Portable Electronic Device Supporting Application Switching

• US 20080168379A1
• Filed: 01/06/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Lemay, Stephen O., Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A portable electronic device displays, on a touch screen display, a user interface for a phone application during a phone call. In response to detecting activation of a menu icon or menu button, the UI for the phone application is replaced with a menu of application icons, while maintaining the phone call. In response to detecting a finger gesture on a non-telephone service application icon, displaying a user interface for the non-telephone service application while continuing to maintain the phone call, the UI for the non-telephone service application including a switch application icon that is not displayed in the UI when there is no ongoing phone call. In response to detecting a finger gesture on the switch application icon, replacing display of the UI for the non-telephone service application with a respective UI for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display,

displaying on the touch screen display a user interface for a phone application during a phone call;

detecting activation of a menu icon or menu button during the phone call,

in response to detecting activation of the menu icon or menu button, replacing the user interface for the phone application with a menu of application icons including an icon for the phone application;

maintaining the phone call while displaying the menu of application icons on the touch screen display;

detecting a finger gesture on an application icon in the menu of application icons other than the phone application icon;

in response to detecting the finger gesture on the application icon other than the phone application icon, displaying a user interface for a corresponding application on the touch screen display while continuing to maintain the phone call, wherein the user interface for the corresponding application includes a switch application icon that is not displayed in the user interface for the corresponding application when there is no ongoing phone call;

detecting a finger gesture on the switch application icon; and

in response to detecting the finger gesture on the switch application icon, replacing display of the user interface for the corresponding application with a respective user interface for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

2. The method of claim 1, including displaying the user interface for the phone application, during the phone call, so as to occupy all or substantially all of the touch screen display with the user interface for the phone application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, when displaying the menu of application icons in response to detecting activation of the menu icon or menu button, including an icon for the phone application, the phone application icon is changed in appearance as compared to when there is no ongoing phone call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, when displaying the menu of application icons in response to detecting activation of the menu icon or menu button and while continuing to maintain the phone call, displaying a switch application icon that is not displayed in the menu of application icons when there is no ongoing phone call.

5. The method of claim 1, including displaying the user interface for the application corresponding to the application icon so as to occupy all or substantially all of the touch screen display with the user interface for the application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

6. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program further including instructions for;

displaying on the touch screen display a user interface for a phone application during a phone call;

detecting activation of a menu icon or menu button during the phone call;

responding to activation of the menu icon or menu button by replacing the user interface for the phone application with a menu of application icons including an icon for the phone application;

maintaining the phone call while displaying the menu of application icons on the touch screen display;

detecting a finger gesture on an application icon in the menu of application icons other than the phone application icon;

responding to detecting the finger gesture on the application icon other than the phone application icon, by displaying a user interface for a corresponding application on the touch screen display while continuing to maintain the phone call, wherein the user interface for the corresponding application includes a switch application icon that is not displayed in the user interface for the corresponding application when there is no ongoing phone call;

detecting a finger gesture on the switch application icon; and

responding to detecting the finger gesture on the switch application icon, by replacing display of the user interface for the corresponding application with a respective user interface for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

7. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, including instructions, which when executed by a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display on the touch screen display a user interface for a phone application during a phone call;

detect activation of a menu icon or menu button during the phone call,

respond to activation of the menu icon or menu button by replacing the user interface for the phone application with a menu of application icons including an icon for the phone application;

maintain the phone call while displaying the menu of application icons on the touch screen display;

detect a finger gesture on an application icon in the menu of application icons other than the phone application icon;

respond to the finger gesture on the application icon other than the phone application icon by displaying a user interface for a corresponding application on the touch screen display while continuing to maintain the phone call, wherein the user interface for the corresponding application includes a switch application icon that is not displayed in the user interface for the corresponding application when there is no ongoing phone call;

detect a finger gesture on the switch application icon; and

respond to the finger gesture on the switch application icon by replacing display of the user interface for the corresponding application with a respective user interface for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

8. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a phone application user interface on the touch screen display, displayed during a phone call while providing a phone call service; and

an application menu user interface on the touch screen display, displayed upon detecting activation of a menu icon or menu button during the phone call while the portable electronic device continues to maintain the phone call, the application menu user interface including a menu of application icons including an icon for the phone application and an icon for a non-telephone service; and

a non-telephone service user interface on the touch screen, displayed in response to a user selection of the non-telephone service icon, while continuing to maintain the phone call, wherein the user interface for the non-telephone service includes a switch application icon that is not displayed in the user interface for the non-telephone service when there is no ongoing phone call;

wherein the graphical user interface, upon detection of a finger gesture on the switch application icon in the non-telephone service user interface, replaces display of the non-telephone service user interface with a respective user interface for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.

9. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising:

means for displaying a phone application user interface on the touch screen display, displayed during a phone call while providing a phone call service; and

means for displaying an application menu user interface on the touch screen display, displayed upon detecting activation of a menu icon or menu button during the phone call while the portable electronic device continues to maintain the phone call, the application menu user interface including a menu of application icons including an icon for the phone application and an icon for a non-telephone service; and

means for displaying a non-telephone service user interface on the touch screen, displayed in response to a user selection of the non-telephone service icon, while continuing to maintain the phone call, wherein the user interface for the non-telephone service includes a switch application icon that is not displayed in the user interface for the non-telephone service when there is no ongoing phone call;

wherein the graphical user interface, upon detection of a finger gesture on the switch application icon in the non-telephone service user interface, replaces display of the non-telephone service user interface with a respective user interface for the phone application while continuing to maintain the phone call.