;
[0172] Video player 145; [0173] Weather 149-1; [0174] Stocks 149-2;
[0175] Workout support 142; [0176] Calendar 148; [0177] Calculator
149-3; [0178] Alarm clock 149-4; [0179] Dictionary 149-5; and
[0180] User-created widget 149-6.
[0181] In some embodiments, user interface 400B includes the
following elements, or a subset or superset thereof: [0182] 402,
404, 405, 406, 141, 148, 144, 143, 149-3, 149-2, 149-1, 149-4, 410,
414, 138, 140, and 147, as described above; [0183] Map 154; [0184]
Notes 153; [0185] Settings 412, which provides access to settings
for device 100 and its various applications 136, as described
further below; [0186] Video and music player module 152, also
referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 152; and
[0187] Online video module 155, also referred to as YouTube
(trademark of Google Inc.) module 155.
[0188] FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device
(e.g., device 300, FIG. 3) with a touch-sensitive surface 451
(e.g., a tablet or touchpad 355, FIG. 3) that is separate from the
display 450 (e.g., touch screen display 112). Although many of the
examples which follow will be given with reference to inputs on
touch screen display 112 (where the touch sensitive surface and the
display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detects
inputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the
display, as shown in FIG. 4C. In some embodiments the touch
sensitive surface (e.g., 451 in FIG. 4C) has a primary axis (e.g.,
452 in FIG. 4C) that corresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 453 in
FIG. 4C) on the display (e.g., 450). In accordance with these
embodiments, the device detects contacts (e.g., 460 and 462 in FIG.
4C) with the touch-sensitive surface 451 at locations that
correspond to respective locations on the display (e.g., in FIG. 4C
460 corresponds to 468 and 462 corresponds to 470). In this way,
user inputs (e.g., contacts 460 and 462, and movements thereof)
detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., 451 in
FIG. 4C) are used by the device to manipulate the user interface on
the display (e.g., 450 in FIG. 4C) of the multifunction device when
the touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should
be understood that similar methods may be used for other user
interfaces described herein.
[0189] Additionally, while the following examples are given
primarily with reference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts,
finger tap gestures, finger swipe gestures), it should be
understood that, in some embodiments, one or more of the finger
inputs are replaced with input from another input device (e.g., a
mouse based input or stylus input). For example, a swipe gesture
may be replaced with a mouse click (e.g., instead of a contact)
followed by movement of the cursor along the path of the swipe
(e.g., instead of movement of the contact). As another example, a
tap gesture may be replaced with a mouse click while the cursor is
located over the location of the tap gesture (e.g., instead of
detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detect the
contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneously
detected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice may
be used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts may be used
simultaneously.
[0190] Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user
interfaces ("UI") and associated processes that may be implemented
on a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive
surface, such as device 300 or portable multifunction device
100.
[0191] FIGS. 5A-5M illustrate exemplary user interfaces for
navigating between multiple applications in accordance with some
embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to
illustrate the processes described below, including the processes
in FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7B, 8 and 9.
[0192] As will be explained in detail below, the exemplary user
interfaces depict how a computing device with a touch-sensitive
display, in response to user inputs, switches between multiple
applications, including replacing a first application with a second
application, replacing the second application with a third
application on the display, suspending a replaced application and
removing the replaced application from the display, and
subsequently bringing back a suspended application on the display
and resuming its operation.
[0193] FIG. 5A depicts a user interface 500A of a portable
multifunction device that includes multiple application icons. A
finger tap 502 on the Online Video application icon 155 is
detected. FIG. 5B depicts a user interface 500B displayed in
response to the finger tap 502, which includes a first application
504 (in this example, the Online Video application) and a partial
view of a second application 506 (in this example, an advertising
application). A finger tap 510 on the second application 506 is
detected.
[0194] FIGS. 5C and 5D depict user interfaces 500C and 500D in
which in an animation transitions to a full view of the second
application 506. In this example, the scale of objects in the
second application 506 is maintained from the partial view to the
full view, thereby creating a smoother, less jarring transition to
the second application. In addition, a deactivation icon 512 in
FIG. 5D is displayed in the full view of the second
application.
[0195] As shown in FIGS. 5D-5E, a finger tap 516 on the
deactivation icon 512 brings back the first application 504 on the
display and resumes the play of the video. Note that the partial
view of application 507 in FIG. 5E may or may not be the same
partial view in the same application 506 shown in FIG. 5B.
[0196] FIG. 5D also depicts a services icon 514 at the bottom of
the full view of the second application. In response to detecting a
gesture (e.g., a finger tap gesture) on the services icon 514, a
list of icons corresponding to service applications associated with
the second application 506 is shown (e.g., as depicted in FIG.
5F).
[0197] FIGS. 5G-5I depict user interfaces 500G, 500H, and 500I that
correspond to a video player, a theater location map, and a music
download service, respectively. Each of the three service
applications is activated in response to detecting a user gesture
(e.g., a finger tap gesture) on a corresponding icon shown in FIG.
5F. Each user interface includes a deactivation icon 512 and a back
icon 522. Detecting user selection of the deactivation icon 512
brings the device back to the first application 504, e.g., as shown
in FIG. 5B or 5E. Detecting user selection of the back icon 522
brings the device back to the full view of the second application
506, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5D or 5F.
[0198] FIG. 5J depicts a user interface 500J corresponding to a
browser application that includes multiple user selectable objects
(e.g., blocks of content 544 that are introductions or summaries of
corresponding web pages). In response to detecting a gesture (e.g.,
finger tap gesture 546) on a user selectable object 544-2, the
device displays a user interface 500K (FIG. 5K) that has a full
view of a second application 548 at a reduced scale. In this
example, detecting a finger tap 552 on the view icon 550-1 or a
finger tap 554 on the application itself will animatedly enlarge
the second application (e.g., an advertising application) from this
reduced scale to a full scale, as shown in FIG. 5L. Conversely, in
response to detecting a finger tap 556 on the skip icon 550-2, the
device ceases to display the second application and displays the
web page that corresponds to object 544-2, as shown in FIG. 5M.
[0199] FIGS. 6A-6C are flow diagrams illustrating a method 600 of
navigating between applications in accordance with some
embodiments. The method 600 is performed at a multifunction device
(e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100,
FIG. 1) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some
embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the
touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the
display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some
operations in method 600 may be combined and/or the order of some
operations may be changed.
[0200] As described below, the method 600 provides an intuitive way
to navigate back and forth between applications. The method reduces
the cognitive burden on a user when navigating between
applications, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine
interface. For battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user
to navigate between applications faster and more efficiently
conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
[0201] The device has a graphical user interface (500A, FIG. 5A)
including a plurality of application icons such as the online video
application icon 155 and the browser application icon 147, each
icon corresponding to a respective application. In some
embodiments, an application is responsible for rendering a
respective type of content on the touch screen display. For
example, the mail application is responsible for displaying emails
on the touch screen display and the browser application is
responsible for displaying web pages on the display.
[0202] The device detects (602) a first user input on a first
application icon on the display. In response to detecting the first
user input, the device activates and displays a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display (606).
[0203] The device concurrently displays (610) a partial view of a
second application in a second region of the display without
activating the second application. In some embodiments, the partial
view of the second application is displayed in the second region of
the display in response to detecting the first user input. The
second region is distinct from the first region. In some
embodiments, the concurrent display of the partial view of the
second application with the first application is in response to
detecting the first user input. In some embodiments, the first
application is a multimedia application (608) that has content that
varies with time, such as a music player, a video player, a game
player, etc.
[0204] For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in response to a
finger tap 502 on the online video application icon 155, the device
replaces the user interface 500A with the user interface 500B. One
region of the user interface 500B corresponds to a first
application 504 and another region of the user interface 500B
corresponds to a partial view of a second application 506. In this
example, the first application is a video player that is activated
to play a video stream in the top region of the graphical user
interface 500B. It is assumed that the user's primary focus is the
first application when he or she activates the first application
icon. The second application 506 is not activated until a
corresponding user-selectable object is selected. Note that an
activated application is an application in an operating mode (e.g.,
playing an audio or video stream). A deactivated application is one
that has been closed or terminated, and thus is no longer
operating.
[0205] Note that the second application 506 may include a unique
style indicator 508, suggesting that the content associated with
the second application is provided by a particular source or of a
particular type. In some embodiments, the second application 506 is
an advertisement application and the style indicator 508 may
represent a particular brand, style or type of advertisement.
[0206] In some embodiments, the device loads (612) the second
application or the content associated with the second application
into its memory 102 before any subsequent input (e.g., the finger
tap 510 on the second application 506 in FIG. 5B). By doing so, the
device has at least a portion of the content associated with the
second application available to serve the user before a possible
user selection of the second application 506 in the future. Thus,
the device provides faster or even instantaneous service in
response to detecting activation of the second application 506.
[0207] The device detects (614) a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display. In response to the
second input (616), the device suspends the first application (618)
and activates a full view of the second application on the display
(620). In some embodiments, the two operations may occur
sequentially in any order or concurrently. For example, as shown in
FIGS. 5B-5D, in response to the finger tap 510 on the second
application 506 in FIG. 5B, the device animatedly expands the
second application 506 into a full view.
[0208] In some embodiments, responding to detection of the second
user input includes displaying the full view of the second
application as an overlay on the first application (622). In some
embodiments, responding to detection of the second user input
includes ceasing to display the first application (624), as shown
in FIG. 5D. Referring to FIGS. 5C-5D, in response to finger tap 510
(FIG. 5B), the device immediately pauses or suspends the video
player. While the second application 506 is expanding to full view,
the device may animatedly dim out the first application 504 from
the display to indicate that the second application 506 is being
activated and the first application 504 is temporarily
suspended.
[0209] In some embodiments, responding to detection of the second
user input includes displaying (626) a deactivation icon along with
the full view of the second application. Selection of the
deactivation icon initiates deactivating the second application and
resuming the first application. For example, FIG. 5D depicts a full
view of the second application 506 that includes a deactivation
icon 512.
[0210] In some embodiments, the partial view of the second
application is displayed at a predefined scale and the full view of
the second application is also displayed at the predefined scale
(627). In some embodiments, the objects in the partial view (see,
e.g., FIG. 5B) and their counterparts in the full view (see, e.g.,
FIG. 5D) have the same predefined scale such that an animated
process of expanding the partial view into the full view as shown
in FIG. 5C dynamically unveils the second application. This process
may occur vertically and/or horizontally or in any direction or
manner.
[0211] The device detects a third user input (e.g., a finger tap
516 on the deactivation icon 512) to deactivate the second
application (628, FIG. 6B). In response to the third user input
(630), the device deactivates the second application (632) and
resumes the first application on the display (634).
[0212] For example, as shown in FIG. 5E, in response to a user
selection of the deactivation icon 512, the device resumes the
video play of the first application 504 from the position at which
it was suspended previously. In some embodiments, detecting user
selection of the deactivation icon 512 terminates one instance of
the second application 506 and initiates a new partial view of the
same second application 506. In some embodiments, detecting user
selection of the deactivation icon 512 terminates the second
application 506 and initiates a new partial view in a different
application 507 (FIG. 5E). As such, detecting a finger tapping of
the new partial view may activate a new instance of the second
application 506 with different contents (e.g., a different
advertisement) or a different application 507. In some other
embodiments (not shown in the figures), the user selection of the
deactivation icon 512 terminates the second application 506
completely and the second region of the display occupied by the
partial view of the second application 506 may be empty or occupied
by the first application 504.
[0213] In some embodiments, the full view of the second application
506 includes a services icon (see, e.g., 514 of FIG. 5D). Detecting
user selection of the services icon 514 (e.g., a finger tap) brings
up a set of icons, each icon corresponding to a respective service
offered by the second application 506. For example, if the second
application 506 is a movie promotion application, FIG. 5F depicts a
set of six icons 518A to 518F, each icon corresponding to a
respective service associated with the movie promotion. Note that a
respective icon 518 may correspond to another view in the second
application. Alternatively, a respective icon 518 may correspond to
a third application, distinct from the second application, that is
linked to or otherwise associated with the second application. For
the discussion of method 600, icons 518 will be treated as links to
respective additional views within the second application. For the
discussion of method 700, icons 518 will be treated as links to
respective third applications.
[0214] In some embodiments, upon detecting activation of a
respective icon in the second application (636, 638), the device
displays a second full view in the second application (640) to
provide the user-requested service while maintaining the display of
the deactivation icon (642). For example, FIG. 5G depicts a second
full view in the second application displayed in response to
detecting a user finger-tap 520A on the video icon 518A in FIG. 5F.
In this example, a second full view in the second application that
plays videos related to the movie promotion is activated in the
graphical user interface 500G. Note that the graphical user
interface 500G includes a back icon 522 and the deactivation icon
512. A finger tap 524 on the back icon 522 brings back the
graphical user interface 500B (FIG. 5B) or the graphical user
interface 500F (FIG. 5F). FIG. 5H depicts a second full view in the
second application displayed in response to detecting a user
finger-tap 520B on the theaters icon 518E in FIG. 5F. In this
example, the second full view in the second application is a map
application that identifies a theater location for the
corresponding movie and includes a ticket purchase icon 526. In
response to a user selection of this ticket purchase icon 526, the
device may bring up a third full view in the second application
through which a user can purchase a ticket to the movie at the
identified theater. FIG. 5I depicts a second full view in the
second application displayed in response to detecting a user
finger-tap 520C on the downloads icon 518F in FIG. 5F. In this
example, the second full view in the second application is a
digital content purchase application that identifies, e.g., a song
of the movie. In response to a user selection of the buy icon 528
associated with the song, the device may bring up a third full view
in the second application through which a user can purchase an
electronic copy of the song. Like the graphical user interface 500G
in FIG. 5G, the user interface 500H and the user interface 500I
each include a back icon 522 and the deactivation icon 512. In
either case, detecting user selection of the back icon 522 brings
back the previous full view of the second application 506 (e.g.,
FIG. 5D or 5F), whereas detecting user selection of the
deactivation icon 512 brings back the first application (e.g., as
shown in FIG. 5B or 5E). In some embodiments, the second full view
of the second application provides access to a complete version of
the second application (e.g., a premium version) whereas the first
full view of the second application (FIG. 5D) only provides an
introductory version (e.g., a lite or free version) of the second
application. In some embodiments, the second full view of the
second application is only accessible to a selected group of users
(e.g., users who authorize charges against their bank accounts or
credit cards for those premium services, or who are registered
users of a service), while other users receive a restricted view of
the second application instead of the second full view.
[0215] In some embodiments, the display of the deactivation icon
512 is maintained while any full view of the second application is
displayed, thereby allowing a user to easily deactivate the second
application 506 and return to the first application 504 from any
point within the second application 506. In some embodiments, the
deactivation icon 512 is maintained at the same location on the
display in different full views in the second application 506
(e.g., an "X" icon at the upper left corner of a full view as shown
in FIGS. 5D, 5F and 5H).
[0216] In some embodiments, the display of the deactivation icon
512 is maintained in different full views in the second
application, but the location of the deactivation icon is not the
same in all of the full views in the second application. In some
embodiments, a "back" icon (e.g., icon 522, FIGS. 5G and 5I), which
is separate and distinct from the deactivation icon (e.g., icon
512, FIGS. 5G and 5I), is concurrently displayed with the
deactivation icon, thereby allowing a user to easily navigate
backwards in the second application.
[0217] Note that details of the processes described above with
respect to method 600 are also applicable in an analogous manner to
the methods described below, including methods 700, 800, and 900.
For brevity, these details are not repeated below.
[0218] FIGS. 7A-7B are flow diagrams illustrating a method 700 of
navigating between applications in accordance with some
embodiments. The method 700 is performed at a multifunction device
(e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100,
FIG. 1) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some
embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the
touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the
display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some
operations in method 700 may be combined and/or the order of some
operations may be changed.
[0219] As described below, the method 700 provides an intuitive way
to navigate between applications. The method reduces the cognitive
burden on a user when navigating between applications, thereby
creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For
battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to navigate
between applications faster and more efficiently conserves power
and increases the time between battery charges.
[0220] The device detects (702) a first user input on a first
application icon on the display. In response to detecting the first
user input, the device activates and displays a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display (706).
[0221] The device concurrently displays a partial view of a second
application in a second region of the display without activating
the second application (710). In some embodiments, the partial view
of the second application is displayed in the second region of the
display in response to detecting the first user input. The second
region is distinct from the first region. In some embodiments, the
concurrent display of the partial view of the second application
with the first application is in response to detecting the first
user input. In some embodiments, the first application is a
multimedia application (708) that has content that varies with
time, such as a music player, a video player, a game player,
etc.
[0222] In some embodiments, besides the aforementioned operations
triggered by the first user input, the device loads (712) the
second application or the content associated with the second
application and one or more of the third applications associated
with the second application (or their respective contents) into its
memory 102 before any subsequent input. By doing so, the device has
at least a portion of the content associated with the second
application available to serve the user before a possible user
selection of the second application 506 in the future. Thus, the
device provides faster or even instantaneous service in response to
detecting activation of the second application 506.
[0223] The device detects (714) a second user input on the partial
view of the second application on the display. In response to the
second input (716), the device suspends the first application (718)
and activates a full view of the second application on the display
(720). In some embodiments, the two operations may occur
sequentially in any order or concurrently. For example, as shown in
FIGS. 5C-5D, in response to the finger tap 510 on the second
application 506 in FIG. 5B, the device animatedly expands the
second application 506 into a full view.
[0224] In some embodiments, responding to detection of the second
user input includes displaying the full view of the second
application as an overlay on the first application (722). In some
embodiments, responding to detection of the second user input
includes ceasing to display the first application (724), as shown
in FIG. 5D. Referring to FIGS. 5C-5D, in response to finger tap 510
(FIG. 5B), the device immediately pauses or suspends the video
player. While the second application 506 is expanding to full view,
the device may animatedly dim out the first application 504 from
the display to indicate that the second application 506 is being
activated and the first application 504 is temporarily
suspended.
[0225] In some embodiments, responding to detection of the second
user input includes displaying (726) a deactivation icon along with
the full view of the second application. Selection of the
deactivation icon initiates deactivating the second application and
resuming the first application. For example, FIG. 5D depicts a full
view of the second application 506 that includes a deactivation
icon 512.
[0226] In some embodiments, the partial view of the second
application is displayed at a predefined scale and the full view of
the second application is also displayed at the predefined scale.
In some embodiments, the objects in the partial view (see, e.g.,
FIG. 5B) and their counterparts in the full view (see, e.g., FIG.
5D) have the same predefined scale such that an animated process of
expanding the partial view into the full view as shown in FIG. 5C
dynamically unveils the second application. This process may occur
vertically and/or horizontally or in any direction or manner.
[0227] The device detects a third user input on a respective icon
in the second application (e.g., any one of the six icons 518A to
518F) (728, FIG. 7B). In response to detecting the third user input
(730), the device activates a third application on the display
(732). Exemplary third applications include a video player
application, a map application, and a digital content store (FIGS.
5G-5I). In some embodiments, the second application provides access
to a preview of a full version of digital content (such as songs,
movies, applications, books, and/or games), while the third
application is an application related to the second application and
allows a user to download a full version of the digital content
from a remote source. For example, the third application may be an
online commerce application such as an online application store
(e.g., Apple's application store), an online digital content store
(e.g., iTunes or iBooks), or an application that provides service
related to the second application (e.g., the map application shown
in FIG. 5H). In some embodiments, the device maintains (733)
display of the deactivation icon on the third application (see,
e.g., the deactivation icon 512 in FIGS. 5G to 5I). In some
embodiments, the device ceases (735) to display the second
application after the activation of the third application. For
example, one of the third applications shown in FIGS. 5G to 5I does
not include any portion of the second application shown in FIG.
5F.
[0228] In some embodiments, the device loads (727) one or more of
the third applications (or their respective contents) in response
to detecting (716) the second user input prior to detecting (728)
the third input.
[0229] In some embodiments, the applications are related to one
another such that there are links between the first application and
one or more second applications, and links between a respective
second application and one or more associated third applications.
The device maintains a hierarchical relationship between these
links in its memory to activate an appropriate child application
associated with a parent application according to the hierarchical
relationship.
[0230] In some embodiments, the device detects a fourth user input
to deactivate the third application (734). In response to the
fourth user input (736), the device deactivates the third
application (738) and resumes the first application on the display
(740). As described above, this process allows a user to switch
back to the root application from which any subsequent application
is derived according to the hierarchical relationship. Instead of
restarting itself from the beginning, the root application is
configured to resume from the position at which it was suspended
before. As such, this process allows a user to navigate into one
sequence of applications while maintaining a shortcut for the user
to return to the starting point of the navigation.
[0231] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 800 of
navigating between applications. The method 800 is performed at a
multifunction device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable
multifunction device 100, FIG. 1) with a display and a
touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a
touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the
display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the
touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method 800 may be
combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed.
[0232] As described below, the method 800 provides an intuitive way
to navigate between applications. The method reduces the cognitive
burden on a user when navigating between applications, thereby
creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For
battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to navigate
between applications faster and more efficiently conserves power
and increases the time between battery charges.
[0233] The device displays (802) a first view in a first
application on the display. The first view includes a first user
selectable object that is associated with a second view in the
first application. For example, FIG. 5J depicts a web browser
application on the display. In this example, web page 542 includes
multiple blocks of content 544-1 to 544-8. At least one of blocks
has a link to another, corresponding web page that can be selected
with a gesture (e.g., a finger tap).
[0234] The device detects a first user input on the first user
selectable object (804). In response to the first user input (806),
the device animatedly replaces display of the first view with
display of a view that includes a second user selectable object at
a first predefined scale (808). In some embodiments, the second
user selectable object is associated with a second application
distinct from the first application (810). For example, as shown in
FIGS. 5J and 5K, respectively, in response to detecting a
finger-tap 546 on block 544-2, the device replaces the browser view
with a new view that includes a second user selectable object 548
at a first predefined scale. In addition, the new view includes a
view icon 550-1 and a skip icon 550-2.
[0235] The device detects a second user input on the second user
selectable object (812). In response to detecting the second user
input (814), the device animatedly enlarges the second user
selectable object from the first predefined scale to a second
predefined scale (816) and activates the second application (818).
In some embodiments, a deactivation icon is displayed along with
the second application (820). For example, as shown in FIGS. 5K and
5L, in response to detecting user finger-tap 554 on the object 548
or user finger-tap 552 on the view icon 550-1, the device enlarges
the full view of the second application from a first smaller scale
(FIG. 5K) to a second larger scale (FIG. 5L). Note that a
deactivation icon 512 is also displayed (e.g., at the top left
corner of user interface 500L).
[0236] The device detects a third user input on the deactivation
icon (822). In response to detecting the third user input (824),
the device animatedly deactivates (e.g., dims out and ceases to
display) the second application from the display (826) and displays
a second view of the first application (828). As shown in FIG. 5M,
the second view of the first application is a full view of the web
page associated with block 544-2. Note that a user selection 556
(FIG. 5K) of the skip icon 550-2 will bypass the second application
(e.g., FIG. 5L) and instead display the second view of the first
application (e.g., FIG. 5M).
[0237] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 900 of
navigating between applications in accordance with some
embodiments. The method 900 is performed at a multifunction device
(e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100,
FIG. 1) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some
embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the
touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the
display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some
operations in method 900 may be combined and/or the order of some
operations may be changed.
[0238] As described below, the method 900 provides an intuitive way
to navigate between applications. The method reduces the cognitive
burden on a user when navigating between applications, thereby
creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For
battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to navigate
between applications faster and more efficiently conserves power
and increases the time between battery charges.
[0239] The device detects a first user input on a first application
icon on the display (902). In response to detecting the first user
input, the device activates and displays a first application
associated with the first application icon in a first region of the
display (904).
[0240] The device concurrently displays a partial view of a second
application at a predefined scale in a second region of the display
(906). In some embodiments, the partial view of the second
application is displayed in the second region of the display in
response to detecting the first user input. The second region is
distinct from the first region and the second application is not
activated.
[0241] The device detects a second user input on the partial view
of the second application on the display (908). In response to
detecting the second user input (910), the device displays a full
view of the second application at the same predefined scale as the
partial view (912) and activates the second application (914). As
shown in FIGS. 5B-5D, respectively, the objects in different views
of the second application 506 have the same scale. The objects in
the partial view (see, e.g., FIG. 5B) and their counterparts in the
full view (see, e.g., FIG. 5D) have the same predefined scale such
that an animated process of expanding the partial view into the
full view as shown in FIG. 5C dynamically unveils the second
application. This unveiling at the same scale makes for a smoother
transition into the second application. This process may occur
vertically and/or horizontally or in any direction or manner.
[0242] The operations in the information processing methods
described above may be implemented by running one or more
functional modules in information processing apparatus such as
general purpose processors or application specific chips. These
modules, combinations of these modules, and/or their combination
with general hardware (e.g., as described above with respect to
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3) are all included within the scope of protection
of the invention.
[0243] The operations described above with reference to FIGS.
6A-6C, 7A-7B, 8 and 9 may be implemented by components depicted in
FIGS. 1A-1C. For example, detection operations and
activating/deactivating operations may be implemented by event
sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event
monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on
touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174
delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective
event recognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event
information to respective event definitions 186, and determines
whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive
surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as
selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective
predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180
activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of the
event or sub-event. Event handler 190 may utilize or call data
updater 176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the
application internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler
190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is
displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a
person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be
implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C.
[0244] The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has
been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the
illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or
to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in view of the above
teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
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