System and methods for interacting with a control environment

• US 20080016468A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul, Yuh, Allen, Scott, Cheryl, Scott, Wayne, Chambers, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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. In a portable electronic device, a computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing a scalable interface on a display, the instructions performing steps comprising:

defining within the display of the portable electronic device a first area for accepting user input indicating a desire to modify a first interface characteristic;

accepting user input via the first area, the user input indicating a desire to modify a first interface characteristic of the interface on the display; and

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

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the first area defines a region of the display comprising a middle portion, a first end portion and a second end portion.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 2, wherein user input on the first area from the middle portion to the first end portion causes the first interface characteristic of the interface on the display to be modified such that the first interface state is displayed on the display, and user input on the first area from the middle portion to the second end portion causes the first interface characteristic of the interface on the display to be modified such that a second interface state is displayed on the display.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 3, wherein the first interface characteristic comprises the relative size of interface elements on the display, and the first interface state comprises a state wherein the interface elements on the 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 display, and the second interface state comprises a state wherein the interface elements on the display are relatively smaller.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further define a second area within the display of the portable electronic device for 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.

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.

8. In a portable electronic device, a computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing a scalable interface on a display being used to display content, the instructions performing steps comprising:

accepting via the display a first touch input provided to indicate a desire to modify a zoom factor of the content being displayed on the display; and

in response to the first touch input, causing the zoom factor of the content being displayed on the display to be modified as a function of a characteristic of the first touch input.

9. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the zoom factor of the content is modified from a first discrete zoom level to a second discrete zoom level as a function of the characteristic of the first touch input.

10. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions accept a second touch input via the display, the second touch input having a characteristic opposite the characteristic of the first touch input, and wherein, in response to the second touch input, the zoom factor of the content is caused to be returned to the first discrete zoom level from the second discrete zoom level.

11. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the zoom factor of the content is modified on a continuum from a first zoom level to a second zoom level as a function of the characteristic of the first touch input.

12. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions accept a second touch input via the display, the second touch input having a characteristic opposite the characteristic of the first touch input, and wherein, in response to the second touch input, the zoom factor of the content is caused to be returned on a continuum to the first zoom level from the second zoom level.

13. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the characteristic of the touch input comprises a distance defined by a movement of the first touch input on the display.

14. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the characteristic of the touch input comprises a vector defined by a movement of the first touch input on the display.

15. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the first touch input is provided to a predefined area of the display.