Multifunction device with integrated search and application selection

• US 10,067,991 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Hanh B
• Application Number:
  US15/167,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20160275155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 707706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

In some embodiments, a multifunction device with a touch screen display and a plurality of applications concurrently displays a first plurality of application launch icons in a first area of the touch screen display, detects a first input by a user, and in response to detecting the first input by the user, displays a search input area on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the device receives search input from the user, performs a search using the search input, and displays a plurality of search results from the search. In some embodiments, the device detects user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results, and displays information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application. In some embodiments, in response input from the user, the device returns to the search results and repeats this process for one or more applications.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detecting a predefined user gesture;

in response to detecting the predefined user gesture, displaying a search input area;

receiving an input on the search input area from a soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising one or more search input characters;

in response to detecting the input on the search input area from the soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising the one or more search input characters;

displaying the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

performing a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

displaying a portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a contact with a home button of the multifunction device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch screen display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a left to right swipe gesture.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a top to bottom swipe gesture.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the search input area in response to detecting the finger swipe gesture comprises displaying an animation that comprises sliding the search input area onto the touch screen display from a first side of the display while concurrently sliding the plurality of application launch icons toward a second side of the display opposite the first side of the display.

7. A device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

display a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detect a predefined user gesture;

in response to detecting the predefined user gesture, displaying a search input area;

receiving an input on the search input area from a soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising one or more search input characters;

in response to receiving the input on the search input area from the soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising the one or more search input characters;

display the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

perform a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

display a portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a contact with a home button of the multifunction device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch screen display.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a left to right swipe gesture.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a top to bottom swipe gesture.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein displaying the search input area in response to detecting the finger swipe gesture comprises displaying an animation that comprises sliding the search input area onto the touch screen display from a first side of the display while concurrently sliding the plurality of application launch icons toward a second side of the display opposite the first side of the display.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detect a predefined user gesture;

in response to detecting the predefined user gesture, displaying a search input area;

receiving an input on the search input area from a soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising one or more search input characters;

in response to receiving the input on the search input area from the soft keyboard displayed on the touch screen display, the input comprising the one or more search input characters;

display the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

perform a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

display a portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a contact with a home button of the multifunction device.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the predefined user gesture comprises detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch screen display.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a left to right swipe gesture.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the finger swipe gesture comprises a finger contact on the touch screen display followed by a top to bottom swipe gesture.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the search input area in response to detecting the finger swipe gesture comprises displaying an animation that comprises sliding the search input area onto the touch screen display from a first side of the display while concurrently sliding the plurality of application launch icons toward a second side of the display opposite the first side of the display.