Enhanced display of interactive elements in a browser

• US 10,152,228 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Barkway, Michael Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Michaud, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/435,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20170160926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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 3/04883 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

A method, system and electronic device are provided for processing touch inputs on a touchscreen display. A starting touch input is detected on a document displayed at an initial scale on the touchscreen. If the starting touch input is within a disambiguation region for a number of interactive elements in the document, while contact is maintained on the display a further view of the document at an enlarged scale is displayed showing the area of the touch input. When an ending touch input is detected, one interactive element may be selected according to the location of the ending touch input, and an interaction function, such as requesting a resource hyperlinked by the selected interactive element, is automatically initiated.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying a document at an initial scale in a first view on a touchscreen display, the document comprising a plurality of interactive elements;

detecting a starting touch input initiating a contact on the touchscreen display at a touch point, the touch point having an initial position within the first view;

determining whether the initial position is within a disambiguation region, wherein a disambiguation boundary for each one of the plurality of interactive elements comprises an area defined around each of said interactive elements and wherein the initial position is determined to be within the disambiguation region when the initial position is located within disambiguation boundaries of at least two of the plurality of interactive elements;

in response to determining that the initial position is within the disambiguation region;

displaying a region of the document at an enlarged scale in a second view, the region being defined by the initial position;

detecting a continuous moving touch input within the first view that maintains the contact on the touchscreen display, the moving touch input indicating movement of the touch point from the initial position to a final position; and

detecting an ending touch input at the final position, the ending touch input ending the contact on the touchscreen display; and

in response to detecting the ending touch input, identifying a first interactive element that is located at the final position where the continuous moving touch input ended, and automatically initiating an interaction function with the first interactive element, wherein displaying the region of the document in the second view comprises updating the second view as a position of the touch point changes during detection of the moving touch input, the second view comprising a region of the document defined by a current position of the touch point within the first view such that when the current position of the touch point corresponds to a region occupied by an interactive element, said interactive element is visually indicated in the second view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction function comprises initiating a request over a network for a resource identified by the first interactive element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second view overlays at least a portion of the first view.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the initial position is determined to not be within the disambiguation region, processing the starting touch input in accordance with a default process.

5. An electronic device, including:

a touchscreen display; and

a processor in communication with the touchscreen display, the processor being configured to be capable of;

displaying a document at an initial scale in a first view on a touchscreen display, the document comprising a plurality of interactive elements;

detecting a starting touch input initiating a contact on the touchscreen display at a touch point, the touch point having an initial position within the first view;

determining whether the initial position is within a disambiguation region, wherein a disambiguation boundary for each one of the plurality of interactive elements comprises an area defined around each of said interactive elements and wherein the initial position is determined to be within the disambiguation region when the initial position is located within disambiguation boundaries of at least two of the plurality of interactive elements;

in response to determining that the initial position is within the disambiguation region;

displaying a region of the document at an enlarged scale in a second view, the region being defined by the initial position;

detecting a continuous moving touch input within the first view that maintains the contact on the touchscreen display, the moving touch input indicating movement of the touch point from the initial position to a final position; and

detecting an ending touch input at the final position, the ending touch input ending the contact on the touchscreen display; and

in response to detecting the ending touch input, identifying a first interactive element that is located at the final position where the continuous moving touch input ended, and automatically initiating an interaction function with the first interactive element, wherein displaying the region of the document in the second view comprises updating the second view as a position of the touch point changes during detection of the moving touch input, the second view comprising a region of the document defined by a current position of the touch point within the first view such that when the current position of the touch point corresponds to a region occupied by an interactive element, said interactive element is visually indicated in the second view.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the interaction function comprises initiating a request over a network for a resource identified by the first interactive element.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second view overlays at least a portion of the first view.

8. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further capable of, when the initial position is determined to not be within the disambiguation region, processing the starting touch input in accordance with a default process.

9. A non-transitory electronic device-readable medium bearing code which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to implement a method of:

displaying a document at an initial scale in a first view on a touchscreen display, the document comprising a plurality of interactive elements;

detecting a starting touch input initiating a contact on the touchscreen display at a touch point, the touch point having an initial position within the first view;

determining whether the initial position is within a disambiguation region, wherein a disambiguation boundary for each one of the plurality of interactive elements comprises an area defined around each of said interactive elements and wherein the initial position is determined to be within the disambiguation region when the initial position is located within disambiguation boundaries of at least two of the plurality of interactive elements;

in response to determining that the initial position is within the disambiguation region;

displaying a region of the document at an enlarged scale in a second view, the region being defined by the initial position;

detecting a continuous moving touch input within the first view that maintains the contact on the touchscreen display, the moving touch input indicating movement of the touch point from the initial position to a final position; and

detecting an ending touch input at the final position, the ending touch input ending the contact on the touchscreen display; and

in response to detecting the ending touch input, identifying a first interactive elements that is located at the final position where the continuous moving touch input ended, and automatically initiating an interaction function with the first interactive element, wherein displaying the region of the document in the second view comprises updating the second view as a position of the touch point changes during detection of the moving touch input, the second view comprising a region of the document defined by a current position of the touch point within the first view such that when the current position of the touch point corresponds to a region occupied by an interactive element, said interactive element is visually indicated in the second view.

10. The non-transitory electronic device-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the interaction function comprises initiating a request over a network for a resource identified by the first interactive element.

11. The non-transitory electronic device-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises, when the initial position is determined to not be within the disambiguation region, processing the starting touch input in accordance with a default process.