Detecting and processing button press events for performing electronic device operations

• US 8,194,890 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hannon, Timothy, Rogers, Matthew, Bhargava, Rishabh, Konanka, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Calvin
• Application Number:
  US12/477,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 381/57, 381106-108, 713/300, 713/310, 257/254, 257/416
• US Class Current: 381/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

This is directed to processing inputs received from an input mechanism to control media playback operations and volume. The input mechanism can include a first button providing inputs by shorting an electrical circuit, and a second button providing inputs by changing the resistance or tone detected or received by a processor. To process inputs, a processor can first detect and process short events from the first button, and subsequently process button events from the second button.

Claims

1. A method for processing inputs from an input interface comprising at least one button that does not provide inputs from shorting an electrical circuit, comprising:

detecting at least one of a resistor value and a tone frequency emitted as a result of a press of the at least one button;

identifying a number of previously detected short events resulting from a press of a second button;

storing the time at which the one of the at least one resistor value and frequency tone were detected for a volume timer; and

incrementing the volume in response to detecting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying further comprises:

identifying a number of previously detected short events within a timeout period.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the number of detected short events in memory; and

resetting the stored number of detected short events to zero in response to detecting.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing the number of detected short events in memory;

monitoring a timeout; and

resetting the number of detected short events in response to determining that the monitored timeout lapses.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the volume timer has exceeded a threshold; and

ramping the volume in response to determining that the volume timer has exceeded the threshold.

6. A method for processing inputs from an input interface having a primary button and secondary buttons, the secondary buttons associated with a resistor network, comprising:

detecting a short event from an input associated with the primary button;

resetting register values for the secondary buttons to up;

recording a number of short events within a timeout;

providing the recorded number of short events to a queue for processing by a user interface;

detecting a button event from a secondary button;

resetting a register value for the primary button to up;

storing the current time for a volume timer in response to detecting the button event; and

incrementing the volume of played back media based on the detected button event.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the volume timer has passed a threshold; and

ramping the volume of the played back media.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

resetting the number of detected short events to 0 after providing the recorded number of short events to the queue.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing the number of detected short events in a registry.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein:

detecting the button event from the second event does not comprise detecting an electrical short event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the button event further comprising:

detecting at least one of a particular resistivity and a particular tone.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a value associated with the detected button event; and

incrementing the volume up or down based on the determined value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the determined value is at least one of:

a resistance value; and

a tone frequency.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying the number of detected short events;

determining the user interface operation associated with the detected number of short events; and

perform the detected user interface operation.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining the state of the first button; and

determining whether the number of recorded short events corresponds with the determined state of the first button.

16. An electronic device operative to receive an input from an input interface, the electronic device comprising an input interface, an output interface, and a processor, wherein:

the input interface comprises at least a first button and a second button; and

the processor is operative to;

detect a short event from an input associated with the first button;

record a number of short events within a timeout;

direct the output interface to perform an interface operation associated with the recorded number of short events;

detect a button event from a second button, wherein the detected button event does not comprise an electrical short; and

direct the output interface to increment the volume of audio output by the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to:

initiate a timer in response to detecting the button event from the second button;

determine that the initiated timer has passed a threshold; and

ramp the volume in response to determining that the timer has passed the threshold.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to:

determine the current status of the first button;

determine whether the detected number of short events corresponds to the determined current status; and

reset the number of detected short events in response to determining that the detected number of short events does not correspond to the determined current status.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to:

reset the first button status in response to detecting the button event from the second button.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:

the input interface comprises a plurality of second buttons; and

the processor is further operative to;

determine that the detected button event from the second button comprises at least one distinguishable resistor value, wherein each of the plurality of second buttons is associated with a distinct resistor value;

order the plurality of second buttons in order of lowest resistor value; and

verify the status of each of the plurality of second buttons in the order of lowest resistor value.