Hybrid Knob/Slider Control

• US 20120030626A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hopkins, Michael Stephen, Aron, Robert David
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A control object including a knob element is displayed in a GUI. A first user input can be detected that indicates selection of the knob element. In response to the first user input, the knob element can be visually augmented. The visual augmentation can include displaying text labels of range limit values and a slider element with the knob element. The slider element can include a fill bar to indicate the current value of the knob element. A second input can be a linear motion on or near the slider control. In response to the second user input, both the fill bar of the slider element and a fill portion of the knob element can be visually augmented to indicate the change in the value. A cursor image of a pointing device providing the second input can be hidden at least during the receiving of the second input.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a control object for display on a graphical user interface presented on a display of a device, the control object including at least one knob element;

receiving a first input indicating a user interaction with the control object;

augmenting the control with a slider element, the slider element having a first dimension and a second dimension, where the second dimension is longer than the first dimension;

receiving second input indicating motion in the graphical user interface, the direction of the motion along the second dimension of the slider element;

changing a value of the control object according to the direction of the motion; and

augmenting the knob element and the slider element to provide visual cues of the value of the control object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

augmenting the control object by displaying an outline around the knob element.

4. The method of claim 1, where augmenting the control object with a slider element, further comprises:

displaying the slider element below the knob element.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at least partially filling portions of the knob element and the slider element to provide visual cues of the value of the control object.

6. The method of claim 5, where at least partially filling portions further comprises:

filling the portions with one or more of a shadow, shading, color or pattern to provide the visual cues.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying text labels with the knob element or the slider element to indicate minimum and maximum range limits for the value.

8. The method of claim 1, where augmenting the control with a slider element further comprises:

detecting when a pointer, stylus or finger is at least partially touching the control object; and

augmenting the knob element to provide a visual cue that the control object has been selected.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving manual text entry input setting the value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first input from a pointing device;

displaying a cursor image for the pointing device;

receiving the second input from the pointing device; and

hiding the cursor image for the pointing device at least while receiving the second input.

3. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

at least partially filling an area between the outline and the knob element with one or more of a shadow, shading, color or pattern.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a control object for display on a graphical user interface presented on a display of a device, the control object including at least one knob element;

receiving a first input from a pointing device indicating an intention of a user to select the control object;

displaying a cursor image for the pointing device on the graphical user interface;

augmenting the control object to indicate its selection using the cursor;

receiving a second input indicating an intention of the user to change a value of the control object;

hiding the cursor image for the pointing device on the graphical user interface at least during the receiving of the second input; and

augmenting the control object to include a slider element, the slider configured to provide a visual cue to the user of the value and the interaction model of the knob element.

12. The method of claim 11, where augmenting the control object to indicate its selection, comprises:

augmenting the visual appearance of the knob element.

13. The method of claim 11, where receiving a first input comprises:

detecting a mouse-over event.

14. The method of claim 11, where receiving a second input comprises:

detecting a mouse-down event.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations, comprising:

providing a control object for display on a graphical user interface presented on a display of a device, the control object including at least one knob element;

detecting a first input indicating a user interaction with the control object;

augmenting the control with a slider element, the slider element having a first dimension and a second dimension, where the second dimension is longer than the first dimension;

detecting second input indicating motion in the graphical user interface, the direction of the motion along the second dimension of the slider element;

changing a value of the control object according to the direction of the motion; and

augmenting the knob element and the slider element to provide visual cues of the value of the control object.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

augmenting the control object by displaying an outline around the knob element.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

at least partially filling an area between the outline and the knob element with one or more of a shadow, shading, color or pattern.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, where augmenting the control object with a slider element, further comprises:

displaying the slider element below the knob element.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

at least partially filling portions of the knob element and the slider element to provide visual cues of the value of the control object.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, where at least partially filling portions further comprises:

filling the portions with one or more of a shadow, shading, color or pattern to provide the visual cues.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, where augmenting the control with a slider element further comprises:

detecting when a pointer, stylus or finger are at least partially touching the control object; and

augmenting the knob element to provide a visual cue that the control object has been selected.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the first input from a pointing device;

displaying a cursor image for the pointing device;

receiving the second input from the pointing device; and

hiding the cursor image for the pointing device at least while receiving the second input.

23. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations, comprising:

providing a control object for display on a graphical user interface presented on a display of a device, the control object including at least one knob element;

receiving a first input from a pointing device indicating an intention of a user to select the control object;

displaying a cursor image for the pointing device on the graphical user interface;

augmenting the control object to indicate its selection using the cursor;

receiving a second input indicating an intention of the user to change a value of the control object;

hiding the cursor image for the pointing device on the graphical user interface at least during the receiving of the second input; and

augmenting the control object to include a slider element, the slider configured to provide a visual cue to the user of the value and the interaction model of the knob element.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, where augmenting the control object to indicate its selection, comprises:

augmenting the visual appearance of the knob element.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, where receiving a first input comprises:

detecting a mouse-over event.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, where receiving a second input comprises:

detecting a mouse-down event.