Voice and touch user interface

• US 10,371,546 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fino, Jorge S., Chaudhri, Imran, Herz, Scott M., Santamaria, Justin E., Pitschel, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US15/650,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20170314958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Various examples are directed to an electronic device capable of touch input through a touch-sensitive surface and/or voice input through a microphone. In some examples, the electronic device may be used in an automobile. For example, some or all of the electronic device may be mounted in a dashboard for use while driving. The electronic device may provide informational content, entertainment content, navigation, and communication features in such a manner that user interaction may be minimized, thus providing a safe driving experience. This can be accomplished by performing tasks and presenting content automatically, without the need for user input, and by allowing user input through voice controls, touch screen controls, and/or physical controls mounted on the dashboard or steering wheel, among other possibilities.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at an electronic device including one or more processors and a memory;

operating an application on the electronic device;

while operating the application on the electronic device, receiving a request to display information about a first item in the application; and

in response to receiving the request to display the information about the first item;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is not in an automobile;

causing display of, on a display, first information about the first item and second information about the first item; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

causing display of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application is a messaging application, the first information comprises a first message received at the electronic device after a predetermined time, and the second information comprises a second message received at the electronic device before the predetermined time.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

operating the application in a full information mode; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

operating the application in a limited information mode,

wherein;

the electronic device is currently operating in a respective operating mode of the full information mode and the limited information mode, and

the predetermined time is the time the application entered the current respective operating mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application is a contacts application, the first information comprises one or more of a phone number and an address for a respective contact, and the second information comprises one or more of a website and an email address for the respective contact.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a button for calling a respective contact and the second information comprises a phone number of the respective contact.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is connected to the automobile, and the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is not connected to the automobile.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein when the electronic device is connected to the automobile, the electronic device is in communication with a second electronic device via a wired connection or a wireless connection, the second electronic device being embedded in the vehicle, and the second device including the display.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

while operating the application on the electronic device;

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

providing a first input mechanism for receiving an input from a user of the electronic device for providing input to the application; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

providing a second input mechanism, different than the first input mechanism, for receiving the input from the user of the electronic device for providing input to the application.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the first input mechanism comprises a text entry input mechanism, and the second input mechanism comprises a dictation input mechanism.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

operating the application in a full information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item and the second information about the first item; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

operating the application in a limited information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a first set of information, including the first information and the second information; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a second set of information, including the first information, that is less than the first set of information.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

operating an application on the electronic device;

while operating the application on the electronic device, receiving a request to display information about a first item in the application; and

in response to receiving the request to display the information about the first item;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is not in an automobile;

causing display of, on a display, first information about the first item and second information about the first item; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

causing display of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the application is a messaging application, the first information comprises a first message received at the electronic device after a predetermined time, and the second information comprises a second message received at the electronic device before the predetermined time.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the application is a contacts application, the first information comprises one or more of a phone number and an address for a respective contact, and the second information comprises one or more of a website and an email address for the respective contact.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first information comprises a button for calling a respective contact and the second information comprises a phone number of the respective contact.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is connected to the automobile, and the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is not connected to the automobile.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while operating the application on the electronic device;

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

providing a first input mechanism for receiving an input from a user of the electronic device for providing input to the application; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

providing a second input mechanism, different from the first input mechanism, for receiving the input from the user of the electronic device for receiving input to the application.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

operating the application in a full information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item and the second information about the first item; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

operating the application in a limited information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

19. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a first set of information, including the first information and the second information; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a second set of information, including the first information, that is less than the first set of information.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to perform a method comprising:

operating an application on the electronic device;

while operating the application on the electronic device, receiving a request to display information about a first item in the application; and

in response to receiving the request to display the information about the first item;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is not in an automobile;

causing display of, on a display, first information about the first item and second information about the first item; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

causing display of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the application is a messaging application, the first information comprises a first message received at the electronic device after a predetermined time, and the second information comprises a second message received at the electronic device before the predetermined time.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the application is a contacts application, the first information comprises one or more of a phone number and an address for a respective contact, and the second information comprises one or more of a website and an email address for the respective contact.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first information comprises a button for calling a respective contact and the second information comprises a phone number of the respective contact.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is connected to the automobile, and the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile comprises a determination that the electronic device is not connected to the automobile.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

while operating the application on the electronic device;

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

providing a first input mechanism for receiving an input from a user of the electronic device for providing input to the application; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

providing a second input mechanism, different from the first input mechanism, for receiving the input from the user of the electronic device for receiving input to the application.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile;

operating the application in a full information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item and the second information about the first item; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile;

operating the application in a limited information mode including the displaying of, on the display, the first information about the first item without displaying the second information about the first item.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is not in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a first set of information, including the first information and the second information; and

in accordance with the determination that the electronic device is in the automobile, the electronic device causes display of a second set of information, including the first information, that is less than the first set of information.