PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY IMMEDIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO INPUT EVENT

• US 20100064061A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sullivan, John, Warren, Daniel A., Rogers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/205,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for setting up an action on an electronic device before an input is confirmed and performing the action once the input is confirmed are provided. The amount of time needed to perform the action in response to detecting an input may be reduced by an amount of time equivalent to the lesser of the wait time used to confirm the input or the time needed to set up the action. The electronic device may set up a predicted action to be performed substantially immediately following confirmation of the input.

Claims

1. An electronic device for initiating a set up of an action, the electronic device comprising:

an input mechanism operative to receive an input; and

control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is operative to;

detect the input;

predict at least one action to perform in response to the detected input;

set up the at least one action;

confirm the input; and

perform the at least one action in response to the confirmed input.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to perform the at least one action as soon as the set up of the at least one action is completed.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

detect the input a first time to obtain a first input value;

wait a predetermined length of time;

detect the input a second time to obtain a second input value; and

compare the first input value to the second input value.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine that the first input value matches the second input value; and

confirm the input in response to the determination.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine that the detected input corresponds to the confirmed input; and

perform the at least one action in response to the determination.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine that the detected input does not correspond to the confirmed input;

flush the set up of the at least one action;

set up at least one other action corresponding to the confirmed input; and

perform the at least one other action.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set up of the at least one action is completed before the input is confirmed.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set up of the at least one action is completed concurrently with the input being confirmed.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set up of the at least one action is completed after the input is confirmed.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of an electronic device pad, a touch screen, a button, a mouse, a joystick, a track ball, a keypad, a dial, a switch, an actuator, a scroll wheel, and a click wheel.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input comprises at least one of a voice instruction, a data instruction, a manual instruction, an instruction from a program installed in the electronic device, and an instruction based upon a sensed condition.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one action is related to the play back of a media file.

13. A method for initiating a set up of an action on an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting an input;

confirming the input;

initiating the set up of at least one action in response to detecting the input and before the input is confirmed; and

performing the at least one action.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises performing the at least one action as soon as the set up of the at least one action is completed.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the confirming the input comprises:

detecting the input a first time to obtain a first input value;

waiting a predetermined length of time;

detecting the input a second time to obtain a second input value; and

comparing the first input value to the second input value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the confirming the input further comprises:

determining that the first input value matches the second input value; and

confirming the input in response to the determining.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises:

determining that the at least one action corresponds to the confirmed input; and

performing the at least one action in response to the determining.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises:

determining that the detected input corresponds to the confirmed input; and

performing the at least one action in response to the determining.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises:

determining that the at least one action does not correspond to the confirmed input;

flushing the set up of the at least one action;

setting up at least one other action corresponding to the confirmed input; and

performing the at least one other action.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising completing the set up of the at least one action occurs before the confirming the input.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising completing the set up of the at least one action concurrently with the confirming the input.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising completing the set up of the at least one action after the confirming the input.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the input comprises at least one of a voice instruction, a data instruction, a manual instruction, an instruction from a program installed in the electronic device, and an instruction based upon a sensed condition.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises playing back a media file.

25. A computer-readable media encoded with machine readable instructions for initiating an action on an electronic device, the computer-readable media comprising the instructions for:

detecting an input;

predicting at least one action to perform in response to detecting the input;

confirming the input;

initiating the set up of the at least one action in response to predicting the at least one action and before the input is confirmed; and

performing the at least one action in response to confirming the input.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises performing the at least one action as soon as the set up of the at least one action is completed.

27. The computer-readable media of claim 25, further comprising the instructions for completing the set up of the at least one action before the input is confirmed.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 25, further comprising the instructions for completing the set up of the at least one action concurrently with the input being confirmed.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises performing the at least one action as soon as the input is confirmed.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the performing the at least one action comprises playing back a media file.