Portable electronic device including touch-sensitive display and method of controlling selection of information

• US 10,126,846 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ainalem, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Daeho D
• Application Number:
  US14/682,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20160299588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 715770, 715860, 715863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A method of controlling selection of information on a display is provided. The method includes displaying the information on the display and displaying a selection indicator associated with a selection including a part of the information, and detecting an input to adjust an amount of the information included in the selection. In response to detecting the input, he selection indicator is adjusted based on the input. A determination is made whether the amount of the information included in the selection exceeds a threshold limit. In response to determining that the amount of the information included in the selection exceeds the threshold limit, the selection is displayed as a split selection by displaying a beginning part of the selection and an end part of the selection without displaying a middle part of the selection between the beginning part and the end part, and displaying a split indicator. In response to determining that the amount of the information included in the selection is within the threshold limit, display of the information included in the selection is continued.

Claims

1. A method of controlling selection of information on a display, the method comprising:

displaying the information on the display and displaying a selection indicator associated with a user-selection comprising a user-selected content within the information;

detecting an input associated with the selection indicator to adjust an amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection;

in response to detecting the input, adjusting the selection indicator based on the input and determining whether the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds a threshold limit;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds the threshold limit;

displaying the user-selection as a split selection by displaying a beginning part of the user-selection within the information and an end part of the user-selection within the information without displaying a middle part of the user-selection between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection, and displaying a split indicator between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection such that the middle part of the user-selection within the information is replaced by the split indicator;

wherein the split indicator is selectable and, in response to a select and drag operation on the split indicator between the beginning part of the user-selection and the end part of the user-selection, moving the split indicator within the user-selection and thus adjusting the amount of the user-selected content in one or both of the beginning part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed and the end part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection is within the threshold limit;

continuing displaying the user-selected content included in the user-selection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold limit is equal to a predetermined area of the display in which the information is displayed such that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds the threshold limit when the size of the user-selection exceeds the size of the predetermined area of the display.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display is part of a touch-sensitive display and detecting the input to adjust the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection comprises detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the gesture is associated with the selection.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the indicator comprises displaying a first identifier at a start of the user-selection and displaying a second identifier at an end of the user-selection.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the display is part of a touch-sensitive display and detecting the input to adjust the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection comprises detecting a gesture beginning on one of the first identifier and the second identifier.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are both displayed prior to displaying the user-selection as the split selection.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are both displayed during displaying the user-selection as the split selection.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising discontinuing displaying the selection indicator in response to receiving an input not associated with the user-selection.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display is part of a touch-sensitive display and the selection indicator associated with the user-selection is displayed in response to a touch contact meeting a threshold period of time.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying selectable options in response to detecting an end of the input to adjust the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code stored thereon, the computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to cause the electronic device to:

display information on a display of the portable electronic device and display a selection indicator associated with a user-selection comprising a user-selected content within the information;

detect an input associated with the selection indicator to adjust an amount of the user selected content included in the user-selection;

in response to detecting the input, adjust the selection indicator;

determine whether the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds a threshold limit;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds the threshold limit;

display the user-selection as a split selection by displaying a beginning part of the user-selection within the information and an end part of the user-selection within the information without displaying a middle part of the user-selection between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection, and display a split indicator between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection such that the middle part of the user-selection within the information is replaced by the split indicator;

wherein the split indicator is selectable and, in response to a select and drag operation on the split indicator between the beginning part of the user-selection and the end part of the user-selection, move the split indicator within the user-selection and thus adjusting the amount of the user-selected content in one or both of the beginning part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed and the end part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the selection is within the threshold limit;

continue displaying the user-selected content included in the selection.

12. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display; and

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display to control the touch-sensitive display to;

display information on the display and display a selection indicator associated with a user-selection comprising a user-selected content within the information;

detect an input associated with the selection indicator to adjust an amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection;

in response to detecting the input, adjust the selection indicator;

determine whether the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds a threshold limit;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds the threshold limit;

display the user-selection as a split selection by displaying a beginning part of the user-selection within the information and an end part of the user-selection within the information without displaying a middle part of the user-selection between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection, and display a split indicator between the beginning part and the end part of the user-selection such that the middle part of the user-selection within the information is replaced by the split indicator;

wherein the split indicator is selectable and, in response to a select and drag operation on the split indicator between the beginning part of the user-selection and the end part of the user-selection, move the split indicator within the user-selection and thus adjusting the amount of the user-selected content in one or both of the beginning part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed and the end part of the user-selection within the information that is displayed;

in response to determining that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection is within the threshold limit;

continue displaying the user-selected content included in the user-selection.

13. The portable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the threshold limit is equal to a predetermined area of the display in which the information is displayed such that the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection exceeds the threshold limit when the size of the user-selection exceeds the size of the predetermined area of the display.

14. The portable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the input to adjust the amount of the user selected content included in the user-selection comprises a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the gesture is associated with the user-selection.

15. The portable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the indicator comprises a first identifier at a start of the user-selection and a second identifier at an end of the user-selection.

16. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the input to adjust the amount of the user-selected content included in the user-selection comprises a gesture beginning on one of the first identifier and the second identifier.

17. The portable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are both displayed prior to displaying the user-selection as the split selection.

18. The portable electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are both displayed during displaying the user-selection as the split selection.