Abstract: Disclosed are several methods, apparatus, and a system to create, expose, and hide embedded secondary content data relevant to a primary content page of an electronic book generated by a content generating device. The method, system, and apparatus is enabled through a Y-axis slide apart gesture that is applied to a notification region of the primary content page such that the secondary content data is made visible when the Y-axis slide apart gesture is applied to the notification region. The method, system, and apparatus is also enabled through a Y-axis pinch close gesture that is applied to a boundary of an exposed pane that is appearing in the primary content page such that the Y-axis pinch close gesture collapses the exposed pane in which the secondary content data is made visible. In one embodiment, the system comprises an association server, an electronic book distribution server, and a content rendering device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a drag and drop discovery mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In response to a user dragging and dropping a content icon into a search box, the content discovery mode may perform a search for content similar to that deposited into the search box. The search box may increase in size or change appearance while receiving the content icon. The results of such a search may be displayed to the user with a content discovery animation that shows similar content icons emerging from the search box and populating the device screen. The animation may be accompanied by sound effects. The newly discovered content may be randomly scattered over a portion of the screen, or they may be bundled into groups based on similar characteristics, and each group may be accompanied by a header notifying the user of the characteristics of the group.

Abstract: In-store promotion techniques for alerting an electronic device user of local in-store promotional events are disclosed. The in-store promotion mode may determine the user's taste profile based on the user's shopping cart, wish list, search history, purchase history, content ratings, favorite authors, and/or event preferences. A promotion notification relating to promotions matching the user's taste profile may be displayed to the user, for example, with a pop-up window, a message on the user's welcome screen or home page, or other notification displayed to the user on the device screen. The promotion notifications may be limited to promotional events taking place at the user's local retail store, and the user may designate the local retail store. The promotion notification may be a generic message notifying the user of the existence of a promotion, and upon visiting the retail store a welcome message including the promotion details may be displayed on the device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a hotspot peek mode for use with digital content that includes one or more hotspots. Each hotspot includes a link to a source of additional content, where the source may be, for example, a web page or another portion of the digital content. The hotspot peek mode may be configured to display (or otherwise present) a pop-up panel on displayed digital content in response to a peek command (e.g., a tap or hover input) performed on a hotspot. The pop-up panel may include additional content from the source associated with the given hotspot, to provide a peek at the source. The hotspot peek mode may be further configured to navigate to the source in response to a selection made inside the pop-up panel. In some cases, the functionality of the hotspot peek mode may be fully integrated within an eReader application or another suitable application.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a scrapbooking function in electronic computing devices. The user can engage the scrapbooking function with a content sampling command that engages a scrapbook creation mode which virtually rips a digital content sample from a content source. The digital content sample may be displayed to the user with a torn edge, as if it had been physically torn from a magazine or catalogue. The content sampling command may be, for example, a swipe gesture, an S-gesture, or selecting a scrapbook UI control feature. The user may save the sampled content into a new scrapbook or save it to an existing scrapbook. The user may also engage the scrapbooking function by entering a scrapbook viewing mode which allows the user to view and edit existing scrapbooks. The content sample may include all encrypted data present in the digital content from which it is sampled.

Abstract: Disclosed are several methods, apparatus, and a system to create, expose, and hide embedded secondary content data relevant to a primary content page of an electronic book generated by a content generating device. The method, system, and apparatus is enabled through a Y-axis slide apart gesture that is applied to a notification region of the primary content page such that the secondary content data is made visible when the Y-axis slide apart gesture is applied to the notification region. The method, system, and apparatus is also enabled through a Y-axis pinch close gesture that is applied to a boundary of an exposed pane that is appearing in the primary content page such that the Y-axis pinch close gesture collapses the exposed pane in which the secondary content data is made visible. In one embodiment, the system comprises an association server, an electronic book distribution server, and a content rendering device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a touch sensitive computing device using a pinch and flick gesture input, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode allows a user to perform a pinch gesture on a display of active applications to form a stack of those active applications. The user can then perform a flick gesture on the stack to perform a function on all of the active applications in the stack. The function may include closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting the active applications in the stack, for example. In some cases, the manage active apps mode may be configured to provide feedback (e.g., an animation or sound) after a stack has been flicked to indicate that the function was performed (e.g., that the apps were closed, stopped, etc.).

Abstract: A user interface is disclosed that is configured to provide a multi-user, multi-application experience for users of a given computing device, where each user account of the device is configurable with applications suitable for that user and each application has a usage timer associated therewith. Thus, each user may have access to applications that are different from another user of that device, and each user can be allocated application usage time independent from other users. The usage timers can be configured to reset once a usage period has lapsed. In some cases, the size of icons displayed for a given user account are automatically sized based on the age range of that user. A reward program may automatically increase the time allotted for given applications/content upon successful usage/consumption of educational applications/content. In a classroom/group setting, multiple computing devices may be simultaneously set into Kid Mode by a master computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a mobile computing device, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode may be invoked by shaking the device while pressing the device's power button (or while manipulating one or more other user interface control features). The device may include one or more accelerometers, for example, to detect when (and possibly how) the device is being shaken. When invoked, the manage active apps mode may be configured to perform the function of closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting of one or more of the device's active applications, for example. In some cases, the mode function performed may be determined by the direction the device is being shaken, such as if the device is being shaken from side-to-side or up-and-down.

Abstract: A system and method for lending digital content in which a user employs her contacts list to lend and borrow the digital content. The lender initiates the lending process using her local device by generating a lending offer. The lending offer contains an identification of the lender, an identification of the contact and an identification of the digital content to be lent. The lending offer is communicated from the lender's local device through a communication channel to a server which generates a lending offer email and/or a lending notification. The lending offer email and notification are sent to the potential lendee. The potential lendee can click on a URL contained in the email or respond to the lending offer notification to accept the loan. The server processes this acceptance by the lendee and transfers the loaned copy of the digital content to the lendee.

Abstract: A consumer-to-consumer lending system and method for digital content such as digital ebooks. The lending system invention enables a user who has purchased digital content to lend that content to another user. The lending system enables a lender to extend a lending offer to a lendee and a lendee to respond to the lending offer. A lendee may accept or reject a lending offer. Upon acceptance, the lending system provides the lent content to the lendee who controls the content until returning it, purchasing it or until a predetermined lending period expires. During the lending period the lender does not have access to the lent digital content item. The lending system assists a lender with initiating a lending offer, such as providing a pre-populated email form, and delivers the lend offer notification to the target lendee. Lending offers may be initiated and notifications received over common channels, including email systems, mobile devices, and web-based user accounts.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a user interface display that de-emphasizes a background image of a physical display. The system and method draws a pattern, preferably a checkered pattern, of black and transparent pixels over the background image. The system and method mitigates any jarring effect of the prior art of driving all of the display to black. Although in the preferred embodiment, the checkered pattern alternates pixels between black and transparent, any pattern that drives less than substantially all of the pixels to black is suitable.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a group mode in a computing device to group objects (e.g., files, photos, etc.) displayed and/or stored on the computing device into a bundle. The group mode can be invoked in response to a swipe gesture, a press-and-hold gesture, and/or other user input indicative that the group mode is desired. The user may interact with the bundle once it is formed, including sharing or organizing the bundle as desired, for example. In some cases, the user input used to invoke the group mode may also be used to invoke a bundle interaction, such as to group and share the bundle using a single swipe gesture. In some cases, the user may be able to select the objects desired to be grouped and cause them to be grouped into a bundle using the same user input, such as one continuous swipe gesture.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a swipe-based delete confirmation mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the delete confirmation mode by performing a delete command, which causes the device to display a delete confirmation swipe gesture prompt. The delete confirmation prompt may be included within a delete confirmation graphic or a delete confirmation pop-up window. By performing the delete confirmation swipe gesture on the touch sensitive surface, the user may confirm the delete command. By not properly performing the delete confirmation gesture, closing a delete confirmation pop-up window, tapping an area of the screen not associated with the delete confirmation prompt, or otherwise not performing the delete confirmation swipe gesture, the device may cause the delete function to be abandoned.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a duplicate content mode in touch sensitive computing devices. The duplicate content mode can be used to copy content or objects to a target location using a multiple contact point drag and drop gesture. For example, the duplicate content mode may be used to copy files from a first folder to a second folder. In some cases, the duplicate content mode drag and drop gesture is initiated using multiple contact points, such as two or more fingers, but may transition to a smaller number of contact points, such as one finger, once initiated. In some cases, the user may be able to select additional content after initiating the drag and drop gesture. Once the content has been copied to the target location, the user can then share or organize the content to the users liking.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing an image pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The image pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create or otherwise select a specific image pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable image pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of images, or even a single image selected from an image group. The unlocking mechanism may include images gathered from the user's photo collection and/or one or more online profiles, and the unlock pattern could be a selection of such images. In other embodiments, a combination of color and images can also be used, such as matching colors to images. When the user has arranged the proper image pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct image pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a color pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The color pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create a specific color pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable color pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of colors. Example color patterns include a combination of colors arranged in a certain order, a combination of colors combined with a password, a combination of colors combined with one or more words written out in one or more colors, or a combination of colors each matched with a specific image. When the user has arranged the proper color pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct color pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a multidirectional swipe key for a virtual keyboard of a touch sensitive computing device. The multidirectional swipe key can be used to translate one or more swipe gestures started from the key into cursor movement (or directional input). The characteristics of the multidirectional swipe key gestures, such as the swipe direction and/or swipe length, may affect the resulting cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may be configured such that held swipe gestures cause continual cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may also be configured such that dragging the gesture to make a longer swipe accelerates cursor movement (or directional input) and vice versa.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a virtual keyboard key swipe mode for touch sensitive computing devices. The keyboard key swipe mode allows for the selection and/or input of key options for a particular virtual keyboard key using swipe gestures started from that particular key. Key options may include, for example, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers or characters. In one example case, an upward swipe gesture performed on a letter key causes an uppercase selection of that letter key and a downward swipe gesture performed on the letter key causes a lowercase selection of that letter key. In another example case, a rightward swipe gesture performed on an alphanumeric key may cause a first character selection and a leftward swipe gesture performed on the alphanumeric key may cause a second character selection. The keyboard key swipe mode may further include a change-all-keys user input that transitions all keys simultaneously.