Apparatus and method for conditionally enabling or disabling soft buttons

• US 8,621,380 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kocienda, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yi, Rinna
• Application Number:
  US12/788,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 715/773, 715/835, 715/863, 341/22, 341/24, 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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

A method of operating a multifunction device includes displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, detecting a first input with a first button at a first time, and responding to detecting the first input by activating the first button. In response to detecting a second input with a second button at a second time, when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is an unconditionally enabled button, the second button is activated. When the second button is a conditionally enabled button, and when the period of time between the first and second times is above a predefined threshold, the second button is activated; and when the period of time between the first and second times is equal to or below the predefined threshold, the second button is prevented from being activated.

Claims

1. A 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 soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detecting a first input with a first button at a first time;

responding to the detecting the first input by activating the first button;

detecting a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time; and

in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time;

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is an unconditionally enabled button, activating the second button; and

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is a conditionally enabled button;

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activating the second button; and

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is equal to or below the predefined threshold, preventing the second button from being activated.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

7. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detecting a first input with a first button at a first time;

and

responding to the detecting the first input by activating the first button;

detecting a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time; and

in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time;

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is an unconditionally enabled button, activating the second button; and

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is a conditionally enabled button;

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activating the second button; and

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is equal to or below the predefined threshold, preventing the second button from being activated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

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

display a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detect a first input with a first button at a first time;

respond to the detecting the first input by activating the first button;

detect a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time; and

in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time;

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is an unconditionally enabled button, activate the second button; and

when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is a conditionally enabled button;

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activate the second button; and

when the period of time between the first time and the second time is equal to or below the predefined threshold, prevent the second button from being activated.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

19. A 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 soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detecting a first input with a respective unconditionally enabled button at a first time;

responding to the detection of the first input at the first time by;

activating the respective unconditionally enabled button; and

disabling at least one of the conditionally enabled buttons for a predefined period of time commencing from the first time;

detecting a second input with one of the conditionally enabled buttons disabled in response to the first input, the second input being detected at a second time after the first time that is within the predefined period of time; and

responding to the detection of the second input at the second time by disregarding the second input.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

25. A method comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detecting a first input with a respective unconditionally enabled button at a first time;

in response to the detecting the first input at the first time;

activating the respective unconditionally enabled button; and

disabling at least one of the conditionally enabled buttons for a predefined period of time commencing from the first time;

detecting a second input with one of the conditionally enabled buttons disabled in response to the first input, the second input being detected at a second time after the first time that is within the predefined period of time; and

in response to the detecting the second input at the second time, disregarding the second input.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

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

display a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed;

detect a first input with a respective unconditionally enabled button at a first time;

in response to the detecting the first input at the first time;

activate the respective unconditionally enabled button; and

disable at least one of the conditionally enabled buttons for a predefined period of time commencing from the first time;

detect a second input with one of the conditionally enabled buttons disabled in response to the first input, the second input being detected at a second time after the first time that is within the predefined period of time; and

disregard the second input in response to the detecting the second input at the second time.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language.

35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard.

36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.