Method, system, and graphical user interface for activating hyperlinks

• US 20080259041A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Williamson, Richard, Blumenberg, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Methods, systems, and graphical user interfaces for activating hyperlinks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable electronic device: displays content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content; detects a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact; determines a point within the area of contact; determines a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and activates the determined link.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device,

displaying a web page on a touch screen display, wherein the web page includes a plurality of links to additional content;

detecting a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact;

determining the centroid of the area of contact; and

determining a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the centroid, including;

that the determined link is the link in the plurality of links that first intersects a predefined spiral path starting at the centroid;

that no link is determined if the spiral path reaches a predetermined radius without contacting a link in the plurality of links; and

activating the determined link.

2. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device,

displaying content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content;

detecting a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact;

determining a point within the area of contact;

determining a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and

activating the determined link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the point within the area of contact is the centroid of the area of contact.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the closest proximity criterion is that the determined link is the closest link in the plurality of links to the centroid of the area of contact.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the closest proximity criterion is that the determined link is the closest link in the plurality of links to the point.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the closest proximity criterion is that the determined link is the link in the plurality of links that first intersects a predefined spiral path starting at the point.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the spiral path is a clockwise spiral or a counterclockwise spiral.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein displayed content and the plurality of links have associated coordinates, and the spiral path is defined with respect to the coordinates of the content.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the maximum proximity criterion is that no link is determined if the spiral path reaches a predetermined radius without contacting a link in the plurality of links.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined radius is in the coordinates of the content.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the maximum proximity criterion is that the determined link is less than a predetermined distance from the point.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the maximum proximity criterion is that the determined link at least partially overlaps with the area of contact.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the maximum proximity criterion is that the determined link is within the area of contact.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the content on the touch screen display has an associated scale factor, and wherein the maximum proximity criterion is that the determined link is located within a distance from the point that is determined in accordance with the scale factor.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the content is a web page.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the content is a document or email message.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the determined link is activated if the contact is broken.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the determined link is activated if the contact is broken before a predetermined time has elapsed.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the determined link is activated if the contact is broken after a predetermined time has elapsed.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein the determined link is activated with a tap gesture.

21. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying additional content that corresponds to the activated link.

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

content that includes a plurality of links to additional content;

wherein, in response to detection of an area of contact of a finger with the touch screen display, a point in the area of contact is determined and a link in the plurality of links is chosen and activated;

wherein the link satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point within the area of contact; and

wherein the predetermined criteria include a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion.

23. 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 including;

instructions for displaying content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content;

instructions for detecting a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact;

instructions for determining a point within the area of contact;

instructions for determining a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and

instructions for activating the determined link.

24. A computer-program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to;

display content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content;

detect a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact;

determine a point within the area of contact;

determine a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and

activate the determined link.

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

means for displaying content on a touch screen display, wherein the content includes a plurality of links to additional content;

means for detecting a contact by a finger with the touch screen display, wherein the contact includes an area of contact;

means for determining a point within the area of contact;

means for determining a link in the plurality of links that satisfies two or more predetermined criteria with respect to the point, including a closest proximity criterion and a maximum proximity criterion; and

means for activating the determined link.