Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for inserting a character from an alternate keyboard

• US 8,570,279 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ording, Bas, Kocienda, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIS, RANDAL L
• Application Number:
  US12/163,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/168
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises displaying a first soft keyboard. While displaying the first soft keyboard, a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is displayed. A first contact is detected on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard. In response to detecting the first contact, the second soft keyboard is displayed. Movement of the first contact is detected to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard. Lift off of the first contact is detected at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved. In response to detecting the lift off, a character is inserted that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved and the display of the second soft keyboard is ceased.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display;

displaying a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

while displaying the first soft keyboard, displaying a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard;

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, displaying the second soft keyboard;

while maintaining the single contact, detecting the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display, to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard;

detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and

in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

inserting a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

ceasing to display the second soft keyboard; and

displaying the first soft keyboard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single contact is a finger contact.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and

ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, ceasing to display the first soft keyboard.

9. 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 in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

a text input area;

a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard; and

the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

wherein;

the key for selecting the second soft keyboard is displayed while displaying the first soft keyboard;

in response to detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard is displayed;

the single contact, while being maintained, is detected moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard;

lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display is detected at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and

in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

a character is inserted in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

display of the second soft keyboard is ceased; and

the first soft keyboard is displayed.

10. A portable electronic 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 programs including instructions for;

displaying a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

while displaying the first soft keyboard, displaying a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard;

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, displaying the second soft keyboard;

while maintaining the single contact, detecting the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard;

detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and

in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

inserting a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

ceasing to display the second soft keyboard; and

displaying the first soft keyboard.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the single contact is a finger contact.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and

ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key.

17. The device of claim 10, including instructions for:

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, ceasing to display the first soft keyboard.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

while displaying the first soft keyboard, display a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys;

detect a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard;

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, display the second soft keyboard;

while maintaining the single contact, detect the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard;

detect lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and

in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

insert a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved;

cease to display the second soft keyboard; and

display the first soft keyboard.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the single contact is a finger contact.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and

ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions which cause the device to:

in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, cease to display the first soft keyboard.