Soft keyboard display for a portable multifunction device

• US 8,400,417 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ording, Bas, Kocienda, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): CERULLO, LILIANA P
• Application Number:
  US13/458,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20120216139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 715773-866, 178 1801- 1907, 341 22- 34, 3404071-4072, 708142-146, 455/186.2
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display;

detecting a first gesture on the touch screen display;

responding to the first gesture by displaying a first soft keyboard, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including primarily letter keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including a first keyboard selector key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard;

detecting a second gesture on the touch screen display;

responding to the second gesture by displaying the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the second soft keyboard including;

number keys, a first group of non-letter keys, and a second keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard;

detecting a third gesture on the touch screen display; and

responding to the third gesture by displaying a third soft keyboard that is different from the first soft keyboard and the second soft keyboard, wherein;

the third soft keyboard is made up of a second group of non-letter keys and symbols and includes a plurality of non-letter keys of the first group of non-letter keys that correspond to non-letter characters;

the first soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen;

the second soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard; and

when the second soft keyboard is displayed, the key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the key in the first soft keyboard that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-letter keys are punctuations keys.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of letters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on a text input box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on a numeric input box.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third soft keyboard is made up primarily of non-letter keys and symbols.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality in the second keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys; and

the non-letter keys and symbols in the third keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys including a respective row of keys that is the same as a corresponding row of keys in the second soft keyboard.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the third soft keyboard includes a third keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard; and

the third keyboard selector key is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the second keyboard selector key.

10. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including primarily letter keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including a first keyboard selector key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard;

the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the second soft keyboard including;

number keys, a first group of non-letter keys, and a second keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard; and

a third soft keyboard that is different from the first soft keyboard and the second soft keyboard, wherein the third soft keyboard is made up of a second group of non-letter keys and symbols and includes a plurality of non-letter keys of the first group of non-letter keys that correspond to non-letter characters;

wherein;

in response to detecting a first gesture on the touch screen display, the first soft keyboard is displayed;

in response to detecting a second gesture on the touch screen display, the second soft keyboard is displayed;

in response to detecting a third gesture on the touch screen display, the third keyboard is displayed;

the first soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen;

the second soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard; and

when the second soft keyboard is displayed, the key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the key in the first soft keyboard that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the non-letter keys are punctuations keys.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of letters.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on a text input box.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of numbers.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on a numeric input box.

16. A 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;

detecting a first gesture on the touch screen display;

responding to the first gesture by displaying a first soft keyboard, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including primarily letter keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including a first keyboard selector key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard;

detecting a second gesture on the touch screen display;

responding to the second gesture by displaying the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the second soft keyboard including number keys, a first group of non-letter keys, and a second keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard;

detecting a third gesture on the touch screen display; and

responding to the third gesture by displaying a third soft keyboard that is different from the first soft keyboard and the second soft keyboard, wherein;

the third soft keyboard is made up of a second group of non-letter keys and symbols and includes a plurality of non-letter keys of the first group of non-letter keys that correspond to non-letter characters;

the first soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen;

the second soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard; and

when the second soft keyboard is displayed, the key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the key in the first soft keyboard that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the non-letter keys are punctuations keys.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of letters.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on a text input box.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of numbers.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on a numeric input box.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the third soft keyboard is made up primarily of non-letter keys and symbols.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the plurality in the second keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys; and

the non-letter keys and symbols in the third keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys including a respective row of keys that is the same as a corresponding row of keys in the second soft keyboard.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the third soft keyboard includes a third keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard; and

the third keyboard selector key is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the second keyboard selector key.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

detect a first gesture on the touch screen display;

respond to the first gesture by displaying a first soft keyboard, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including primarily letter keys, the plurality of keys in the first soft keyboard including a first keyboard selector key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard;

detect a second gesture on the touch sensitive display;

respond to the second gesture by displaying the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys in the second soft keyboard including number keys, a first group of non-letter keys, and a second keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard;

detect a third gesture on the touch screen display; and

respond to the third gesture by displaying a third soft keyboard that is different from the first soft keyboard and the second soft keyboard, wherein;

the third soft keyboard is made up of a second group of non-letter keys and symbols and includes a plurality of non-letter keys of the first group of non-letter keys that correspond to non-letter characters;

the first soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen;

the second soft keyboard includes a key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard; and

when the second soft keyboard is displayed, the key that, when activated, initiates display of the third soft keyboard is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the key in the first soft keyboard that, when activated, capitalizes the next letter chosen.

26. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the non-letter keys are punctuations keys.

27. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of letters.

28. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the first gesture is a gesture on a text input box.

29. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on an icon prompting input comprised primarily of numbers.

30. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein the second gesture is a gesture on a numeric input box.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the third soft keyboard is made up primarily of non-letter keys and symbols.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein:

the plurality in the second keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys; and

the non-letter keys and symbols in the third keyboard are arranged as a plurality of rows of keys including a respective row of keys that is the same as a corresponding row of keys in the second soft keyboard.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein:

the third soft keyboard includes a third keyboard selector key for selecting the first soft keyboard; and

the third keyboard selector key is displayed at a location on the touch screen display that was previously occupied by the second keyboard selector key.