Electronic device and method of controlling a display

• US 8,726,198 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rydenhag, Daniel Tobias, Lindsay, Donald James
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US13/826,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method includes entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an application image on a display. No information is displayed on the display during the low-power condition. While in the low-power condition, an input is detected. In response to detecting the input, a cover image is displayed. The application image is progressively revealed along with movement of a gesture while reducing display of the cover image, wherein the gesture controls a size of an area where the application image is displayed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an application image on a display, wherein no information is displayed on the display during the low-power condition;

while in the low-power condition, detecting an input;

in response to detecting the input, displaying a cover image;

identifying any informational icons to be displayed, wherein an informational icon identifies at least one notification;

displaying at least one of the informational icons with the cover image;

along with movement of a detected gesture, progressively revealing the application image displayed immediately before entering the low-power condition while reducing display of the cover image, wherein the gesture controls a size of an area where the application image is displayed while the gesture continues, wherein a border between the cover image and the application image is curved such that more of the application image is revealed near a current touch location than to a side of the current touch location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application image extends across a first dimension of the display, and as the gesture continues along a second dimension of the display, an area of display of the application image increases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively revealing comprises progressively revealing the application image from a first end of the application image toward a second end of the application image opposite the first end as the gesture continues.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first end extends across the display from a first edge of the display to a second edge of the display opposite the first side and the second end extends across the display from the first edge to the second edge.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gesture begins near the first end.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application image is progressively revealed as the gesture moves in a first direction, and the application image is progressively covered by gradually displaying more of the cover image as the gesture moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a change in direction of the gesture and progressively covering the application image along with movement of the gesture.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, when the gesture meets a threshold, discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-power condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein progressively revealing comprises gradually increasing a size of an area of the application image that is displayed while gradually decreasing a size of an area of the cover image that is displayed.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the gesture meets a threshold, displaying the application image and discontinuing display of the cover image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an application is running in a state when the low-power condition is entered, further comprising continuing operation of the application at the state when the gesture meets a threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, when the gesture ends before meeting a threshold, discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-power condition.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying one or more informational icons and displaying the informational icons as part of the cover image when the cover image is displayed.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the application image is revealed across one dimension of the display.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is part of the gesture.

16. An electronic device comprising a hardware processor configured to perform the method of claim 1.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational icons comprise at least one notification to be displayed and wherein more or less of the informational icons are displayed along with movement of the gesture.

18. A method comprising:

after displaying an application image on a display, entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition, wherein the display is not illuminated;

while in the low-power condition, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;

in response to detecting the gesture;

identifying any informational icons to be displayed, wherein an informational icon identifies at least one notification;

displaying at least one of the informational icons with a cover image;

while the gesture continues;

when the gesture moves in a first direction, progressively revealing, along with movement of the gesture, the application image from a first end of the application image toward a second end of the application image opposite the first end;

when the gesture moves in a second direction, progressively covering, along with movement of the gesture, the application image with the cover image from the second end toward the first end;

wherein the application image extends across a width of the touch-sensitive display, and wherein a border between the cover image and the application image is curved such that more of the application image is revealed near a current touch location than to a side of the current touch location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein progressively covering the application image comprises displaying less of the application image and more of the cover image and the informational icons.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein progressively revealing comprising gradually reducing display of the cover image and the informational icons while gradually increasing display of the application image.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising, when the gesture meets a threshold while moving in the second direction, discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-power condition.

22. A method comprising:

entering, by a portable electronic device, a low-power condition after displaying an application image on a display, wherein the display is not illuminated;

while in the low-power condition, detecting a gesture;

in response to detecting the gesture, identifying any informational icons to be displayed and displaying a cover image and at least one of the informational icons, wherein an informational icon identifies at least one notification while the application image is not displayed;

in response to detecting continuation of the gesture;

along with movement of the gesture in a first direction, progressively revealing the application image while progressively reducing display of the cover image, wherein progressively revealing the application image comprises gradually increasing a display area of the application image and progressively reducing display of the cover image comprises gradually decreasing a display area of the cover image;

along with movement of the gesture in a second direction, progressively revealing the cover image while progressively reducing display of the application image, wherein progressively revealing the cover image comprises gradually increasing a display area of the cover image and progressively reducing display of the application image comprises gradually decreasing a display area of the application image;

when the gesture meets a threshold while moving in the second direction, discontinuing display of the cover image and returning to the low-power condition, wherein a border between the cover image and the application image is curved such that more of the application image is revealed near a current touch location than to a side of the current touch location.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one of the informational icons indicates notice of one of a received email, a missed phone call, and a text message.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein more or less of the informational icons are displayed along with movement of the gesture.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein a border between the cover image and the application image is curved.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the application image extends across a width of the display.