Apparatus and methods for displaying second content in response to user inputs

• US 9,257,098 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Arrasvuori, Juha Henrik, Eskolin, Jan Peter Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vu
• Application Number:
  US13/336,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to detect one or more particular user inputs from respective one or more positions, each position associated with a respective edge region of a display; and upon detection of the one or more particular user inputs, modify at least a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole within the foreground view in the portion, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application and the peep-hole comprising second content data. In this way, the peep-hole may be considered to replace parts of the foreground view with second content data. Corresponding methods and computer programs are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

in response to detection of multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs from two or more positions, at least two of the two or more positions associated with opposite edge regions of a display of a hand-held portable electronic device, modify a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole entirely within the foreground view in the portion, the peep-hole position associated with the detected positions of the multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs, and leave the remaining portions of the foreground view not associated with the peep-hole otherwise unchanged, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application, wherein the creation of the peep-hole reveals second content data, the revealed second content data being a corresponding partial portion of a background view associated with a background application, the background application being one of a different application running in the background or a home screen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peep-hole provides a view of the second content data which is user perceived to be in one of a layer below the layer of the first content data or in a layer at the same layer as the layer of the first content data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second content data is associated with at least one of a further application or content data other than the first content data associated with the foreground application.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon the cessation of the detection of the particular user inputs, the apparatus is configured to remove the peep-hole to again provide the foreground view.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foreground view is associated with a first window and the background view is associated with a second window.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more particular user inputs are received via one or more of:

a stretch sensor;

a capacitive sensor;

a button stripe; and

a resistive stripe.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the area of the peep-hole is related to one or more of:

the force of one or more of the particular user inputs;

the input gesture of one or more of the particular user inputs.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a subsequent position of the peep-hole is based on one or more of:

the orientation of the device; and

information relating to an event.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foreground view comprises one or more of:

a screensaver;

an application view;

a locked mode view;

a window;

or a home screen view.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least one of a portable electronic device, circuitry for a portable electronic device, a mobile phone, a Smartphone, a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant, the portable communications device or a module for the same.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect multiple concurrent particular user inputs, and wherein the peep-hole is configured to extend between lateral edge regions associated with the multiple concurrent particular user inputs.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the partial portion relates to relevant information based on the user'"'"'s context.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs from the hand holding the portable electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two or more positions of the multiple concurrent single-handed inputs correspond to edge positions of the display of the hand-held portable electronic device and are offset from the display.

15. A method, the method comprising:

in response to detecting multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs from two or more positions, at least two of the two or more positions associated with opposite edge regions of a display of a hand-held portable electronic device, modifying a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole entirely within the foreground view in the portion, the peep-hole position associated with the detected positions of the multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs, and leaving the remaining portions of the foreground view not associated with the peep-hole otherwise unchanged, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application, wherein the creation of the peep-hole reveals second content data, the revealed second content data being a corresponding partial portion of a background view associated with a background application, the background application being one of a different application running in the background or a home screen.

16. A computer-readable non-transitory medium comprising computer program code configured to:

in response to detection of multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs from two or more positions, at least two of the two or more positions associated with opposite edge regions of a display of a hand-held portable electronic device, modify a portion of a foreground view on the display to create a peep-hole entirely within the foreground view in the portion, the peep-hole position associated with the detected positions of the multiple concurrent single-handed particular user inputs, and leave the remaining portions of the foreground view not associated with the peep-hole otherwise unchanged, the foreground view comprising first content data associated with a foreground application, wherein the creation of the peep-hole reveals second content data, the revealed second content data being a corresponding partial portion of a background view associated with a background application, the background application being one of a different application running in the background or a home screen.