Device and method for screen rotation on a touch-screen display

• US 8,312,371 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ording, Bas
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/270,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781, 715/700, 715/856, 715/756, 345/173, 345/652, 345/848, 345/850
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• 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: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a device with a touch screen display is disclosed. In the method, a multifinger twisting gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display. The multifinger twisting gesture has a corresponding degree of rotation. A 90° screen rotation command is executed if the corresponding degree of rotation exceeds a predefined degree of rotation. A screen rotation command with an acute angle of rotation is executed and, upon ceasing to detect the multifinger twisting gesture, a screen rotation command with an angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle is executed if the corresponding degree of rotation is less than the predefined degree of rotation.

Claims

1. A 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 user interface on the display;

detecting a multifinger twisting gesture on the touch screen display, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture has a corresponding degree of rotation;

executing a 90°

screen rotation command, if the corresponding degree of rotation exceeds a predefined degree of rotation; and

executing a screen rotation command with an acute angle of rotation and executing, upon ceasing to detect the multifinger twisting gesture, a screen rotation command with an angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle, if the corresponding degree of rotation is less than the predefined degree of rotation, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of the user interface in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the user interface in a portrait orientation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable multifunction device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture is a two-finger gesture.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture comprises simultaneous rotation of two thumbs.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of a digital image in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the digital image in a portrait orientation.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a device with a touch screen display;

displaying a user interface on the display;

detecting a multifinger twisting gesture on the touch screen display, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture has a corresponding degree of rotation;

executing a 90°

screen rotation command, if the corresponding degree of rotation exceeds a predefined degree of rotation; and

executing a screen rotation command with an acute angle of rotation and executing, upon ceasing to detect the multifinger twisting gesture, a screen rotation command with an angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle, if the corresponding degree of rotation is less than the predefined degree of rotation, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of the user interface in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the user interface in a portrait orientation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the device is a portable multifunction device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture is a two-finger gesture.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture comprises simultaneous rotation of two thumbs.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of a digital image in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the digital image in a portrait orientation.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a user interface on the display;

detect a multifinger twisting gesture on the touch screen display, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture has a corresponding degree of rotation;

execute a 90°

screen rotation command, if the corresponding degree of rotation exceeds a predefined degree of rotation; and

execute a screen rotation command with an acute angle of rotation and, upon ceasing to detect the multifinger twisting gesture, execute a screen rotation command with an angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle, if the corresponding degree of rotation is less than the predefined degree of rotation, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of the user interface in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the user interface in a portrait orientation.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the device is a portable multifunction device.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture is a two-finger gesture.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the multifinger twisting gesture comprises simultaneous rotation of two thumbs.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein executing the 90°

screen rotation command results in display of a digital image in a landscape orientation and executing the screen rotation command with the angle of rotation opposite to the acute angle results in display of the digital image in a portrait orientation.