Multifunction device with integrated search and application selection

• US 8,589,374 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, HANH B
• Application Number:
  US12/566,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 707706-713, 715/863, 345/173
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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

Abstract

In some embodiments, a multifunction device with a touch screen display and a plurality of applications concurrently displays a first plurality of application launch icons in a first area of the touch screen display, detects a first input by a user, and in response to detecting the first input by the user, displays a search input area on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the device receives search input from the user, performs a search using the search input, and displays a plurality of search results from the search. In some embodiments, the device detects user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results, and displays information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application. In some embodiments, in response input from the user, the device returns to the search results and repeats this process for one or more applications.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display and a plurality of applications;

concurrently displaying a first plurality of application launch icons in a first area of the touch screen display;

detecting a first finger gesture by a user;

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user, displaying a search input area on the touch screen display;

receiving search input from the user;

displaying the search input on the touch screen display;

performing a search using the search input of content in multiple applications on the device;

displaying a plurality of search results from the search on the touch screen display;

detecting user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the first search result in the plurality of search results;

ceasing to display of the plurality of search results, and

displaying information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application;

while continuing to display the first application, detecting a first input by the user;

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

ceasing to display the first application, and

redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display;

detecting user selection of a second search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the second search result corresponds to content associated with a second application, the second search result is other than the first search result, and the second application is other than the first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the second search result in the plurality of search results;

ceasing to display of the plurality of search results, and

displaying information corresponding to the second search result in the corresponding second application;

while continuing to display the second application, detecting a second input by the user;

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

ceasing to display the second application, and

redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first plurality of application launch icons is a first set of application launch icons in a plurality of sets of application launch icons, the plurality of sets including a number of sets of application launch icons that are configured to be separately displayed as a sequence of sets of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display;

the method further including;

displaying two or more set-sequence-indicia icons, wherein the set-sequence-indicia icons provide information about the number of sets of application launch icons in the plurality of sets of application launch icons and a position of a displayed set of application launch icons in the sequence of sets of application launch icons;

detecting a second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area;

replacing display of the first set of application launch icons with display of a second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and

updating the information provided by the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set of application launch icons by the second set of application launch icons.

3. The method of claim 2, including:

displaying a search indicia icon adjacent to a set-sequence-indicia icon that corresponds to the first set of application launch icons.

4. The method of claim 2, including:

while displaying the second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, detecting a third input by the user; and

,

in response to detecting the third input by the user;

ceasing to display the second set of application launch icons, and

displaying a search input user interface on the touch screen display.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user on the touch screen display in the first area, replacing display of the first plurality of application launch icons with display of a search input user interface on the touch screen display, wherein the search input user interface includes the search input area.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

displaying search results in the plurality of search results in a list, wherein the list groups subsets of search results by application;

displaying a respective application symbol in conjunction with a respective subset of search results for a respective application;

detecting a third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

scrolling the list, and

moving the respective application symbol on the touch screen display in accordance with the respective subset of search results for the respective application, wherein the respective application symbol remains adjacent to a first displayed search result of the respective subset of search results for the respective application.

7. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

ceasing to display the first application and redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the first input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

ceasing to display the first application and redisplaying the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the first input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

ceasing to display the second application and redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the second input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

ceasing to display the second application and redisplaying the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the second input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.

9. A graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a search input area;

a plurality of applications; and

a plurality of application icons

wherein;

a first finger gesture by a user is detected;

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user, the search input area is displayed on the touch screen display;

search input is received from the user;

the search input is displayed on the touch screen display;

perform a search using the search input of content in multiple applications on the device;

a plurality of search results from the search on the touch screen display are displayed;

user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results is detected, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the first search result in the plurality of search results;

display of the plurality of search results is ceased, and

information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application is displayed;

while continuing to display the first application, a first input by the user is detected;

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

display of the first application is ceased, and

the plurality of search results on the touch screen display are redisplayed;

user selection of a second search result in the plurality of search results is detected, wherein the second search result corresponds to content associated with a second application, the second search result is other than the first search result, and the second application is other than the first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the second search result in the plurality of search results;

display of the plurality of search results is ceased, and

information corresponding to the second search result in the corresponding second application is displayed;

while continuing to display the second application, a second input by the user us detected;

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

display of the second application is ceased, and

the plurality of search results on the touch screen display is redisplayed.

10. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, including a plurality of applications, 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;

concurrently displaying a first plurality of application launch icons in a first area of the touch screen display;

detecting a first finger gesture by a user;

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user, displaying a search input area on the touch screen display;

receiving search input from the user;

displaying the search input on the touch screen display;

performing a search using the search input of content in multiple applications on the device;

displaying a plurality of search results from the search on the touch screen display;

detecting user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the first search result in the plurality of search results;

ceasing to display of the plurality of search results, and

displaying information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application;

while continuing to display the first application, detecting a first input by the user

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

ceasing to display the first application, and

redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display;

detecting user selection of a second search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the second search result corresponds to content associated with a second application, the second search result is other than the first search result, and the second application is other than the first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the second search result in the plurality of search results;

ceasing to display of the plurality of search results, and

displaying information corresponding to the second search result in the corresponding second application;

while continuing to display the second application, detecting a second input by the user;

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

ceasing to display the second application, and

redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the first plurality of application launch icons is a first set of application launch icons in a plurality of sets of application launch icons, the plurality of sets including a number of sets of application launch icons that are configured to be separately displayed as a sequence of sets of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display;

the device further including instructions for;

displaying two or more set-sequence-indicia icons, wherein the set-sequence-indicia icons provide information about the number of sets of application launch icons in the plurality of sets of application launch icons and a position of a displayed set of application launch icons in the sequence of sets of application launch icons;

detecting a second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area;

replacing display of the first set of application launch icons with display of a second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and

updating the information provided by the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set of application launch icons by the second set of application launch icons.

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

displaying a search indicia icon adjacent to a set-sequence-indicia icon that corresponds to the first set of application launch icons.

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

while displaying the second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, detecting a third input by the user; and

,

in response to detecting the third input by the user;

ceasing to display the second set of application launch icons, and

displaying a search input user interface on the touch screen display.

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

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user on the touch screen display in the first area, replacing display of the first plurality of application launch icons with display of a search input user interface on the touch screen display, wherein the search input user interface includes the search input area.

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

displaying search results in the plurality of search results in a list, wherein the list groups subsets of search results by application;

displaying a respective application symbol in conjunction with a respective subset of search results for a respective application;

detecting a third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

scrolling the list, and

moving the respective application symbol on the touch screen display in accordance with the respective subset of search results for the respective application, wherein the respective application symbol remains adjacent to a first displayed search result of the respective subset of search results for the respective application.

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

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

ceasing to display the first application and redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the first input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

ceasing to display the first application and redisplaying the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the first input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.

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

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

ceasing to display the second application and redisplaying the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the second input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

ceasing to display the second application and redisplaying the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the second input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.

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

concurrently display a first plurality of application launch icons in a first area of the touch screen display;

detect a first finger gesture by a user;

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user, display a search input area on the touch screen display;

receive search input from the user;

display the search input on the touch screen display;

perform a search using the search input of content in multiple applications on the device;

display a plurality of search results from the search on the touch screen display;

detect user selection of a first search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the first search result in the plurality of search results;

cease to display of the plurality of search results, and

display information corresponding to the first search result in the corresponding first application;

while continuing to display the first application, detect a first input by the user in response to detecting the first input by the user;

cease to display the first application, and

redisplay the plurality of search results on the touch screen display;

detect user selection of a second search result in the plurality of search results, wherein the second search result corresponds to content associated with a second application, the second search result is other than the first search result, and the second application is other than the first application;

in response to detecting user selection of the second search result in the plurality of search results;

cease to display of the plurality of search results, and

display information corresponding to the second search result in the corresponding second application;

while continuing to display the second application, detect a second input by the user;

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

cease to display the second application, and

redisplay the plurality of search results on the touch screen display.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein:

the first plurality of application launch icons is a first set of application launch icons in a plurality of sets of application launch icons, the plurality of sets including a number of sets of application launch icons that are configured to be separately displayed as a sequence of sets of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display;

the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further including instructions that cause the device to;

display two or more set-sequence-indicia icons, wherein the set-sequence-indicia icons provide information about the number of sets of application launch icons in the plurality of sets of application launch icons and a position of a displayed set of application launch icons in the sequence of sets of application launch icons;

detect a second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area;

replace display of the first set of application launch icons with display of a second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and

update the information provided by the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set of application launch icons by the second set of application launch icons.

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

display a search indicia icon adjacent to a set-sequence-indicia icon that corresponds to the first set of application launch icons.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, including instructions that cause the device to:

while displaying the second set of application launch icons in the first area on the touch screen display, detect a third input by the user; and

,

in response to detecting the third input by the user;

cease to display the second set of application launch icons, and

display a search input user interface on the touch screen display.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions that cause the device to:

in response to detecting the first finger gesture by the user on the touch screen display in the first area, replace display of the first plurality of application launch icons with display of a search input user interface on the touch screen display, wherein the search input user interface includes the search input area.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions that cause the device to:

display search results in the plurality of search results in a list, wherein the list groups subsets of search results by application;

display a respective application symbol in conjunction with a respective subset of search results for a respective application;

detect a third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

scroll the list, and

move the respective application symbol on the touch screen display in accordance with the respective subset of search results for the respective application, wherein the respective application symbol remains adjacent to a first displayed search result of the respective subset of search results for the respective application.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions that cause the device to:

in response to detecting the first input by the user;

cease to display the first application and redisplay the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the first input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

cease to display the first application and redisplay the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the first input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions that cause the device to:

in response to detecting the second input by the user;

cease to display the second application and redisplay the plurality of search results on the touch screen display when the second input is detected before a predetermined condition has occurred; and

cease to display the second application and redisplay the first plurality of application launch icons in the first area of the touch screen display when the second input is detected after the predetermined condition has occurred.