Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Data Input Using Virtual Sliders

• US 20130097551A1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hogan, Edward P.A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,772,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface detects a first user input that selects a first numerical value field and, in response, displays a value selection bar at a first length and with a range of values and displays a value selection object. The device detects a gesture on the value selection bar and, in response to, displays the value selection bar at a second length. While the value selection bar is displayed at the second length, the device detects a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar and, in response, enters a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

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 first numerical value field at a first magnification level;

detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis, and displaying a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein;

the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value defining a range of values associated with the value selection bar; and

the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end;

while the value selection bar is displayed at the first length;

detecting a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the second input, entering a first value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar;

detecting a gesture on the value selection bar; and

in response to detecting the gesture, displaying the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, while maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level;

while the value selection bar is displayed at the second length;

detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and

in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second value replacing the first value.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second length is greater than the first length.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second length is less than the first length.

5. The device of claim 1, including:

after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level;

after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and

,

in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar at the first length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level.

6. The device of claim 1, including:

after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level;

after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and

,

in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar at the second length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

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 first numerical value field;

detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar, the value selection bar having a length along a primary axis, and displaying a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein;

the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the value selection bar; and

the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end;

detecting a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the second user input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar;

detecting a gesture on the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the gesture;

maintaining the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis; and

associating the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar, the second range of numerical values being distinct from the first range of numerical values;

while the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and

in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second range of values is smaller than the first range of values.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second range of values is larger than the first range of values.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values.

12. The device of claim 7, including:

after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field;

after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and

,

in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the first range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar.

13. The device of claim 7, including:

after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar;

in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field;

after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and

,

in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the second range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

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 numerical value field;

detecting a first user input selecting the numerical value field;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar, wherein;

the first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar; and

the first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end;

detecting a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar;

in response to detecting the second input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar;

detecting a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction;

in response to detecting the first gesture, displaying a second value selection bar having a second primary axis and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar, wherein;

the second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis, the third end associated with a second minimum value, and the fourth end, opposite the third end, associated with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values; and

the second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end;

detecting a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar; and

in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value.

15. The device of claim 14, including:

in response to detecting the first input, displaying an indicia of one or more additional value selection bars.

16. The device of claim 15, including:

in response to detecting the first gesture, maintaining display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars.

17. The device of claim 14, including:

in response to detecting the first gesture, disabling the first value selection bar.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the second user input, the first gesture, and the third user input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface.

19. The device of claim 14, including:

detecting a second gesture, the second gesture including a contact moving in a second direction opposite the first direction;

in response to detecting the second gesture, ceasing to display the second value selection bar and the second value selection object.

20. The device of claim 14, including:

while displaying the second value in the numerical value field, detecting a third gesture, the third gesture including a contact moving in the first direction;

in response to detecting the third gesture, displaying a third value selection bar having a third primary axis and a third value selection object on the third value selection bar, wherein;

the third value selection bar has a fifth end and a sixth end on the third primary axis, the fifth end associated with a third minimum value, and the sixth end, opposite the fifth end, associated with a third maximum value, the third minimum value and the third maximum value defining a third range of values associated with the third value selection bar, wherein the third range of values is within the second range of values; and

the third value selection object is movable on the third value selection bar along the third primary axis within bounds of the fifth end and the sixth end;

detecting a fourth user input that moves the third value selection object within the third value selection bar; and

in response to detecting the fourth user input, entering a third value within the third range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the third value selection object on the third values selection bar, the third value replacing the second value.