Multifunction device with integrated search and application selection

• US 9,354,811 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/081,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20140317578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 707706-713, 715/863, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

displaying a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detecting a vertical swipe gesture;

in response to detecting the vertical swipe gesture, displaying a search input area and a soft keyboard on the touch screen display;

detecting an input on the soft keyboard associated with one or more search input characters;

in response to detecting the input on the soft keyboard associated with the one or more search input characters;

displaying the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

performing a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

displaying a first portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results on the touch screen display, detecting a touch gesture on the touch screen display;

in response detecting the touch gesture on the touch screen display while displaying the first portion of the list of search results, replacing the display of the first portion of the list of search results with display of a second portion of the list of search results,

wherein the second portion of the list of search results includes at least one search result that is not included in the first portion of the list of search results.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard, detecting a touch input in a search command area on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the touch input in the search command area on the touch screen display;

ceasing to display the soft keyboard; and

displaying one or more additional search results beyond the first portion of the list of search results from the search on the touch screen display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of search results comprises contact information associated with an address book application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of search results groups one or more subsets of search results by application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting user selection of a first search result in the first portion of the list of search results displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

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

ceasing to display the first portion of the list of search results,

activating the first application, and

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

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

display a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detect a vertical swipe gesture;

in response to detecting the first vertical swipe gesture, display a search input area and a soft keyboard on the touch screen display;

detect an input on the soft keyboard associated with one or more search input characters;

in response to detecting the input on the soft keyboard associated with the one or more search input characters;

display the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

perform a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

display a first portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions, which when executed by the device, further cause the device to:

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results on the touch screen display, detect a touch gesture on the touch screen display;

in response detecting the touch gesture on the touch screen display while displaying the first portion of the list of search results, replace the display of the first portion of the list of search results with display of a second portion of the list of search results,

wherein the second portion of the list of search results includes at least one search result that is not included in the first portion of the list of search results.

9. The medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions, which when executed by the device, further cause the device to:

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard, detect a touch input in a search command area on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the touch input in the search command area on the touch screen display;

cease to display the soft keyboard; and

display one or more additional search results beyond the first portion of the list of search results from the search on the touch screen display.

10. The medium of claim 7, wherein the list of search results comprises contact information associated with an address book application.

11. The medium of claim 7, wherein the list of search results groups one or more subsets of search results by application.

12. The medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions, which when executed by the device, further cause the device to:

detect user selection of a first search result in the first portion of the list of search results displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

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

cease to display the first portion of the list of search results,

activate the first application, and

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

13. 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;

displaying a plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display;

while displaying the plurality of application launch icons on the touch screen display, detecting a vertical swipe gesture;

in response to detecting the vertical swipe gesture, displaying a search input area and a soft keyboard;

detecting an input on the soft keyboard associated with one or more search input characters;

in response to detecting the input on the soft keyboard associated with the one or more search input characters;

displaying the one or more search input characters in the search input area on the touch screen display;

performing a search of multiple applications on the device using the one or more search input characters; and

displaying a first portion of a list of search results from the search while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen display.

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

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results on the touch screen display, detecting a touch gesture on the touch screen display;

in response detecting the touch gesture on the touch screen display while displaying the first portion of the list of search results, replacing the display of the first portion of the list of search results with display of a second portion of the list of search results,

wherein the second portion of the list of search results includes at least one search result that is not included in the first portion of the list of search results.

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

while displaying the first portion of the list of search results while concurrently displaying the soft keyboard, detecting a touch input in a search command area on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the touch input in the search command area on the touch screen display;

ceasing to display the soft keyboard; and

displaying one or more additional search results beyond the first portion of the list of search results from the search on the touch screen display.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the list of search results comprises contact information associated with an address book application.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the list of search results groups one or more subsets of search results by application.

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

detecting user selection of a first search result in the first portion of the list of search results displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the first search result corresponds to content associated with a first application;

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

ceasing to display the first portion of the list of search results,

activating the first application, and

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