U.S. patent application number 13/485723 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-29 for portable electronic device including touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same.
This patent application is currently assigned to RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Steven Henry FYKE, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN, Stephanie Elizabeth MCCARTY, Donald Somerset McCulloch MCKENZIE, Jerome PASQUERO, Gil PINHEIRO. Invention is credited to Steven Henry FYKE, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN, Stephanie Elizabeth MCCARTY, Donald Somerset McCulloch MCKENZIE, Jerome PASQUERO, Gil PINHEIRO.
Application Number | 20130222255 13/485723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46545238 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130222255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PASQUERO; Jerome ; et
al. |
August 29, 2013 |
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND
METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME
Abstract
A method includes displaying a first keyboard on a
touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting a touch
on the first keyboard, and when the touch is associated with a
keyboard transformation function, changing the first keyboard into
a second keyboard by moving keys of the first keyboard relative to
other keys of the first keyboard, from first locations, along
respective key paths, to second locations on the touch-sensitive
display.
Inventors: |
PASQUERO; Jerome; (Montreal,
CA) ; PINHEIRO; Gil; (Cambridge, CA) ;
MCKENZIE; Donald Somerset McCulloch; (Waterloo, CA) ;
GRIFFIN; Jason Tyler; (Kitchener, CA) ; FYKE; Steven
Henry; (Waterloo, CA) ; MCCARTY; Stephanie
Elizabeth; (Stratford, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PASQUERO; Jerome
PINHEIRO; Gil
MCKENZIE; Donald Somerset McCulloch
GRIFFIN; Jason Tyler
FYKE; Steven Henry
MCCARTY; Stephanie Elizabeth |
Montreal
Cambridge
Waterloo
Kitchener
Waterloo
Stratford |
|
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Waterloo
CA
|
Family ID: |
46545238 |
Appl. No.: |
13/485723 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61603094 |
Feb 24, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04886
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/169 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: displaying a first keyboard on a
touch-sensitive display of an electronic device; detecting a touch
associated with the first keyboard; and when the touch is
associated with a keyboard transformation function, changing the
first keyboard into a second keyboard by moving keys of the first
keyboard relative to other keys of the first keyboard, from first
locations, along respective key paths, to second locations on the
touch-sensitive display.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein changing comprises
resizing the keys.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein resizing the keys
comprises changing a width of the keys.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the width of the keys
is changed based on the available display width.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a
gesture.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a
multi-touch gesture.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a
gesture beginning at predetermined locations on the first
keyboard.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises an
upward gesture beginning on the first keyboard and wherein the keys
are moved upwardly to provide a space for an addition key row.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein ones of the keys drop
down along their respective key paths, after being moved upwardly
into the additional key row.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein changing comprises
resizing the keys after the ones of the keys are dropped down into
the additional key row.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein others of the keys are
moved along their respective key paths after the ones of the keys
are dropped down.
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein further keys are added
to the additional key row.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a
downward gesture beginning on the first keyboard to remove a key
row.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a
gesture beginning on the first keyboard to add or remove a key
row.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein a distance of movement
of the keys along respective key paths is based on a distance of
movement of the touch.
16. The method according to claim 15, comprising reversing movement
of the keys along their respective key paths in response to a
change in direction of movement of the touch.
17. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code
executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic
device to perform the method according to claim 1.
18. An electronic device comprising: a touch-sensitive display; at
least one processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display and
configured to display a first keyboard on the touch-sensitive
display, detect a touch on the first keyboard, and when the touch
is associated with a keyboard transformation function, change the
first keyboard into a second keyboard by moving keys of the first
keyboard relative to other keys of the first keyboard, from first
locations, along respective key paths, to second locations on the
touch-sensitive display.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application 61/603,094, filed Feb. 24, 2012, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0002] The present disclosure relates to electronic devices
including but not limited to portable electronic devices having
touch-sensitive displays and their control.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices,
have gained widespread use and may provide a variety of functions
including, for example, telephonic, electronic messaging and other
personal information manager (PIM) application functions. Portable
electronic devices include several types of devices including
mobile stations such as simple cellular telephones, smart
telephones (smart phones), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs),
tablet computers, and laptop computers, with wireless network
communications or near-field communications connectivity such as
Bluetooth.RTM. capabilities.
[0004] Portable electronic devices such as PDAs, or tablet
computers are generally intended for handheld use and ease of
portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for
portability. A touch-sensitive display, also known as a touchscreen
display, is particularly useful on handheld devices, which are
small and may have limited space for user input and output. The
information displayed on the display may be modified depending on
the functions and operations being performed.
[0005] Improvements in electronic devices with touch-sensitive
displays are desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures,
wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device in
accordance with an example;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of
changing a keyboard displayed on an electronic device; and
[0009] FIG. 3 through FIG. 9 are front views illustrating one
example of changing a keyboard displayed on an electronic device in
accordance with the method of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The following describes an electronic device and method
including displaying a first keyboard on a touch-sensitive display
of an electronic device, detecting a touch on the first keyboard,
and when the touch is associated with a keyboard transformation
function, changing the first keyboard into a second keyboard by
moving keys of the first keyboard relative to other keys of the
first keyboard, from first locations, along respective key paths,
to second locations on the touch-sensitive display.
[0011] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference
numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate
corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous details are set forth
to provide an understanding of the examples described herein. The
examples may be practiced without these details. In other
instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components are not
described in detail to avoid obscuring the examples described. The
description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the
examples described herein.
[0012] The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device,
such as a portable electronic device as described herein. Examples
of electronic devices include mobile, or handheld, wireless
communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, cellular
smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants,
wirelessly enabled notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile
internet devices, electronic navigation devices, and so forth. The
portable electronic device may also be a portable electronic device
without wireless communication capabilities, such as a handheld
electronic game device, digital photograph album, digital camera,
media player, e-book reader, and so forth.
[0013] A block diagram of an example of a portable electronic
device 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The electronic device 100 includes
multiple components, such as a processor 102 that controls the
overall operation of the portable electronic device 100.
Communication functions, including data and voice communications,
are performed through a communication subsystem 104. Data received
by the portable electronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted
by a decoder 106. The communication subsystem 104 receives messages
from and sends messages to a wireless network 150. The wireless
network 150 may be any type of wireless network, including, but not
limited to, data wireless networks, voice wireless networks, and
networks that support both voice and data communications. A power
source 142, such as one or more rechargeable batteries or a port to
an external power supply, powers the portable electronic device
100.
[0014] The processor 102 interacts with other components, such as a
Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, a touch-sensitive
display 118, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data
port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-range
communications 132 and other device subsystems 134. The
touch-sensitive display 118 includes a display 112 and touch
sensors 114 that are coupled to at least one controller 116 that is
utilized to interact with the processor 102. Input via a graphical
user interface is provided via the touch-sensitive display 118.
Information, such as text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and
other items that may be displayed or rendered on a portable
electronic device, is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118
via the processor 102. Optionally, the processor may interact with
one or more force sensors 122. The processor 102 may also interact
with an accelerometer 136 that may be utilized to detect direction
of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces.
[0015] To identify a subscriber for network access, the portable
electronic device 100 may utilize a Subscriber Identity Module or a
Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for
communication with a network, such as the wireless network 150.
Alternatively, user identification information may be programmed
into memory 110.
[0016] The portable electronic device 100 includes an operating
system 146 and software programs, applications, or components 148
that are executed by the processor 102 and are typically stored in
a persistent, updatable store such as the memory 110. Additional
applications or programs may be loaded onto the portable electronic
device 100 through the wireless network 150, the auxiliary I/O
subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-range communications
subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.
[0017] A received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message,
or web page download is processed by the communication subsystem
104 and input to the processor 102. The processor 102 processes the
received signal for output to the display 112 and/or to the
auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. A subscriber may generate data items,
for example e-mail messages, which may be transmitted over the
wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104. For
voice communications, the overall operation of the portable
electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible
information converted from electrical signals, and the microphone
130 converts audible information into electrical signals for
processing.
[0018] The touch-sensitive display 118 may be any suitable
touch-sensitive display, such as a capacitive, resistive, infrared,
surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch-sensitive display, strain gauge,
optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse
recognition, and so forth. A capacitive touch-sensitive display
includes one or more capacitive touch sensors 114. The capacitive
touch sensors may comprise any suitable material, such as indium
tin oxide (ITO).
[0019] One or more touches, also known as touch contacts or touch
events, may be detected by the touch-sensitive display 118. The
processor 102 may determine attributes of the touch, including a
location of the touch. Touch location data may include data for an
area of contact or data for a single point of contact, such as a
point at or near a center of the area of contact. The location of a
detected touch may include x and y components, e.g., horizontal and
vertical components, respectively, with respect to one's view of
the touch-sensitive display 118. A touch may be detected from any
suitable input member, such as a finger, thumb, appendage, or other
objects, for example, a stylus, pen, or other pointer, depending on
the nature of the touch-sensitive display 118. Multiple
simultaneous touches may be detected.
[0020] One or more gestures may also be detected by the
touch-sensitive display 118. A gesture, such as a swipe, also known
as a flick, is a particular type of touch on a touch-sensitive
display 118 and may begin at an origin point and continue to an end
point, for example, a concluding end of the gesture. A gesture may
be identified by attributes of the gesture, including the origin
point, the end point, the distance travelled, the duration, the
velocity, and the direction, for example. A gesture may be long or
short in distance and/or duration. Two points of the gesture may be
utilized to determine a direction of the gesture. A gesture may
also include a hover. A hover may be a touch at a location that is
generally unchanged over a period of time or is associated with the
same selection item for a period of time.
[0021] Optional force sensors 122 may be disposed in conjunction
with the touch-sensitive display 118 to determine or react to
forces applied to the touch-sensitive display 118. The force
sensors 122 may be force-sensitive resistors, strain gauges,
piezoelectric or piezoresistive devices, pressure sensors, quantum
tunneling composites, force-sensitive switches, or other suitable
devices. Force as utilized throughout the specification, including
the claims, refers to force measurements, estimates, and/or
calculations, such as pressure, deformation, stress, strain, force
density, force-area relationships, thrust, torque, and other
effects that include force or related quantities. Optionally, force
information associated with a detected touch may be utilized to
select information, such as information associated with a location
of a touch. For example, a touch that does not meet a force
threshold may highlight a selection option, whereas a touch that
meets a force threshold may select or input that selection option.
Selection options include, for example, displayed or virtual keys
of a keyboard; selection boxes or windows, e.g., "cancel,"
"delete," or "unlock"; function buttons, such as play or stop on a
music player; and so forth. Different magnitudes of force may be
associated with different functions or input. For example, a lesser
force may result in panning, and a higher force may result in
zooming.
[0022] A flowchart illustrating an example of a method of changing
a keyboard displayed on an electronic device, such as the
electronic device 100, is shown in FIG. 2. The method may be
carried out by software executed, for example, processor 102 and/or
the controller 116. Coding of software for carrying out such a
method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art
given the present description. The method may contain additional or
fewer processes than shown and/or described, and may be performed
in a different order. Computer-readable code executable by at least
one controller or processor of the portable electronic device to
perform the method may be stored in a computer-readable medium,
such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
[0023] A keyboard is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118
at 202. The keyboard may be any suitable keyboard such as a QWERTY
keyboard, QWERTZ keyboard, AZERTY keyboard, and so forth. The
keyboard includes a plurality of keys that are associated with
characters that may be entered utilizing the keyboard. The keyboard
may be displayed in any suitable application. For example, the
keyboard may be displayed for composition of a message in a
messaging application. The keyboard may be displayed for entry of
information in a data entry field in a Web browser application. The
keyboard may be displayed for entry of information in other
applications, such as a calendar application, a contacts or address
book application, a word processing application, or any other
suitable application.
[0024] When a touch is detected on the keyboard at 204, the
attributes of touch on the touch-sensitive display 118 are
determined. The touch may be a gesture, a multi-touch gesture, a
tap, a multi-touch tap, or any other suitable touch. The attributes
include, for example, duration of a touch, number of touch
contacts, direction of the touch when the touch is a gesture, and
so forth.
[0025] The touch may be associated with a function and the function
is identified at 206. The function that is associated with the
touch is dependent on the attributes of the touch. For example a
gesture on the keyboard may be associated with a keyboard
transformation function to change the layout of the keys of the
keyboard, for example. A tap on a location associated with one of
the keys of the keyboard may be associated with entry of the
character associated with the one of the keys. Another gesture,
such as a swipe from a location on the keyboard, in the downward
direction, may be associated with a function to hide the
keyboard.
[0026] When the touch is associated with a keyboard transformation
function at 208, the process continues at 210. The keyboard
transformation function is a function to change the keyboard layout
by changing the locations of the keys, for example, to increase the
number of rows of the keyboard, to decrease the number of rows of
the keyboard, to increase the number the columns, or to decrease
the number of columns. Different keyboard layouts may also include
greater or fewer numbers of keys. The locations of the keys are
changed by moving keys of the keyboard relative to other keys of
the keyboard. The keys that are moved, move along their respective
key paths. For example, when increasing the number of rows of the
keyboard, keys may move along a path from one row to the new row.
Other keys may also move along a path from one row to another row.
Still other keys may move along a path within the row. The keys of
the keyboard may also be resized based on the available display
width and based on the number of keys of the keyboard. Additional
keys may be added when the number of rows is increased.
Alternatively, keys may be removed when the number of rows is
decreased.
[0027] At 210, the keys move at a rate or speed that is dependent
on the speed of the gesture detected. Thus, a slow gesture may be
utilized to move the keys slowly to the new locations.
Alternatively, a fast gesture may be utilized to move the keys
quickly. The keys move with movement of the touch such that the
keys move a distance along their respective key paths based on a
location of the touch. When the touch moves farther from an origin
or origins of the touch, the keys move farther along their
respective key paths. If the direction of the gesture is reversed
such that the touch moves in the reverse direction, toward the
origin point(s) of the touch, the movement of the keys may be
reversed. The distance of movement of the keys may be dependent on
the distance of movement of the touch until, for example, the keys
are located at their respective end locations along their
respective key paths. Thus, further movement of the touch may not
result in further movement of the keys.
[0028] When the touch ends at 212, the keyboard associated with the
last detected location of the touch is displayed 214. For example,
when the touch moves a distance that does not meet a threshold, the
keys may return, along their respective key paths, to their
starting locations, or locations prior to the touch. When the touch
moves a distance that meets or exceeds the threshold, the keys may
move to end locations along their respective key paths.
[0029] The movement of the keys along their respective key paths is
displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118 when the keyboard is
changed. Ready identification of the new locations of keys is
facilitated by displaying the movement of the keys during changing
of the keyboard.
[0030] When the touch is not associated with a keyboard
transformation function at 208, the process continues at 216 where
a function associated with the touch is performed.
[0031] One example of changing a keyboard displayed on an
electronic device 100 is illustrated in FIG. 3 through FIG. 9 and
described with continued reference to FIG. 2. In the front view of
FIG. 3, a first keyboard 302 is displayed on the touch-sensitive
display 118 at 202. In the example of FIG. 3, the first keyboard
302 is a QWERTY keyboard and includes three rows 304, 306, 308 of
keys 310. The keys 310 of the keyboard are sized such that the rows
304, 306, 308 fit the width of the touch-sensitive display 118 when
the touch-sensitive display 118 is in the landscape
orientation.
[0032] A touch is detected on the keyboard at 204 and the
attributes of the touch, including touch contact locations and the
directions of movement on the touch-sensitive display 118 are
determined. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the touch is a
multi-touch gesture, including one touch contact beginning at the
location illustrated by the circle 402 and moving upwardly in the
direction illustrated by the arrow 404 and another touch contact
beginning at the location illustrated by the circle 406 and moving
upwardly in the direction illustrated by the arrow 408.
[0033] The touch contacts are illustrated by the circles 402, 406
in FIG. 4 through FIG. 9. The touch contacts begin at locations
illustrated in FIG. 4, that are associated with the "S" and "L"
keys of the keyboard 302. For the purpose of the example of FIG. 3
through FIG. 9, the "S" and "L" keys are predetermined locations on
the keyboard 302, from which an upward gesture is associated with
the function to change the layout of the keyboard, referred to as
the keyboard transformation function, and the function is
identified at 206.
[0034] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 through FIG. 9, the
keyboard transformation function is a function to change the
keyboard layout by changing the locations of the keys 310, for
example, to increase the number of rows of the keyboard to four
rows. The keyboard is changed at 210. The change is illustrated in
FIG. 5 through FIG. 9.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the rows 304, 306, 308 of
keys 310 of the keyboard 302 are moved upwardly, away from the
bottom edge 502 of the display area 504 of the touch-sensitive
display 118 as the touches, or locations of touch contact, move.
The terms up or upwardly and down or downwardly are utilized herein
to refer to directions relative to the orientation of the displayed
keyboard illustrated in the figures. The rows of keys 310 are moved
upwardly with the gesture such that the contact locations,
illustrated by the circles 402, 406 in FIG. 4, are locations at
which the keyboard 302 is grabbed to move the keys 310. The keys
310 are moved a sufficient distance from the bottom edge 502 to
provide space for an additional row of keys 310.
[0036] After the keys are moved away from the edge 502, keys drop
back down toward the edge 502 as the locations of touch contact
move. Not all the keys drop back down toward the edge as the keys
move relative to each other, i.e., ones of the keys move relative
to other ones of the keys. In this example, the space key 506 drops
down and the backspace key 508 and return key 510 drop down such
that the space key 506 and the return key 510 move along their
respective key paths, to a new or fourth row, as illustrated in
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The backspace key 508 moves from the second row
306 to the third row 308. Two new keys, including the period, or
"." key 512 and the comma, or "," key 514 are added. The two new
keys are added to the new, or fourth row 516 of keys. The new keys
are displayed as entering the display area of the touch-sensitive
display 118, from the bottom edge 502.
[0037] Movement of the space bar to the fourth row 516 provides
additional space in the third row 308. As the locations of touch
contact continue to move, the keys in the third row 308 are moved
along their respective key paths to new locations in the third row,
to utilize the space, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The "Z" key 702,
the "X" key 704, the "C" key 706, and the V'' key 708 move to the
right such that the "Z" key 702 moves away from the left edge 710
of the display area 504 to leave a space between the left edge 710
and the "Z" key 702. The "B" key 712, the "N" key 714, the "M" key
716, and the backspace key 508 move along respective key paths to
new location in the third row 308 to utilize the space left after
movement of the space key 506. Keys in the second row 306 may also
be moved along their respective key paths to new locations in the
second row to utilize the space left after movement of the
backspace key 508.
[0038] Additionally, the shift key 718 and a key 720 that is
associated with a numeric/symbolic keyboard are moved down along
their respective key paths such that the key 718 associated with
the numeric/symbolic keyboard is moved to the fourth row 516 and
the shift key 720 is moved from the second row 306 to the third row
308.
[0039] As the locations of touch contact move further, the keys in
the first row 304 are moved along their respective key paths to
space the keys along the first row 304, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
Each of the keys is resized by changing the width of the keys such
that the keys are spaced along and generally fill the width of the
display area, with small spaces between the keys, as illustrated in
FIG. 9, which shows the second keyboard. As illustrated, the key
widths in the second keyboard are not all equal. The keys in the
first row 304, for example, are not as wide as the keys in the
second row 306 and the third row 308. The fourth row 516 includes
keys of greater width than the remaining keys, including the space
key 506, the return key 510, and the key 720 associated with the
numeric/symbolic keyboard.
[0040] When the touch ends, the last detected locations of touch
contact are beyond a threshold distance, as illustrated by the
dashed line 902. Thus, the second keyboard is maintained on the
touch-sensitive display 118 when the touch ends.
[0041] When a touch ends at locations that are a distance that does
not meet the threshold, e.g., are located below the line 902
illustrated in FIG. 9, the keys return, along their respective key
paths, to the three row keyboard illustrated in FIG. 3. A
multi-touch gesture, such as the gesture illustrated by the circles
402, 406 in FIG. 4 through FIG. 9, may meet the threshold when one
or when both touches meet or extend beyond or above the line 902.
Alternatively, a multi-touch gesture may be determined to meet the
threshold when both touches meet or extend above the line 902.
[0042] In the example described above with reference to FIG. 3
through FIG. 9, a first keyboard that includes three rows of keys
is changed to a second keyboard that includes four rows of keys.
The keyboard may include other rows of keys and more rows of keys
may be added. The number of rows may also be reduced, for example,
from four to three rows.
[0043] The method is not limited to the portable electronic device
illustrated in the examples. The method may be applied utilizing
other electronic devices. The method may also be applied to a
keyboard displayed in a portrait orientation.
[0044] A method includes displaying a first keyboard on a
touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting a touch
on the first keyboard, and when the touch is associated with a
keyboard transformation function, changing the first keyboard into
a second keyboard by moving keys of the first keyboard relative to
other keys of the first keyboard, from first locations, along
respective key paths, to second locations on the touch-sensitive
display.
[0045] An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display and
at least one processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display and
configured to display a first keyboard on the touch-sensitive
display, detect a touch on the first keyboard, and when the touch
is associated with a keyboard transformation function, change the
first keyboard into a second keyboard by moving keys of the first
keyboard relative to other keys of the first keyboard, from first
locations, along respective key paths, to second locations on the
touch-sensitive display.
[0046] More rows may be added to a keyboard such that additional
keys may be added to increase the number of characters that may be
entered utilizing the keyboard, and/or to increase the size of keys
of the keyboard to facilitate selection of the keys. Alternatively,
keys may be removed when the number of rows is decreased or the
size of keys may be decreased. The movement of the keys along their
respective key paths is displayed on the touch-sensitive display
when the keyboard is changed. Ready identification of the new
locations of keys is facilitated by displaying the movement of the
keys during changing of the keyboard. The user may control the
movement of the keys, for example, by controlling the speed. A user
may also reverse the movement of the keys by reversing the
direction of movement of the touch. Thus, the user may follow the
movement of the keys to their new locations.
[0047] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the present disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended
claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
to be embraced within their scope.
* * * * *