Portable electronic device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying electronic lists and documents

• US 8,223,134 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Forstall, Scott, Lamiraux, Henri C., Platzer, Andrew Emilio, Matas, Michael, Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US13/412,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20120162119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 134 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345173-179, 715/784, 715/786
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method, a portion of an electronic document is displayed on the touch screen display. The displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical position in the electronic document. An object is detected on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document. In response to detecting the object on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document, a vertical bar is displayed on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document. The vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion of the electronic document. After a predetermined condition is met, display of the vertical bar is ceased. The vertical bar is displayed for a predetermined time period when the portion of the electronic document is initially displayed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a portion of an electronic document on the touch screen display, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical position in the electronic document;

displaying a vertical bar on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document, the vertical bar displayed proximate to a vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein;

the vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

the vertical bar is not a scroll bar;

detecting a movement of an object in a direction on the displayed portion of the electronic document;

in response to detecting the movement;

scrolling the electronic document displayed on the touch screen display in the direction of movement of the object so that a new portion of the electronic document is displayed,

moving the vertical bar to a new vertical position such that the new vertical position corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed new portion of the electronic document, and

maintaining the vertical bar proximate to the vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

in response to a predetermined condition being met, ceasing to display the vertical bar while continuing to display the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical extent that is less than a vertical extent of the electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

when the portion of the electronic document is initially displayed;

displaying the vertical bar for a predetermined time period even if no object is detected on or near the electronic document, and

ceasing to display the vertical bar immediately following the predetermined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display for a predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a finger.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical bar is translucent or transparent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the object is on the touch screen display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical bar has a major axis and a portion of the electronic document along the major axis of the vertical bar is not covered by the vertical bar.

10. A portable multifunction device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

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 portion of an electronic document on the touch screen display, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical position in the electronic document;

displaying a vertical bar on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document, the vertical bar displayed proximate to a vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein;

the vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

the vertical bar is not a scroll bar;

detecting a movement of an object in a direction on the displayed portion of the electronic document;

in response to detecting the movement;

scrolling the electronic document displayed on the touch screen display in the direction of movement of the object so that a new portion of the electronic document is displayed,

moving the vertical bar to a new vertical position such that the new vertical position corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed new portion of the electronic document, and

maintaining the vertical bar proximate to the vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

in response to a predetermined condition being met, ceasing to display the vertical bar while continuing to display the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical extent that is less than a vertical extent of the electronic document.

11. The device of claim 10, including instructions for:

when the portion of the electronic document is initially displayed;

displaying the vertical bar for a predetermined time period even if no object is detected on or near the electronic document, and

ceasing to display the vertical bar immediately following the predetermined time period.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display for a predetermined time period.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the object is a finger.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the vertical bar and the horizontal bar are translucent or transparent.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the movement of the object is on the touch screen display.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the vertical bar has a major axis and a portion of the electronic document along the major axis of the vertical bar is not covered by the vertical bar.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a portion of an electronic document on the touch screen display, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical position in the electronic document;

display a vertical bar on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document, the vertical bar displayed proximate to a vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein;

the vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

the vertical bar is not a scroll bar;

detect a movement of an object in a direction on the displayed portion of the electronic document;

in response to detecting the movement;

scroll the electronic document displayed on the touch screen display in the direction of movement of the object so that a new portion of the electronic document is displayed,

move the vertical bar to a new vertical position such that the new vertical position corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed new portion of the electronic document, and

maintain the vertical bar proximate to the vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

in response to a predetermined condition being met, ceasing to display the vertical bar while continuing to display the displayed portion of the electronic document, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical extent that is less than a vertical extent of the electronic document.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, including instructions that cause the device to:

when the portion of the electronic document is initially displayed;

display the vertical bar for a predetermined time period even if no object is detected on or near the electronic document, and

cease to display the vertical bar immediately following the predetermined time period.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display for a predetermined time period.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the object is a finger.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the vertical bar is translucent or transparent.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the movement of the object is on the touch screen display.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the vertical bar has a major axis and a portion of the electronic document along the major axis of the vertical bar is not covered by the vertical bar.

28. A graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a portion of an electronic document displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical position in the electronic document; and

a vertical bar displayed on top of the portion of the electronic document, the vertical bar displayed proximate to a vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document;

wherein;

the vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion of the electronic document that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion of the electronic document;

the vertical bar is not a scroll bar;

in response to detecting a movement of an object in a direction on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document;

the electronic document displayed on the touch screen display is scrolled in the direction of movement of the object so that a new portion of the electronic document is displayed,

the vertical position of the vertical bar is moved to a new position such that the new position corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed new portion of the electronic document, and

the vertical bar is maintained proximate to the vertical edge of the displayed portion of the electronic document; and

in response to a predetermined condition being met, the display of the vertical bar is ceased while the displayed portion of the electronic document continues to be displayed, wherein the displayed portion of the electronic document has a vertical extent that is less than a vertical extent of the electronic document.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 28, wherein:

when the portion of the electronic document is initially displayed;

the vertical bar is displayed for a predetermined time period even if no object is detected on or near the electronic document, and

the vertical bar ceases to be displayed immediately following the predetermined time period.

30. The graphical user interface of claim 28, wherein the predetermined condition comprises ceasing to detect the object on or near the touch screen display.