Method and system for displaying an image on an electronic device

• US 9,395,867 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T., Lazeridis, Mihal, Wood, Todd, Major, Harry Richmond, Yach, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): DRAGOESCU, CLAUDIA B
• Application Number:
  US12/394,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and method for displaying an image via a graphical user interface on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device includes detecting a predetermined relation between a selection tool and the image. The image is panned in response to movement of the selection tool along the touch-sensitive display. The image is zoomed on in response to depression of the touch-sensitive display. An optional cursor may be activated upon detection of a first tap of the selection tool on the touch-sensitive display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying an image via a graphical user interface on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting a predetermined relation between a selection tool and the image;

panning the image in response to movement of the selection tool along the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a depression of the touch-sensitive display;

determining if the depression activated a physical switch, wherein the physical switch activates in response to a force associated with the depression being greater than a given threshold;

in response to determining that the depression activated the physical switch, zooming on the image; and

in response to determining that the depression fails to activate the physical switch, performing at least one function that is different from zooming on the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is highlighted in response to detection of the predetermined relation between the selection tool and the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection tool is conductive and detecting comprises detecting the selection tool spaced from the touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection tool is conductive and detecting comprises detecting the selection tool touching the touch-sensitive display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a zoom menu in response to the depression activating the physical switch.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising deactivating the zoom menu when the selection tool is not detected for more than a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a first tap of the selection tool on the touch-sensitive display and activating a cursor on the touch-sensitive display.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising moving the cursor on the touch-sensitive display in response to movement of the selection tool in relation to the touch-sensitive display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting a depression of the touch-sensitive display and selecting the image with a predetermined relation to the detected depression of the touch-sensitive display.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising panning the image in response to cursor movement at an edge of a boundary of the touch-sensitive display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a second tap of the touch-sensitive display and deactivating the cursor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating a default operating mode after the cursor has been deactivated, wherein the default operating mode facilitates panning of the image in response to selection tool movement along the touch-sensitive display and zooming on the image in response to the depression activating the physical switch.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a first tap on the touch-sensitive display and activating a cursor, wherein the cursor tracks the movement of the selection tool in relation to the touch-sensitive display, and further comprising detecting a subsequent tap of the touch-sensitive display by the selection tool and selecting an image with a predetermined relation to a location of the detected subsequent tap.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting removal of the selection tool from the touch-sensitive display for a predetermined period of time, deactivating the cursor, and activating a default operating mode, wherein the default operating mode facilitates panning of the image in response to selection tool movement along the touch-sensitive display and zooming on the image in response to the depression activating the physical switch.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch is contacted and subsequently activated by a force of the depression satisfying the given threshold.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined relation is a capacitance value.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored instructions for execution by a processor of a mobile device and for causing the mobile device to implement the method of claim 1.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed between the touch-sensitive display and a housing of the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical switch is mechanically actuated.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting depression comprises detecting a touch on the image, which touch depresses the touch-sensitive display.

18. An electronic device comprising:

a physical switch and a touch-sensitive display;

a microprocessor separate from the switch and configured to;

display an image on the touch-sensitive display;

detect a predetermined relation between a selection tool and the image;

pan the image in response to movement of the selection tool along the touch-sensitive display;

detect depression of the touch-sensitive display;

determine if the depression activated the physical switch, wherein the physical switch activates in response to a force associated with the depression being greater than a given threshold;

in response to determining that the depression activated the physical switch, zoom on the image; and

in response to determining that the depression fails to activate the physical switch, perform at least one function that is different from zooming on the image.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, where the depression is detected by detecting depression of the touch-sensitive display by the selection tool.

20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the switch is contacted and subsequently activated by a force of the depression satisfying the given threshold.

21. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the switch is disposed beneath the touch-sensitive display.

27. An electronic device as in claim 18, wherein the physical switch is a mechanical switch.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein to detect depression comprises to detect a touch on the image, which touch depresses the touch-sensitive display.

23. A method comprising:

displaying an image on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting a predetermined relation between a selection tool and the image;

panning the image in response to movement of the selection tool along the touch-sensitive display;

detecting depression of the touch-sensitive display;

after movement of the selection tool, determining if the depression activated a physical switch disposed below the touch-sensitive display, wherein the physical switch activates in response to a force associated with the depression being greater than a given threshold;

in response to determining that the depression activated the physical switch, zooming on the image; and

in response to determining that the depression fails to activate the physical switch, performing at least one function that is different from zooming on the image.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the physical switch is disposed between the touch-sensitive display and a housing of the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a processor is configured to display the image and the physical mechanical switch is a separate device from the processor.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the physical switch is a mechanical switch.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein detecting depression comprises detecting a touch on the image, which touch depresses the touch-sensitive display.

29. A method comprising:

displaying an image on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting a predetermined relation between a selection tool and the image;

panning the image in response to movement of the selection tool along the touch-sensitive display; and

detecting a touch on the image, which touch depresses the touch-sensitive display;

after movement of the selection tool, determining if the depression activated a physical switch disposed below the touch-sensitive display, wherein the physical switch activates in response to a force associated with the depression being greater than a given threshold;

in response to determining that the depression activated the physical switch, zooming on the image; and

in response to determining that the depression fails to activate the physical switch, performing at least one function that is different from zooming on the image.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the touch is detected while no zoom button or zoom menu is displayed.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the touch is detected anywhere on the image.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying a zoom menu only in response to the depression activating the physical switch.