PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20120013541A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lee, John Jong-Suk, Mujkic, Alen, Langlois, Michael George, Boka, Arthur Carol
• Application Number:
  US12/836,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes displaying information on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting invocation of a controller, and displaying a controller in an area of the touch-sensitive display to control an indicator within the information. The controller may advantageously be displayed without covering the information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying information in a first area of a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting invocation of a controller;

displaying the controller in a second area of the touch-sensitive display to control an indicator within the information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting selection of an option to invoke the controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying selectable features associated with editing the information.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the indicator within the information in response to detecting a change in location of a touch associated with the second area.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a direction of movement of an indicator is dependent on the direction of the change of location of a touch associated with the second area.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting at least some of the information in response to detecting a change of location of a touch on the second area.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least some of the information is dependent on the direction of the change of location.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a cursor and highlighting.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises alphanumeric characters.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller is displayed adjacent to the information.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the area of the touch-sensitive display where the information is displayed is limited to accommodate display of the controller.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller replaces at least part of a virtual keyboard.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a controller comprises displaying a first controller and displaying a second controller.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein display a controller comprises displaying a horizontal controller to control horizontal movement of the indicator and displaying a vertical controller to control vertical movement of the indicator.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to display information;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display to detect invocation of a controller and to display the controller on the touch-sensitive display to control an indicator within the information.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is displayed in response to detecting selection of an option to invoke the controller.