System and methods for interacting with a control environment

• US 10,296,178 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chambers, Christopher, Scott, Wayne, Scott, Cheryl, Yuh, Allen, Arling, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Di
• Application Number:
  US12/969,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,079 Days
• Field of Search: 715835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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

Abstract

A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing an alterable user interface comprised of a user interface page having a plurality of user interface elements displayed on a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, the instructions performing steps comprising:

pre-defining within the touch screen display of the portable electronic device a first area which is dedicated for use in accepting user input indicating a desire to modify a first interface characteristic of the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display wherein the first area of the touch screen display is spaced from the plurality of user interface elements displayed on the touch screen display;

accepting user input via the first area of the touch screen display, wherein the user input comprises a motion made across a surface of the touch screen display made to indicate a desire to modify a first interface characteristic of the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display; and

in response to the user input, causing the first interface characteristic of the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display to be modified such that a first interface state of a plurality of interface states for the user interface page is displayed on the touch screen display;

wherein each of the plurality of interface states for the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display comprises a unique subset of the plurality of user interface elements;

wherein user input comprising a motion made in a first direction within the first area of the touch screen display causes the first interface characteristic of the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display to be modified such that the first interface state of the plurality of interface states for the user interface page is displayed on the touch screen display; and

wherein user input comprising a motion made in a second direction opposite to the first direction within the first area of the touch screen display causes the first interface characteristic of the user interface page displayed on the touch screen display to be modified such that a second interface state of the plurality of interface states for the user interface page is displayed on the touch screen display.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion made in the first direction within the first area of the touch screen display comprises a motion made towards a top side of the first area of the touch screen display and the motion made in the second direction within the first area of the touch screen display comprises a motion made towards a bottom side of the first area of the touch screen display.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion made in the first direction within the first area of the touch screen display comprises a motion made towards a left side of the first area of the touch screen display and the motion made in the second direction within the first area of the touch screen display comprises a motion made towards a right side of the first area of the touch screen display.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the first interface characteristic comprises the relative size of interface elements on the touch screen display, and the first interface state comprises a state wherein the interface elements on the touch screen display are relatively larger.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the first interface characteristic comprises the relative size of interface elements on the touch screen display, and the second interface state comprises a state wherein the interface elements on the touch screen display are relatively smaller.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further pre-define a second area within the touch screen display of the portable electronic device which is dedicated for use in accepting user input indicating a desire to modify a second interface characteristic, the first interface characteristic and second interface characteristic being able to be modified both separately or in conjunction with one another based on characteristics of the accepted user input, and wherein the first area of the touch screen display is spaced from the plurality of user interface elements displayed on the touch screen display.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein the second interface characteristic comprises the relative number of interface elements on the display.