Touch-sensitive display method and apparatus

• US 9,588,680 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Van Eerd, Peter Anthony, Wilson, Sean David Drew, Ehrismann, James Clement
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Azongha, Sardis F
• Application Number:
  US13/339,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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

An example method includes displaying a first control and a second control, wherein a touch associated with the controls results in moving an indicator through information in a first direction and in a second direction, in response to the detecting a first touch associated with the first control, moving the indicator in the first direction, and in response to detecting a second touch associated with the second control, moving the indicator in the first direction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

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

displaying a first control, wherein a touch associated with the first control results in moving an indicator through the information by a single character in a first direction and a first gesture including a swipe across the first control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the first direction, wherein the first control does not move with movement of the indicator;

displaying a second control, wherein a touch associated with the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by a single character in a second direction opposite the first direction and a second gesture including a swipe across the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the second direction, wherein the second control does not move with movement of the indicator, wherein display of the first control and display of the second control overlap at least partially in time;

detecting a hold touch on the first control;

detecting a release touch on the second control;

determining the hold touch and the release touch overlap at least partially in time; and

in response to the overlap, displaying an editing menu including selectable options, wherein the selectable options include at least copy and paste.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting release of the hold touch; and

displaying the virtual keyboard in response to detecting the release of the hold touch.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is a default direction for the first control and the second direction is a default for the second control.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the indicator in a third direction in response to detecting a third touch associated with the first control and a fourth touch associated with the second control, wherein the third direction is different from the first direction and the second direction.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining that the hold touch and the release touch overlap in time for at least a first time value.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the indicator through displayed information in response to detecting a touch associated with the editing control.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the release touch has an end location, and the editing function is executed at or near the end location.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving an indicator from a first word to a second word in response to detecting a gesture associated with the editing control.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch associated with the first control results in moving the indicator through the information in a third direction and a fourth direction.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the first control includes displaying an arrow pointing in the first direction.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a speed of the movement of the indicator is dependent on a magnitude of a change in a location of the touch.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the indicator through displayed information in response to detecting a touch associated with the virtual trackpad.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the first control comprises displaying the first control in response to detecting a third gesture.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first control and the second control are stationary.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control includes a displayed boundary and a touch associated with any part of the first control results in moving the indicator in the first direction.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of an electronic device to:

display information on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

display a first control, wherein a touch associated with the first control results in moving an indicator through the information by a single character in a first direction and a first gesture including a swipe across the first control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the first direction, wherein the first control does not move with movement of the indicator;

display a second control, wherein a touch associated with the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by a single character in a second direction opposite the first direction and a second gesture including a swipe across the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the second direction, wherein the second control does not move with movement of the indicator, wherein display of the first control and display of the second control overlap at least partially in time;

detect a hold touch on the first control;

detect a release touch on the second control;

determine the hold touch and the release touch overlap at least partially in time; and

in response to the overlap, display an editing menu including selectable options, wherein the selectable options include at least copy and paste.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display; and

a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display and configured to;

display information on the touch-sensitive display;

display a first control, wherein a touch associated with the first control results in moving an indicator through the information by a single character in a first direction and a first swipe gesture across the first control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the first direction, wherein the first control does not move with movement of the indicator;

display a second control, wherein a touch associated with the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by a single character in a second direction opposite the first direction and a second swipe gesture across the second control results in moving the indicator through the information by multiple characters in the second direction, wherein the second control does not move with movement of the indicator, wherein display of the first control and display of the second control overlap at least partially in time;

detect a hold touch on the first control;

detect a release touch on the second control;

determine the hold touch and the release touch overlap at least partially in time; and

in response to the overlap, display an editing menu including selectable options, wherein the selectable options include at least copy and paste.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to display the first control in response to displaying the information.