Smart Keyboard Management for a Multifunction Device with a Touch Screen Display

• US 20140123052A1
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas
• Application Number:
  US14/146,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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

A method is performed at a multifunction device with a touch screen display. The method includes displaying a text entry interface with a soft keyboard in a first area and a viewing area with a first size to display scrollable information. The method detects a finger gesture on the viewing area, and responds to the gesture. When the viewing area displays only a portion of the information, the response includes: (1) ceasing to display the soft keyboard, (2) expanding the viewing area to a second size, including at least some of the first area, and (3) scrolling the information in the expanded viewing area. When the viewing area with the first size displays all of the information, the response includes: (1) maintaining display of the soft keyboard, (2) keeping the viewing area at the first size, and (3) moving the information in the viewing area based on the finger gesture.

Claims

1. 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 text entry interface on the touch screen display, the text entry interface comprising;

a soft keyboard in a first area on the touch screen display, and

a viewing area with a first size when the soft keyboard is displayed, the viewing area configured to display scrollable information;

detecting a finger gesture on the viewing area; and

,

in response to detecting the finger gesture on the viewing area;

ceasing to display the soft keyboard,

expanding the viewing area to a second size, wherein the expanded viewing area includes at least some of the first area, and

scrolling information in the expanded viewing area.

2. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the viewing area with the first size is adjacent to the first area.

3. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the first finger gesture is a swipe gesture.

4. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the first finger gesture is a vertical swipe gesture.

5. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the scrollable information comprises search results.

6. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the scrollable information comprises instant messages.

7. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the scrollable information comprises notes.

8. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the scrollable information comprises an email message.

9. The multifunction device of claim 1, the one or more programs including instructions for:

redisplaying the soft keyboard and shrinking the expanded viewing area from the second size to the first size when the information in the expanded viewing area stops scrolling.

10. The multifunction device of claim 1, the one or more programs including instructions for:

redisplaying the soft keyboard and shrinking the expanded viewing area from the second size to the first size after the information in the expanded viewing area stops scrolling for a predefined time.

11. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the text entry interface includes a text input area on the touch screen display, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the viewing area, maintaining display of the text input area on the touch screen display;

after scrolling information in the expanded viewing area, detecting a second finger gesture on the text input area; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the text input area;

redisplaying the soft keyboard, and

shrinking the expanded viewing area from the second size to the first size.

12. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the multifunction device is portable.

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

displaying a text entry interface on the touch screen display, the text entry interface comprising;

a soft keyboard in a first area on the touch screen display, and

a viewing area with a first size when the soft keyboard is displayed, the viewing area configured to display scrollable information;

detecting a finger gesture on the viewing area;

wherein;

in response to detecting the finger gesture on the viewing area;

ceasing to display the soft keyboard,

expanding the viewing area to a second size, wherein the expanded viewing area includes at least some of the first area, and

scrolling information in the expanded viewing area.

14. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch screen display;

displaying a text entry interface on the touch screen display, the text entry interface comprising;

a soft keyboard in a first area on the touch screen display, and

a viewing area with a first size when the soft keyboard is displayed, the viewing area configured to display scrollable information;

detecting a first finger gesture on the viewing area; and

,

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the viewing area;

ceasing to display the soft keyboard,

expanding the viewing area to a second size, wherein the expanded viewing area includes at least some of the first area, and

scrolling information in the expanded viewing area.

15. 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 text entry interface on the touch screen display, the text entry interface comprising;

a soft keyboard in a first area on the touch screen display, and

a viewing area with a first size when the soft keyboard is displayed, the viewing area configured to display scrollable information;

detect a finger gesture on the viewing area; and

,

in response to detecting the finger gesture on the viewing area;

cease to display the soft keyboard,

expand the viewing area to a second size, wherein the expanded viewing area includes at least some of the first area, and

scroll information in the expanded viewing area.