Touch-sensitive display and method of controlling same

• US 8,766,926 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wirtanen, Jeffrey William
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdulselam, Abbas
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPP JONES, SHAWNA T
• Application Number:
  US12/578,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/169, 178/18.01, 361/679.3, 455/566, 715/700
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• 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 includes displaying a set of buttons in a first layout on a touch-sensitive display when a first orientation of the portable electronic device is detected and in a second layout on the touch-sensitive display when a second orientation of the portable electronic device is detected. An alternate mode of operation of a portable electronic device is detected. While in the alternate mode, the set of buttons is displayed in a third layout, wherein the set of buttons is displayed in a set of respective locations with respect to the touch-sensitive display for the first orientation and the second orientation. At least some information is displayed based on a detected orientation of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while in a first mode of operation of a portable electronic device, displaying a set of buttons in a first layout on a touch-sensitive display when a first orientation of the portable electronic device is detected and in a second layout on the touch-sensitive display when a second orientation of the portable electronic device is detected, where the first layout is different from the second layout relative to a fixed object on the portable electronic device;

detecting an alternate mode of operation of the portable electronic device;

while in the alternate mode, displaying the set of buttons in a third layout when the first orientation of the portable electronic device is detected and displaying the set of buttons in the third layout when the second orientation of the portable electronic device is detected such that each button of a plurality of the buttons is displayed in a same location with respect to a fixed object when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation and when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation, wherein the third layout is different from the first layout and is different from the second layout, and wherein at least some information is displayed based on a detected orientation of the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate mode is entered when movement of the portable electronic is detected in accordance with a movement criterion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of buttons is displayed in the same respective size for the first orientation and the second orientation in the alternate mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the set of buttons is displayed in the same respective location with respect to the fixed object for the first orientation and the second orientation in the alternate mode and the first orientation of the first mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a substantial number of the set of buttons are displayed in locations relative to the fixed object, which locations are different in the first layout than in the second layout.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the set of buttons has a display area that is larger in the alternate mode than in the first layout or the second layout.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the information is displayed in a larger size in the alternate mode than in the first layout or the second layout.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a force threshold utilized to select at least one of the set of buttons in the alternate mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of buttons is a subset of buttons for an application for which the set of buttons is displayed.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor configured to;

while in a normal mode of operation, display, on the touch-sensitive display, a set of buttons in a first layout for a first orientation of the portable electronic device and in a second layout for a second orientation of the portable electronic device, wherein the first layout is different that the second layout;

detect an alternate mode of the portable electronic device;

while in the alternate mode, display the set of buttons in a third layout for the first orientation of the portable electronic device and in the third layout for the second orientation of the portable electronic device such that each button of a plurality of the buttons is displayed in a same location with respect to a fixed object when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation and third layout is different from the first layout and is different from the second layout;

wherein at least some information is displayed differently for the first orientation than for the second orientation when in the alternate mode.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the alternate mode is entered when movement of the portable electronic is detected in accordance with a movement criterion.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein at least one button of the set of buttons is displayed in a larger size when in the alternate mode than when in the normal mode.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce a force threshold utilized to select at least one of the set of buttons in the alternate mode.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to detect its orientation.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the alternate mode is entered through selection in a menu.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the buttons are displayed in a first set of locations for the first layout and in a second set of locations for the second layout, and wherein the first set of locations is substantially different from the second set of locations relative to the fixed object.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the set of buttons are associated with critical functions to an application executed by the portable electronic device.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein a larger active area than a displayed area is applied for at least one of the set of buttons.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein locations of the set of buttons in the alternate mode are spaced further apart than in the normal mode.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of buttons is a subset of the set of buttons for an application for which the set of buttons is displayed.