METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESPONDING TO A NOTIFICATION VIA A CAPACITIVE PHYSICAL KEYBOARD

• US 20140232656A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: PASQUERO, Jerome, MCKENZIE, Donald Somerset McCulloch
• Granted Patent: US 10,078,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for multitasking with an electronic device. After operating the device in a first operational context, information is received providing the user the option to switch to operation in a second context. Responsive to user input indicating a control switch to the second context, the device may be operated in the second context. Additionally, the device can be reverted back to the first operational context after operation in the second context.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device having a display and a capacitive physical keyboard, comprising:

controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard;

responsive to receipt of information reflecting a potential context change, enabling control of the device to switch to operation in a second context that is different from the first context;

responsive to an input, controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard, wherein the second input operation is different from the first input operation; and

returning control to operation in the first context.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more presses of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more taps of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more taps of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more presses of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein returning control to operation in the first context comprises:

determining whether a timer has expired; and

returning control to operation in the first context upon expiration of the timer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein returning control to operation in the first context comprises:

receiving a predetermined input; and

returning control to operation in the first context following receipt of the predetermined input.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a timer has expired; and

upon expiration of the timer, continuing operation of the device in the first context without switching to operation in the second context.

9. An electronic device having a display and a capacitive physical keyboard, comprising:

a memory containing instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform;

controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard;

responsive to receipt of information reflecting a potential context change, enabling control of the device to switch to operation in a second context that is different from the first context;

responsive to an input, controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard, wherein the second input operation is different from the first input operation; and

returning control to operation in the first context.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more presses of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein controlling operation of the device in a first context in which a first input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more taps of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more taps of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein controlling operation in the second context in which a second input operation of the capacitive physical keyboard reflects selection of keys on the capacitive physical keyboard comprises:

receiving input reflecting one or more presses of the keys on the capacitive physical keyboard.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein returning control to operation in the first context comprises:

determining whether a timer has expired; and

returning control to operation in the first context upon expiration of the timer.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein returning control to operation in the first context comprises:

receiving a predetermined input; and

returning control to operation in the first context following receipt of the predetermined input.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to further perform:

determining whether a timer has expired; and

upon expiration of the timer, continuing operation of the device in the first context without switching to operation in the second context.