Method and device having touchscreen keyboard with visual cues

• US 9,201,510 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Pasquero, Jerome, Hamilton, Alistair Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHENG, CHARLES H
• Application Number:
  US13/447,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 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

A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display is provided. The method comprises: detecting a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display; determining an input direction of the touch input; and displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position based on the input direction of the touch input.

Claims

1. A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display, comprising:

detecting a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display;

determining an input direction of the touch input from a contact point for the touch input and an additional input derived from signals reflecting a continuous contact with the display and a movement of the contact point, the input direction being a direction with respect to the display from which the touch input is provided; and

displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position near the user interface element and is offset to a direction opposite the input direction of the touch input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the visual cue comprises displaying a command icon of a command associated with the user interface element when a direction of a touch gesture of the touch input corresponds to a peek gesture.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

executing the command associated with the user interface element in response to a trigger.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a “

reply”

command icon associated with a reply command is displayed when the user interface element is a “

R”

key, a “

reply all”

command icon associated with a reply all command is displayed when the user interface element is an “

L”

key, a “

forward”

command icon associated with a forward command is displayed when the user interface element is an “

F”

key, and a “

send”

command icon associated with a send command for sending an open message under composition when the user interface element is an “

S”

key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the visual cue comprises displaying an alternate character associated with the user interface element when a direction of a touch gesture of the touch input corresponds to a peek gesture.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

inputting the alternate character associated with the user interface element in response to a trigger.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is a key of a virtual keyboard rendered on the display.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor configured to;

detect a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display;

determine an input direction of the touch input from a contact point for the touch input and an additional input derived from signals reflecting a continuous contact with the display and a movement of the contact point, the input direction being a direction with respect to the display from which the touch input is provided; and

display on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position near the user interface element and is offset to a direction opposite the input direction of the touch input.