Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Creating and Using Duplicate Virtual Keys

• US 20110221678A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Davydov, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 8,621,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A method for duplicating and using virtual keys includes displaying a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keys. The method also includes detecting a first input to the device that activates a key cloning mode. The method further includes: while in the key cloning mode, detecting selection of a first key on the virtual keyboard; and in response to detecting selection of the first key, displaying a duplicate of the first key. The method further includes detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key; and, in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key, performing an action in accordance with the first key.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a display and a touch-sensitive surface;

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;

displaying a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keys;

detecting a first input to the device that activates a key cloning mode;

while in the key cloning mode;

detecting selection of a first key on the virtual keyboard; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the first key, displaying a duplicate of the first key;

detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key, performing an action in accordance with the first key.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a clone key;

and

including instructions for;

detecting activation of the clone key.

3. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

detecting a predefined gesture associated with activation of the key cloning mode on the touch-sensitive surface.

4. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

ceasing to display the virtual keyboard; and

,

maintaining display of the duplicate of the first key after the virtual keyboard ceases to be displayed.

5. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

detecting a second input on the duplicate of the first key; and

moving the duplicate of the first key across the display in accordance with the second input.

6. The device of claim 5, including instructions for:

ceasing to display the duplicate of the first soft key when the duplicate of the first key moves into the virtual keyboard.

7. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

while in the key cloning mode;

detecting selection of a second key, distinct from the first key, on the virtual keyboard; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the second key, displaying a duplicate of the second key;

detecting activation of the duplicate of the second key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the second key, performing an action in accordance with the second key.

8. The device of claim 7, including instructions for:

ceasing to display the virtual keyboard; and

,

maintaining display of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key after the virtual keyboard ceases to be displayed.

9. The device of claim 7, including instructions for:

detecting simultaneous activation of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key; and

,

in response to detecting simultaneous activation of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key, performing an action in accordance with a combination of the first key and the second key.

10. The device of claim 7, including instructions for:

detecting a gesture on the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key;

in response to detecting the gesture on the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key;

ceasing to display the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key; and

displaying a third key corresponding to a combination of the first key and second key;

detecting activation of the third key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the third key, performing an action in accordance with the combination of the first key and the second key.

11. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface;

displaying a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keys;

detecting a first input to the device that activates a key cloning mode;

while in the key cloning mode;

detecting selection of a first key on the virtual keyboard; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the first key, displaying a duplicate of the first key;

detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key, performing an action in accordance with the first key.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the virtual keyboard includes a clone key; and

detecting the first input corresponding to activation of the key cloning mode includes detecting activation of the clone key.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the first input corresponding to activation of the key cloning mode includes detecting a predefined gesture associated with activation of the key cloning mode on the touch-sensitive surface.

14. The method of claim 11, including:

ceasing to display the virtual keyboard; and

,

maintaining display of the duplicate of the first key after the virtual keyboard ceases to be displayed.

15. The method of claim 11, including:

detecting a second input on the duplicate of the first key; and

moving the duplicate of the first key across the display in accordance with the second input.

16. The method of claim 15, including:

ceasing to display the duplicate of the first key when the duplicate of the first key moves into the virtual keyboard.

17. The method of claim 11, including:

while in the key cloning mode;

detecting selection of a second key, distinct from the first key, on the virtual keyboard; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the second key, displaying a duplicate of the second key;

detecting activation of the duplicate of the second key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the second key, performing an action in accordance with the second key.

18. The method of claim 17, including:

ceasing to display the virtual keyboard; and

,

maintaining display of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key after the virtual keyboard ceases to be displayed.

19. The method of claim 17, including:

detecting simultaneous activation of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key; and

,

in response to detecting simultaneous activation of the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key, performing an action in accordance with a combination of the first key and the second key.

20. The method of claim 17, including:

detecting a gesture on the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key;

in response to detecting the gesture on the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key;

ceasing to display the duplicate of the first key and the duplicate of the second key; and

displaying a third key corresponding to a combination of the first key and second key;

detecting activation of the third key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the third key, performing an action in accordance with the combination of the first key and the second key.

21. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keys;

wherein;

a first input to the device is detected that activates a key cloning mode;

while in the key cloning mode;

selection of a first key on the virtual keyboard is detected; and

,

a duplicate of the first key is displayed in response to the detection of the selection of the first key;

activation of the duplicate of the first key is detected; and

,

an action is performed in accordance with the first key in response to the detection of the activation of the duplicate of the first key.

22. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to:

display a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of keys;

detect a first input to the device that activates a key cloning mode;

while in the key cloning mode;

detect selection of a first key on the virtual keyboard; and

,

in response to detecting selection of the first key, display a duplicate of the first key;

detect activation of the duplicate of the first key; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the duplicate of the first key, perform an action in accordance with the first key.