Single user input mechanism for controlling electronic device operations

• US 9,728,158 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Forstall, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US14/958,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head

Abstract

A unique input mechanism for controlling several operations of an electronic device is provided. Using the unique input mechanism, which may be the single input mechanism for providing user inputs to the electronic device, a user may provide different inputs or combinations of inputs to control different operations based on the current mode or capacity of the electronic device. For example, a single, short click of a button may control a media operation (e.g., play/pause) in a media mode, and the same input may control a telephony operation (e.g., initiate/terminate call) in a telephony mode. In some embodiments, different inputs may be associated with different types of operations. The unique input mechanism may include, for example, a button, a switch, a key, or an actuator.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a system that comprises and input mechanism and an electronic device, the method comprising:

generating an output based on a user input received by the input mechanism;

in response to the generating, determining with the electronic device a type of the received user input based on the generated output;

in response to a determination that the received user input is a first input type of a plurality of input types, determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is operating in a first mode of the electronic device; and

in response to a determination that the received user input is a second input type of the plurality of input types, determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is operating in a second mode of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is operating in the first mode of the electronic device comprises determining whether the electronic device is playing media.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is operating in the second mode of the electronic device comprises determining whether the electronic device is performing a communications operation over a communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input type and the second input type of the plurality of input types differ from one another only in one of a duration of a single contact of the input mechanism by a user and a quantity of consecutive contacts of the input mechanism by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism is distinct from the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism is incorporated into the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is operating in the first mode of the electronic device comprises determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is performing a first communications operation; and

in response to a determination that the electronic device is performing the first communications operation, the method further comprises terminating with the electronic device the first communications operation of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, in response to a determination that the electronic device is not performing the first communications operation, the method further comprises determining with the electronic device whether the electronic device is performing a first media operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

in response to a determination that the electronic device is performing the first media operation, the method further comprises manipulating with the electronic device the first media operation; and

in response to a determination that the electronic device is not performing the first media operation, the method further comprises initiating with the electronic device a second communications operation.

10. A system comprising:

an input component configured to receive a user input; and

a processor configured to;

determine a type of the received user input;

in response to a determination that the type of the received user input is a first input type of a plurality of input types, determine whether an electronic device is playing media; and

in response to a determination that the type of the received user input is a second input type of the plurality of input types, determine whether the electronic device is performing a communications operation over a communications network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first input type and the second input type of the plurality of input types differ from one another based on one of a duration of a single contact of the input component by a user and a quantity of consecutive contacts of the input component by the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the input component is distinct from the electronic device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the input component is incorporated into the electronic device.

14. A system comprising:

an input component configured to;

receive a user input; and

generate an output based on the received user input; and

a processor configured to;

receive the generated output;

determine a type of the received user input based on the received generated output;

in response to a determination that the type of the received user input is a first input type of a plurality of input types, determine whether an electronic device is operating in a first mode of the electronic device; and

in response to a determination that the type of the received user input is a second input type of the plurality of input types, determine whether the electronic device is operating in a second mode of the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first input type and the second input type of the plurality of input types differ from one another in one of a duration of a single contact of the input component by a user and a quantity of consecutive contacts of the input component by the user.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the input component comprises a single button;

the first input type comprises a single short press of the single button; and

the second input type comprises a single long press of the single button.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is operating in the first mode when the determined type of the received user input is the first input type but not when the determined type of the received user input is the second input type.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is operating in the second mode when the determined type of the received user input is the second input type but not when the determined type of the received user input is the first input type.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is operating in the first mode by determining whether the electronic device is performing a first communications operation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein, in response to a determination that the electronic device is performing the first communications operation, the processor is further configured to terminate the first communications operation.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein, in response to a determination that the electronic device is not performing the first communications operation, the processor is further configured to determine whether the electronic device is performing a first media operation.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

in response to a determination that the electronic device is performing the first media operation, the processor is further configured to manipulate the first media operation; and

in response to a determination that the electronic device is not performing the first media operation, the electronic device is further configured to initiate a second communications operation.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the system further comprises a user input device;

the input component is incorporated into the user input device;

the processor is incorporated into the electronic device; and

the user input device is distinct from the electronic device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the user input device is configured to wirelessly communicate the generated output to the electronic device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the user input device is an accessory.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the user input device is a headset.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the user input device further comprises a wired link that electrically couples the user input component to the electronic device;

the user input device is configured to communicate the generated output to the electronic device via the wired link; and

the user input component is an in-line switch along the wired link.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the input component is incorporated into the electronic device; and

the processor is incorporated into the electronic device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the input component is the only user input component incorporated into the electronic device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the input component is the only input component incorporated into the electronic device that is configured to at least one of:

receive input from a user; and

control the operation of the electronic device.