Device and Method for Adjusting a Playback Control with a Finger Gesture

• US 20110010626A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rottler, Benjamin Andrew, Fino, Jorge, Wood, Policarpo
• Application Number:
  US12/500,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010626A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface while the device is providing content. The device detects a finger contact at a first location on the surface. The first location and an edge of the surface define a first distance. The finger contact at the first location corresponds to a start of a control adjustment gesture for setting an adjustable parameter for providing content. In response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture, the device maps a range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter to correspond to at least a portion of the first distance; detects movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture; and modifies the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture and the mapping of the range of positions.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface;

while providing content with the electronic device;

detecting a finger contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein;

the first location and a first edge of the touch-sensitive surface define a first distance,

the finger contact at the first location corresponds to a start of a control adjustment gesture operable to set an adjustable parameter for providing content with the electronic device, and

the adjustable parameter is configured to be set to a position within a range of positions;

in response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture at the first location, mapping the range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter to correspond to at least a portion of the first distance;

detecting movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture; and

modifying the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture and in accordance with the mapped range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter that correspond to the first distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is a part of a touch screen display.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a visual indicator on the touch screen display in response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture at the first location;

while modifying the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact, adjusting the visual indicator in accordance with the movement of the finger contact; and

terminating display of the visual indicator after the control adjustment gesture ends.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising reducing finger occlusion of the visual indicator by dynamically moving the visual indicator during the control adjustment gesture.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the visual indicator on the touch screen display includes placing the visual indicator on the touch screen display at a distance from the finger contact at the first location such that the placement of the visual indicator avoids finger occlusion of the visual indicator during the control adjustment gesture.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting an audio indicia identifying the adjustable parameter for providing content during the control adjustment gesture.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting an audio indicia corresponding to a current setting of the adjustable parameter for providing content during the control adjustment gesture.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control adjustment gesture is configured to modify the adjustable parameter for providing content irrespective of an orientation of the control adjustment gesture on the touch-sensitive surface.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface;

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 while providing content at the electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while providing content with the electronic device;

detecting a finger contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein;

the first location and a first edge of the touch-sensitive surface defines a first distance,

the finger contact at the first location corresponds to a start of a control adjustment gesture operable to set an adjustable parameter for providing content with the electronic device, and

the adjustable parameter is configured to be set to a position within a range of positions;

mapping the range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter to correspond to the first distance in response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture at the first location;

detecting movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture; and

modifying the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture and in accordance with the mapped range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter that correspond to the first distance.

10. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, cause the electronic device to:

while providing content with the electronic device;

detect a finger contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein;

the first location and a first edge of the touch-sensitive surface defines a first distance,

the finger contact at the first location corresponds to a start of a control adjustment gesture operable to set an adjustable parameter for providing content with the electronic device, and

the adjustable parameter is configured to be set to a position within a range of positions;

map the range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter to correspond to the first distance in response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture at the first location;

detect movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture; and

modify the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture and in accordance with the mapped range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter that correspond to the first distance.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface;

means for providing content;

while providing content with the electronic device;

means for detecting a finger contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein;

the first location and a first edge of the touch-sensitive surface defines a first distance,

the finger contact at the first location corresponds to a start of a control adjustment gesture operable to set an adjustable parameter for providing content with the electronic device, and

the adjustable parameter is configured to be set to a position within a range of positions;

means for mapping the range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter to correspond to the first distance in response to detecting the start of the control adjustment gesture at the first location;

means for detecting movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture; and

means for modifying the adjustable parameter for providing content in accordance with the movement of the finger contact in the control adjustment gesture and in accordance with the mapped range of positions associated with the adjustable parameter that correspond to the first distance.