APPARATUS, METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND USER INTERFACE

• US 20120262399A1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Colley, Ashley, Severinkangas, Kari Matias
• Granted Patent: US 10,359,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method, apparatus, computer program and user interface wherein the method comprises: displaying an item at a location on a touch sensitive display; detecting actuation of an area of the touch sensitive display wherein the actuated area comprises at least a portion of the location in which the item is displayed; and in response to the detecting, enabling a function to be performed wherein if a first area is actuated a first function, dependent on the item, is enabled and if a second area is actuated a second, different function, independent of the item, is enabled.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying an item at a location on a touch sensitive display;

detecting actuation of an area of the touch sensitive display wherein the actuated area comprises at least a portion of the location in which the item is displayed; and

in response to the detecting, enabling a function to be performed wherein if a first area is actuated a first function, dependent on the item, is enabled and if a second area is actuated a second, different function, independent of the item, is enabled.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second function comprises a generic function.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first area and the second area at least partially overlap.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 1 wherein the item is one of a plurality of items simultaneously displayed on the touch sensitive display.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second function is the same for any of the plurality of items displayed on the touch sensitive display.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if a third area is actuated a third, different function is enabled.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the item is associated with a first application and the first function which is enabled is a function of the application and the second, different function which is enabled is a generic function of an apparatus.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the item is associated with a first application and the first function which is enabled is a function of the application and the second, different function which is enabled is a function of a second, different application.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first area comprises at least one of a different size of area to the second area on a different shape to the second area,

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first area comprises a different orientation to the second area.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the functions are enabled in response to detection that the area has been actuated for a predetermined time.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second function is enabled in response to detection of a change of the actuated area from the first area to the second area.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first function is enabled in response to detection of a change of the actuated area back to the first area from the second area.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second function relates to information which is not displayed on the display when the second area is initially actuated.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein, when the second function is enabled the display is configured to display further information relating to the second function.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the second function is enabled in response to the detection of the actuation of an area and a trace user input.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

20. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to;

display an item at a location on a touch sensitive display;

detect actuation of an area of the touch sensitive display wherein the actuated area comprises at least a portion of the location in which the item is displayed; and

enable, in response to the detection, a function to be performed wherein if a first area is actuated a first function, dependent on the item, is enabled and if a second area is actuated a second, different function, independent of the item, is enabled.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the second function comprises a generic function.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first area and the second area at least partially overlap.

23-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A physical entity embodying a computer program comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, enable an apparatus at least to perform:

displaying an item at a location on a touch sensitive display;

detecting actuation of an area of the touch sensitive display wherein the actuated area comprises at least a portion of the location in which the item is displayed; and

in response to the detecting, enabling a function to be performed wherein if a first area is actuated a first function is enabled and if a second area is actuated a second, different function is enabled.

40-49. -49. (canceled)