Methods and Graphical User Interfaces for Editing on a Multifunction Device with a Touch Screen Display

• US 20100235778A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Williamson, Richard, Kocienda, Kenneth L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,875,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a user interface element that contains content, wherein the content includes selected content;

visually distinguishing the selected content from displayed content that is not selected;

displaying a command display area element that includes one or more command icons, wherein;

the command display area element is displayed in front of other elements in the user interface, including the user interface element displaying content; and

activation of a command icon initiates performance of a corresponding action with respect to the selected content; and

displaying one or more predefined priority elements in front of which the command display area element cannot be displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the command display area element comprises:

displaying the command display area element in an area above and adjacent to the selected content when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is large enough to display the command display area element, and

the area above and adjacent to the selected content does not include any predefined priority elements.

3. The method of claim 2, including:

displaying the command display area element in an area below and adjacent to the selected content when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is large enough to display the command display area element, and

the area below and adjacent to the selected content does not include any predefined priority elements.

4. The method of claim 2, including:

displaying the command display area element in an area within the selected content when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements; and

the command display area is small enough to fit within the selected content.

5. The method of claim 3, including:

displaying the command display area element in front of and within the selected content when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements; and

the command display area is small enough to fit within the selected content.

6. The method of claim 4, including:

displaying the command display area element in an area below and adjacent to the selected content when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements;

the command display area is too large to fit within the selected content;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is large enough to display the command display area element; and

the area below and adjacent to the selected content does not include any predefined priority elements.

7. The method of claim 5, including:

suppressing display of the command display area element when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements; and

the command display area is too large to fit within the selected content.

8. The method of claim 6, including:

suppressing display of the command display area element when;

the area above and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is not large enough to display the command display area element or includes predefined priority elements; and

the command display area is too large to fit within the selected content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the command display area element comprises:

displaying the command display area element in an area below and adjacent to the selected content when;

the area below and adjacent to the selected content is large enough to display the command display area element, and

the area below and adjacent to the selected content does not include any predefined priority elements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the command display area element comprises:

displaying the command display area element in front of and within the selected content when;

the command display area is small enough to fit within the selected content.

11. The method of claim 1, including:

displaying the command display area element at a first position relative to the selected content;

moving the content on the touch screen display, including moving the selected content;

ceasing to display the command display area element while moving the content; and

,

when the content stops moving, redisplaying the command display area element at a second position relative to the selected content, wherein the second position relative to the selected content is different from the first position relative to the selected content.

12. A graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a touch screen display, the graphical user interface comprising:

a user interface element that contains content, wherein the content includes selected content,

a command display area element that includes one or more command icons, and

one or more predefined priority elements in front of which the command display area element cannot be displayed;

wherein;

the selected content is visually distinguished from displayed content that is not selected;

the command display area element is displayed in front of other elements in the user interface, including the user interface element displaying content; and

activation of a command icon initiates performance of a corresponding action with respect to the selected content.

13. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, 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 user interface element that contains content, wherein the content includes selected content;

visually distinguishing the selected content from displayed content that is not selected;

displaying a command display area element that includes one or more command icons, wherein;

the command display area element is displayed in front of other elements in the user interface, including the user interface element displaying content; and

activation of a command icon initiates performance of a corresponding action with respect to the selected content; and

displaying one or more predefined priority elements in front of which the command display area element cannot be displayed.

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

display a user interface element that contains content, wherein the content includes selected content;

visually distinguish the selected content from displayed content that is not selected;

display a command display area element that includes one or more command icons, wherein;

the command display area element is displayed in front of other elements in the user interface, including the user interface element displaying content; and

activation of a command icon initiates performance of a corresponding action with respect to the selected content; and

display one or more predefined priority elements in front of which the command display area element cannot be displayed.