USER INTERFACES AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20130162667A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Eskolin, Jan Peter Erik, Arrasvuori, Juha Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,257,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

One example apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code with the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least detect one or more particular user inputs from respective one or more positions, each position associated with a respective edge region of a display. The at least one memory and computer program code may also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to, upon detection of the one or more particular user inputs, modify at least a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application and the peep-hole comprising second content data.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

detect one or more particular user inputs from respective one or more positions, each position associated with a respective edge region of a display; and

in response to the detection of the one or more particular user inputs, modify at least a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application and the peep-hole comprising second content data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to modify at least a corresponding portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, corresponding to the detected position of the edge user input.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to leave the remaining portions of the foreground view not associated with the peep-hole otherwise unchanged.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peep-hole provides a view of the second content data which is user perceived to be in one of a layer below the layer of the first content data or in a layer at the same layer as the layer of the first content data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second content data is associated with at least one of a further application or content data other than the first content data associated with the foreground application.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second content data provides a different view of at least some of the same content data available from the foreground view.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second content data is associated with a background application.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon the cessation of the detection of the particular user inputs, the apparatus is configured to remove the peep-hole to again provide the foreground view.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configure to reveal a corresponding portion of a background view, the foreground view associated with a first application and the background view associated with a second application.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more particular user inputs are received via one or more of:

a stretch sensor;

a capacitive sensor;

a button stripe; and

a resistive stripe.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more positions of the one or more inputs correspond to edge positions of the display or edge positions of a portable electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the area of the peep-hole is related to one or more of:

the force of one or more of the particular user inputs;

the pressure of one or more of the particular user inputs;

the position of one or more of the particular user inputs; and

the input gesture of one or more of the particular user inputs.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a subsequent position of the peep-hole is based on one or more of:

the orientation of the device; and

information relating to an event.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foreground view comprises one or more of:

a screensaver;

an application view;

a locked mode view;

a window; and

a home screen view.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a portable electronic device, circuitry for a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a mobile phone, a Smartphone, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant, the portable communications device and a module for the same.

16. A method, the method comprising:

detecting one or more particular user inputs from respective one or more positions, each position associated with a respective edge region of a display or a portable electronic device; and

in response to the detection of the one or more particular user inputs, modifying at least a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application and the peep-hole comprising second content data.

17. A computer program comprising computer program code configured to:

detect one or more particular user inputs from respective one or more positions, each position associated with a respective edge region of a display; and

in response to the detection of the one or more particular user inputs, modify at least a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application and the peep-hole comprising second content data.