Device and Method for Facilitating Setting Autofocus Reference Point in Camera Application User Interface
An electronic device, with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. While displaying a camera preview in a camera application, a contact corresponding to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview is detected, and in response, the respective location in the camera preview is set as an autofocus reference point. In response to detecting a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold, the device captures media with the camera application in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/536,644, filed Nov. 9, 2014, which is a continuation of PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/040067, filed on May 8, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Facilitating User Interaction with Controls in a User Interface,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,211, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Facilitating User Interaction with Controls in a User Interface;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/747,278, filed Dec. 29, 2012, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User Interface Objects with Visual and/or Haptic Feedback;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/688,227, filed May 9, 2012, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User Interface Objects with Visual and/or Haptic Feedback,” which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
This application is also related to the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,092, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Selecting Object within a Group of Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,125, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigating User Interface Hierarchies;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,156, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating Framed Graphical Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,179, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Scrolling Nested Regions;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,171, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying Additional Information in Response to a User Contact;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,191, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying User Interface Objects Corresponding to an Application;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,239, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Forgoing Generation of Tactile Output for a Multi-Contact Gesture;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,284, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Tactile Feedback for Operations Performed in a User Interface;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,287, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Feedback for Changing Activation States of a User Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,363, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Transitioning between Touch Input to Display Output Relationships;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,367, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving a User Interface Object Based on an Intensity of a Press Input;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,265, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Transitioning between Display States in Response to a Gesture;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,373, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Managing Activation of a Control Based on Contact Intensity;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,412, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying Content Associated with a Corresponding Affordance;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,413, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Selecting User Interface Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,414, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving and Dropping a User Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,416, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Whether to Scroll or Select Content;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,418, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Switching between User Interfaces,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This application is also related to the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/645,033, filed on May 9, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/665,603, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/681,098, filed on Aug. 8, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis relates generally to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces, including but not limited to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces that detect inputs for manipulating user interfaces.
BACKGROUNDThe use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touch pads and touch screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display.
Exemplary manipulations include adjusting the position and/or size of one or more user interface objects or activating buttons or opening files/applications represented by user interface objects, as well as associating metadata with one or more user interface objects or otherwise manipulating user interfaces. Exemplary user interface objects include digital images, video, text, icons, control elements such as buttons and other graphics. A user will, in some circumstances, need to perform such manipulations on user interface objects in a file management program (e.g., Finder from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), an image management application (e.g., Aperture or iPhoto from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a digital content (e.g., videos and music) management application (e.g., iTunes from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a drawing application, a presentation application (e.g., Keynote from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a word processing application (e.g., Pages from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a website creation application (e.g., iWeb from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a disk authoring application (e.g., iDVD from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), or a spreadsheet application (e.g., Numbers from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.).
But existing methods for performing these manipulations are cumbersome and inefficient. In addition, existing methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.
SUMMARYAccordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for manipulating user interfaces. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replace conventional methods for manipulating user interfaces. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, the device is a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the device is portable (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handheld device). In some embodiments, the device has a touchpad. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch screen display”). In some embodiments, the device has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the functions optionally include image editing, drawing, presenting, word processing, website creating, disk authoring, spreadsheet making, game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions are, optionally, included in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.
There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for accessing toolbar controls. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for accessing toolbar controls. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying, on the display, an application window and a toolbar that includes a first plurality of controls for adjusting properties of an electronic document displayed in the application window; detecting a press input on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is on the toolbar on the display; and in response to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input includes a contact with an intensity above a respective intensity threshold: ceasing to display one or more of the first plurality of controls; and displaying a second plurality of controls for adjusting properties of the electronic document, where the second plurality of controls includes one or more controls not included in the first plurality of controls.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display an application window and a toolbar that includes a first plurality of controls for adjusting properties of an electronic document displayed in the application window, a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive press inputs, one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit, and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensors. The processing unit is configured to: detect a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit while a focus selector is on the toolbar on the display unit; and in response to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input includes a contact with an intensity above a respective intensity threshold: cease to display one or more of the first plurality of controls, and enable display of a second plurality of controls for adjusting properties of the electronic document, where the second plurality of controls includes one or more controls not included in the first plurality of controls.
Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for accessing toolbar controls, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for accessing toolbar controls.
There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for displaying hidden text in a user interface. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for displaying hidden text in a user interface. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a text box including text, where the text includes more text than can be displayed in the text box; and while the focus selector is over the text box, detecting a first press input corresponding to a contact on the touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a predefined activation threshold. The method further includes, in response to detecting the first press input, displaying a previously undisplayed portion of the text.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes an electronic device, comprising: a display unit configured to display a text box where the text includes more text than can be displayed in the text box; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive a first press input corresponding to a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit; one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the one or more sensor units. The processing unit is configured to, while the focus selector is over the text box, detect a first press input corresponding to a contact on the touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a predefined activation threshold. The processing unit is further configured to, in response to detecting the first press input, display a previously undisplayed portion of the text.
Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for displaying hidden text using a gesture (e.g., a press input) on a touch-sensitive surface, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for displaying hidden text using a gesture (e.g., a press input) on a touch-sensitive surface.
There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for facilitating users to interact with controls in a user interface such that a display (for user-selection) of one of two controls—associated with one of two different but related operations—is enabled. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for interacting with controls in a user interface. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying, on the display, a first control for controlling a first operation. The method further includes detecting, on the touch-sensitive surface, a first input that corresponds to the first control; and in response to detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first control-activation criteria but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above a respective intensity threshold, performing the first operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first input includes a contact with an intensity above the respective intensity threshold, displaying a second control for performing a second operation associated with the first operation.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured display a first control for controlling a first operation, a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit, one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit and the one or more sensor units. The processing unit is configured to: detect, on the touch-sensitive surface unit, a first input that corresponds to the first control; and in response to detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first control-activation criteria but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above a respective intensity threshold, perform the first operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first input includes a contact with an intensity above the respective intensity threshold, enable display of a second control for performing a second operation associated with the first operation.
Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for interacting with controls in a user interface, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for interacting with controls in a user interface.
There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for allowing users to interact with application windows, and in particular, with border regions in application windows (e.g., for interacting with the “chrome” or predefined border regions outside of, and surrounding, an active display region in application windows). Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for allowing users to interact with application windows. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying, on the display, an application window that includes content. The application window includes a plurality of visible controls, where the plurality of visible controls include one or more controls that are responsive to corresponding gestures that include at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold; and the application window includes a border region, where one or more portions of the border region do not include any visible controls. The method further includes detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is on a respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, where the first gesture includes a respective contact with an intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold. The method also includes in response to detecting the first gesture: in accordance with a determination that the respective contact has an intensity above a border-activation intensity threshold that is higher than the control-activation intensity threshold, performing a respective operation on the content; and in accordance with a determination that the first gesture does not include any contact with a maximum intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold, forgoing performing the respective operation on the content.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display an application window that includes content; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit; one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the one or more sensor units. The processing unit is configured to: enable display of the application window where, the application window includes a plurality of visible controls, where the plurality of visible controls include one or more controls that are responsive to corresponding gestures that include at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold; and the application window includes a border region, where one or more portions of the border region do not include any visible controls. The processing unit is further configured to detect a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface unit while a focus selector is on a respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, where the first gesture includes a respective contact with an intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold. the processing unit is further configured to, in response to detecting the first gesture: in accordance with a determination that the respective contact has an intensity above a border-activation intensity threshold that is higher than the control-activation intensity threshold, perform a respective operation on the content; and in accordance with a determination that the first gesture does not include any contact with a maximum intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold, forgo performing the respective operation on the content.
Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for allowing users to interact with application windows, and in particular, with border regions in application windows , thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for allowing users to interact with application windows.
There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for capturing media. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for capturing media. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying, on the display, a camera preview in a camera application; while displaying the camera preview on the display, detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview; in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, setting the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point; and after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continuing to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, detecting a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold, and in response to detecting the first press input, capturing media with the camera application, wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display, on the display unit, a camera preview in a camera application; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive contacts; one or more sensors configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensors. The processing unit is configured to: while enabling display of the camera preview on the display unit, detect a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit, where the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview; in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit, set the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point; and after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continue to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit, detect a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold, and in response to detecting the first press input, capture media with the camera application, wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for capturing media, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for capturing media.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing the operations of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of the elements displayed in any of the methods described herein, which are updated in response to inputs, as described in any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to perform the operations of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface; and means for performing the operations of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some embodiments, an information processing apparatus, for use in an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, includes means for performing the operations of any of the methods described herein.
For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
The methods, devices and GUIs described herein provide visual and/or haptic feedback that makes manipulation of user interface objects more efficient and intuitive for a user. For example, in a system where the clicking action of a trackpad is decoupled from the contact intensity (e.g., contact force, contact pressure, or a substitute therefore) that is needed to reach an activation threshold, the device can generate different tactile outputs (e.g., “different clicks”) for different activation events (e.g., so that clicks that accomplish a particular result are differentiated from clicks that do not produce any result or that accomplish a different result from the particular result). Additionally, tactile outputs can be generated in response to other events that are not related to increasing intensity of a contact, such as generating a tactile output (e.g., a “detent”) when a user interface object is moved to a particular position, boundary or orientation, or when an event occurs at the device.
Additionally, in a system where a trackpad or touch-screen display is sensitive to a range of contact intensity that includes more than one or two specific intensity values (e.g., more than a simple on/off, binary intensity determination), the user interface can provide responses (e.g., visual or tactile cues) that are indicative of the intensity of the contact within the range. In some implementations, a pre-activation-threshold response and/or a post-activation-threshold response to an input are displayed as continuous animations. As one example of such a response, a preview of an operation is displayed in response to detecting an increase in contact intensity that is still below an activation threshold for performing the operation. As another example of such a response, an animation associated with an operation continues even after the activation threshold for the operation has been reached. Both of these examples provide a user with a continuous response to the force or pressure of a user's contact, which provides a user with visual and/or haptic feedback that is richer and more intuitive. More specifically, such continuous force responses give the user the experience of being able to press lightly to preview an operation and/or press deeply to push “past” or “through” a predefined user interface state corresponding to the operation.
Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that is sensitive to a range of contact intensity, multiple contact intensity thresholds can be monitored by the device and different functions can be mapped to different contact intensity thresholds. This serves to increase the available “gesture space” providing easy access to advanced features for users who know that increasing the intensity of a contact at or beyond a second “deep press” intensity threshold will cause the device to perform a different operation from an operation that would be performed if the intensity of the contact is between a first “activation” intensity threshold and the second “deep press” intensity threshold. An advantage of assigning additional functionality to a second “deep press” intensity threshold while maintaining familiar functionality at a first “activation” intensity threshold is that inexperienced users who are, in some circumstances, confused by the additional functionality can use the familiar functionality by just applying an intensity up to the first “activation” intensity threshold, whereas more experienced users can take advantage of the additional functionality by applying an intensity at the second “deep press” intensity threshold.
Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that is sensitive to a range of contact intensity, the device can provide additional functionality by allowing users to perform complex operations with a single continuous contact. For example, when selecting a group of objects, a user can move a continuous contact around the touch-sensitive surface and can press while dragging (e.g., applying an intensity greater than a “deep press” intensity threshold) to add additional elements to a selection. In this way, a user can intuitively interact with a user interface where pressing harder with a contact causes objects in the user interface to be “stickier.”
A number of different approaches to providing an intuitive user interface on a device where a clicking action is decoupled from the force that is needed to reach an activation threshold and/or the device is sensitive to a wide range of contact intensities are described below. Using one or more of these approaches (optionally in conjunction with each other) helps to provide a user interface that intuitively provides users with additional information and functionality, thereby reducing the user's cognitive burden and improving the human-machine interface. Such improvements in the human-machine interface enable users to use the device faster and more efficiently. For battery-operated devices, these improvements conserve power and increase the time between battery charges. For ease of explanation, systems, methods and user interfaces for including illustrative examples of some of these approaches are described below, as follows:
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- Many applications on electronic devices include toolbars for activating various operations or adjusting one or more properties of a document or object. Sometimes an application has more available buttons and controls than can fit into a toolbar given the available display space. Hidden buttons or controls are sometimes accessed by performing a multi-step process to reconfigure the toolbar or by accessing the corresponding functionality from a menu, which can be disruptive and distracting to a user. The embodiments described below provide a convenient and intuitive method for accessing toolbar controls in accordance with an intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface. In particular,
FIGS. 5A-5J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for accessing toolbar controls.FIGS. 6A-6B are flow diagrams illustrating a method of accessing toolbar controls. The user interfaces inFIGS. 5A-5J are used to illustrate the processes inFIGS. 6A-6B . - Many electronic devices use graphical user interfaces to display information in text boxes. In some circumstances, the layout of the graphical user interface places limits on the size of the text boxes such that long text entries are truncated within the display. Hidden text is sometimes displayed in response to a “mouse over” (e.g., moving a cursor over the textbox) and sometimes requires hovering over the text box, which can be confusing and/or time consuming for a user. The embodiments described below provide a convenient and intuitive method for displaying hidden text in accordance with an intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface. In particular,
FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate exemplary user interfaces for displaying hidden text using a gesture (e.g., a press input) on a touch-sensitive surface.FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of displaying hidden text using a gesture (e.g., a press input) on a touch-sensitive surface. The user interfaces inFIGS. 8A-8D are used to illustrate the processes inFIG. 9 . - Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces include controls (e.g., affordances such as buttons or sliders) which, upon user-activation, are configured to perform specific predefined functions or operations. Sometimes, two controls offer related functionality (e.g., a play button and a fast-forward button on a media player). Sometimes, devices display these buttons in a spatially separated manner on the user interface, which places an added cognitive burden on a user and requires valuable display space. The disclosed embodiments provide the user a capability to activate one of two different operations associated with one of two controls based on a pressure or intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface. In particular,
FIGS. 11A-11M illustrate exemplary user interfaces for interacting with controls in a user interface.FIGS. 12A-12C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of interacting with controls in a user interface. The user interfaces inFIGS. 11A-11M are used to illustrate the processes inFIGS. 12A-12C . - Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with application windows that include border regions, which are not commonly associated with particular functions. It would be beneficial to provide the user an ability to interact with the large border regions of such application windows, by associating such border regions with one or more operations that can be performed upon user-activation of the border regions. The embodiments described below provide a convenient and intuitive method for interacting with application windows in accordance with an intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface. In particular,
FIGS. 14A-14Q illustrate exemplary user interfaces for allowing users to interact with application windows, and in particular, with border regions in application windows.FIGS. 15A-15B are flow diagrams illustrating a method of allowing users to interact with application windows, and in particular, with border regions in application windows. The user interfaces inFIGS. 14A-14Q are used to illustrate the processes inFIGS. 15A-15B . - Many electronic devices include cameras for capturing media (e.g., photos, video). Many of electronic devices include autofocus capability and also provide a user with a preview image prior to, for example, setting an autofocus reference point and capturing a photo in response to multiple separate inputs, which can be inefficient and time consuming for a user. When the user has particular subject matter of interest within the preview image, it would be beneficial to provide the user with a convenient way to choose a focal point corresponding to that subject matter within the preview image. The embodiments described provide a convenient and intuitive method for setting an autofocus reference point and capturing media in accordance with an intensity of a contact. In particular,
FIGS. 17A-17N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for capturing media.FIGS. 18A-18C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of capturing media. The user interfaces inFIGS. 17A-17N are used to illustrate the processes inFIGS. 18A-18C .
- Many applications on electronic devices include toolbars for activating various operations or adjusting one or more properties of a document or object. Sometimes an application has more available buttons and controls than can fit into a toolbar given the available display space. Hidden buttons or controls are sometimes accessed by performing a multi-step process to reconfigure the toolbar or by accessing the corresponding functionality from a menu, which can be disruptive and distracting to a user. The embodiments described below provide a convenient and intuitive method for accessing toolbar controls in accordance with an intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface. In particular,
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), are, optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touch pad).
In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should be understood, however, that the electronic device optionally includes one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.
The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentation application, a word processing application, a website creation application, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, a gaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a workout support application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application.
The various applications that are executed on the device optionally use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the touch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitive surface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device are, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device optionally supports the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent to the user.
Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with touch-sensitive displays.
As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure (force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on the touch sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force or pressure of a contact on the touch sensitive surface. The intensity of a contact has a range of values that includes at least four distinct values and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., at least 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (or measured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinations of sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath or adjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measure force at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors are combined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of a contact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally, used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on the touch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto, and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in units corresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are converted to an estimated force or pressure and the estimated force or pressure is used to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in units of pressure).
As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output” refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previous position of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component (e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relative to a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user with the user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the device or the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a user that is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of a user's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacement will be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding to a perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or the component of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally, interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physical actuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensation such as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement of a physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surface that is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. As another example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally, interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitive surface, even when there is no change in smoothness of the touch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a user will be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user, there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a large majority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described as corresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “up click,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, the generated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of the device or a component thereof that will generate the described sensory perception for a typical (or average) user.
It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device 100 optionally has more or fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or more components, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in
Memory 102 optionally includes high-speed random access memory and optionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 102 by other components of device 100, such as CPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, is, optionally, controlled by memory controller 122.
Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or more processors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions for device 100 and to process data.
In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and memory controller 122 are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such as chip 104. In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, implemented on separate chips.
RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 optionally includes well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry 108 optionally communicates with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSDPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO), HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), near field communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document.
Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audio interface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receives audio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111. Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted by microphone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data is, optionally, retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108 by peripherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110 also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212,
I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, such as touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripherals interface 118. I/O subsystem 106 optionally includes display controller 156, optical sensor controller 158, intensity sensor controller 159, haptic feedback controller 161 and one or more input controllers 160 for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160 receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices 116. The other input control devices 116 optionally include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s) 160 are, optionally, coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208,
Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller 156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen 112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output optionally includes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output corresponds to user-interface objects.
Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 112 and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.
Touch screen 112 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies are used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
Touch screen 112 optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes contact with touch screen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user.
In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100 optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.
Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the various components. Power system 162 optionally includes a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 164.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more contact intensity sensors 165.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 166.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more tactile output generators 167.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 168.
In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102 include operating system 126, communication module (or set of instructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130, graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or set of instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions) 135, and applications (or sets of instructions) 136. Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 102 stores device/global internal state 157, as shown in
Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components.
Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports 124 and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/or external port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.
Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects contact with touch screen 112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force or pressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact) determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156 detect contact on a touchpad.
In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 uses a set of one or more intensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” on an icon). In some embodiments at least a subset of the intensity thresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g., the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholds of particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changing the physical hardware of device 100). For example, a mouse “click” threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of a large range of predefined thresholds values without changing the trackpad or touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in some implementations a user of the device is provided with software settings for adjusting one or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., by adjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting a plurality of intensity thresholds at once with a system-level click “intensity” parameter).
Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns and intensities. Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected by detecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event.
Graphics module 132 includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display, including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness, transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.
In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller 156.
Haptic feedback module 133 includes various software components for generating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 167 to produce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 100 in response to user interactions with device 100.
Text input module 134, which is, optionally, a component of graphics module 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, and any other application that needs text input).
GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 for use in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).
Applications 136 optionally include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
-
- contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact list);
- telephone module 138;
- video conferencing module 139;
- e-mail client module 140;
- instant messaging (IM) module 141;
- workout support module 142;
- camera module 143 for still and/or video images;
- image management module 144;
- browser module 147;
- calendar module 148;
- widget modules 149, which optionally include one or more of: weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets 149-6;
- widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;
- search module 151;
- video and music player module 152, which is, optionally, made up of a video player module and a music player module;
- notes module 153;
- map module 154; and/or
- online video module 155.
Examples of other applications 136 that are, optionally, stored in memory 102 include other word processing applications, other image editing applications, drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, contacts module 137 are, optionally, used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 of contacts module 137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and so forth.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephone module 138 are, optionally, used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book 137, modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138, videoconferencing module 139 includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module 144, e-mail client module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module 143.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS).
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music player module 146, workout support module 142 includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143 includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory 102.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and camera module 143, image management module 144 includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, calendar module 148 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 are mini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by a user (e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or created by the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 are, optionally, used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget).
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, search module 151 includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and music player module 152 includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via external port 124). In some embodiments, device 100 optionally includes the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.).
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, notes module 153 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154 are, optionally, used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user instructions.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, online video module 155 includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used to send a link to a particular online video.
Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one or more functions described above and the methods described in this application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other information processing methods described herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 102 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 102 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above.
In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device 100, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device 100 is, optionally, reduced.
The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that is displayed on device 100. In such embodiments, a “menu button” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, the menu button is a physical push button or other physical input control device instead of a touchpad.
Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines the application 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1 to which to deliver the event information. Event sorter 170 includes event monitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes application internal state 192, which indicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch sensitive display 112 when the application is active or executing. In some embodiments, device/global internal state 157 is used by event sorter 170 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, and application internal state 192 is used by event sorter 170 to determine application views 191 to which to deliver event information.
In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes additional information, such as one or more of: resume information to be used when application 136-1 resumes execution, user interface state information that indicates information being displayed or that is ready for display by application 136-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back to a prior state or view of application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue of previous actions taken by the user.
Event monitor 171 receives event information from peripherals interface 118. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., a user touch on touch-sensitive display 112, as part of a multi-touch gesture). Peripherals interface 118 transmits information it receives from I/O subsystem 106 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 166, accelerometer(s) 168, and/or microphone 113 (through audio circuitry 110). Information that peripherals interface 118 receives from I/O subsystem 106 includes information from touch-sensitive display 112 or a touch-sensitive surface.
In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the peripherals interface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripherals interface 118 transmits event information. In other embodiments, peripheral interface 118 transmits event information only when there is a significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predetermined noise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).
In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit view determination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer determination module 173.
Hit view determination module 172 provides software procedures for determining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views, when touch sensitive display 112 displays more than one view. Views are made up of controls and other elements that a user can see on the display.
Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is a set of views, sometimes herein called application views or user interface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-based gestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) in which a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levels within a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example, the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally, called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.
Hit view determination module 172 receives information related to sub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multiple views organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 172 identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which should handle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowest level view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the first sub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potential event). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determination module, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view.
Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines which view or views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determination module 173 determines that only the hit view should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizer determination module 173 determines that all views that include the physical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, and therefore determines that all actively involved views should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touch sub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with one particular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain as actively involved views.
Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information to an event recognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments including active event recognizer determination module 173, event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined by active event recognizer determination module 173. In some embodiments, event dispatcher module 174 stores in an event queue the event information, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module 182.
In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event sorter 170. Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter 170. In yet other embodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone module, or a part of another module stored in memory 102, such as contact/motion module 130.
In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality of event handlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each of which includes instructions for handling touch events that occur within a respective view of the application's user interface. Each application view 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more event recognizers 180. Typically, a respective application view 191 includes a plurality of event recognizers 180. In other embodiments, one or more of event recognizers 180 are part of a separate module, such as a user interface kit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 136-1 inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respective event handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, object updater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from event sorter 170. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the application internal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the application views 191 includes one or more respective event handlers 190. Also, in some embodiments, one or more of data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178 are included in a respective application view 191.
A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information (e.g., event data 179) from event sorter 170, and identifies an event from the event information. Event recognizer 180 includes event receiver 182 and event comparator 184. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 also includes at least a subset of: metadata 183, and event delivery instructions 188 (which optionally include sub-event delivery instructions).
Event receiver 182 receives event information from event sorter 170. The event information includes information about a sub-event, for example, a touch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the event information also includes additional information, such as location of the sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the event information optionally also includes speed and direction of the sub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the device from one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event information includes corresponding information about the current orientation (also called device attitude) of the device.
Event comparator 184 compares the event information to predefined event or sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines an event or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event or sub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 includes event definitions 186. Event definitions 186 contain definitions of events (e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1 (187-1), event 2 (187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events in an event 187 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touch movement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, the definition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed object. The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition for event 2 (187-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, for example, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitive display 112, and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments, the event also includes information for one or more associated event handlers 190.
In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a definition of an event for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which user-interface object is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an application view in which three user-interface objects are displayed on touch-sensitive display 112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitive display 112, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which of the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch (sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respective event handler 190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit test to determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example, event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with the sub-event and the object triggering the hit test.
In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event 187 also includes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event information until after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-events does or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.
When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the series of sub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 186, the respective event recognizer 180 enters an event impossible, event failed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequent sub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other event recognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue to track and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.
In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 includes metadata 183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how the event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to actively involved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how event recognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varying levels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.
In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 activates event handler 190 associated with an event when one or more particular sub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 delivers event information associated with the event to event handler 190. Activating an event handler 190 is distinct from sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated with the recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flag catches the flag and performs a predefined process.
In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include sub-event delivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-event without activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event delivery instructions deliver event information to event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved views receive the event information and perform a predetermined process.
In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates data used in application 136-1. For example, data updater 176 updates the telephone number used in contacts module 137, or stores a video file used in video player module 145. In some embodiments, object updater 177 creates and updates objects used in application 136-1. For example, object updater 177 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of a user-interface object. GUI updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUI updater 178 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module 132 for display on a touch-sensitive display.
In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has access to data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178. In some embodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178 are included in a single module of a respective application 136-1 or application view 191. In other embodiments, they are included in two or more software modules.
It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding event handling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies to other forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 100 with input-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. For example, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinated with single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movements such as taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads; pen stylus inputs; movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements; biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilized as inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to be recognized.
Device 100 optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204 is, optionally, used to navigate to any application 136 in a set of applications that are, optionally executed on device 100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen 112.
In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button 204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging external port 124. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also accepts verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone 113. Device 100 also, optionally, includes one or more contact intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts on touch screen 112 and/or one or more tactile output generators 167 for generating tactile outputs for a user of device 100.
Each of the above identified elements in
Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) that is, optionally, implemented on portable multifunction device 100.
-
- Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s), such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;
- Time 404;
- Bluetooth indicator 405;
- Battery status indicator 406;
- Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:
- Icon 416 for telephone module 138, labeled “Phone,” which optionally includes an indicator 414 of the number of missed calls or voicemail messages;
- Icon 418 for e-mail client module 140, labeled “Mail,” which optionally includes an indicator 410 of the number of unread e-mails;
- Icon 420 for browser module 147, labeled “Browser;” and
- Icon 422 for video and music player module 152, also referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 152, labeled “iPod;” and
- Icons for other applications, such as:
- Icon 424 for IM module 141, labeled “Text;”
- Icon 426 for calendar module 148, labeled “Calendar;”
- Icon 428 for image management module 144, labeled “Photos;”
- Icon 430 for camera module 143, labeled “Camera;”
- Icon 432 for online video module 155, labeled “Online Video”
- Icon 434 for stocks widget 149-2, labeled “Stocks;”
- Icon 436 for map module 154, labeled “Map;”
- Icon 438 for weather widget 149-1, labeled “Weather;”
- Icon 440 for alarm clock widget 149-4, labeled “Clock;”
- Icon 442 for workout support module 142, labeled “Workout Support;”
- Icon 444 for notes module 153, labeled “Notes;” and
- Icon 446 for a settings application or module, which provides access to settings for device 100 and its various applications 136.
It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in
Although some of the examples which follow will be given with reference to inputs on touch screen display 112 (where the touch sensitive surface and the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detects inputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display, as shown in
Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily with reference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures, finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in some embodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with input from another input device (e.g., a mouse based input or stylus input). For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click (e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor along the path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). As another example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture (e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detect the contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneously detected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are, optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are, optionally, used simultaneously.
As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input element that indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user is interacting. In some implementations that include a cursor or other location marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector,” so that when an input (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touchpad 355 in
The user interface figures described below include various intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to one or more intensity thresholds (e.g., a contact detection intensity threshold IT0, a light press intensity threshold ITL, a deep press intensity threshold ITD, and/or one or more other intensity thresholds). This intensity diagram is typically not part of the displayed user interface, but is provided to aid in the interpretation of the figures. In some embodiments, the light press intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will perform operations typically associated with clicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, the deep press intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will perform operations that are different from operations typically associated with clicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, when a contact is detected with an intensity below the light press intensity threshold (e.g., and above a nominal contact-detection intensity threshold IT0 below which the contact is no longer detected), the device will move a focus selector in accordance with movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface without performing an operation associated with the light press intensity threshold or the deep press intensity threshold. Generally, unless otherwise stated, these intensity thresholds are consistent between different sets of user interface figures.
An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the light press intensity threshold ITL to an intensity between the light press intensity threshold ITL and the deep press intensity threshold ITD is sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the deep press intensity threshold ITD to an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold ITD is sometimes referred to as a “deep press” input. An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the contact-detection intensity threshold IT0 to an intensity between the contact-detection intensity threshold IT0 and the light press intensity threshold ITL is sometimes referred to as detecting the contact on the touch-surface. A decrease of intensity of the contact from an intensity above the contact-detection intensity threshold IT0 to an intensity below the contact intensity threshold IT0 is sometimes referred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface. In some embodiments IT0 is zero. In some embodiments IT0 is greater than zero. In some illustrations a shaded circle or oval is used to represent intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some illustrations a circle or oval without shading is used represent a respective contact on the touch-sensitive surface without specifying the intensity of the respective contact.
In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations are performed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respective press input or in response to detecting the respective press input performed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), where the respective press input is detected based at least in part on detecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality of contacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments, the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective press input). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of the respective press input).
In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoid accidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines or selects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationship to the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensity threshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensity threshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90% or some reasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, in some embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of the respective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press input is detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of the contact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and, optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g., the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity of the contact, depending on the circumstances).
For ease of explanation, the description of operations performed in response to a press input associated with a press-input intensity threshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are, optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase in intensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, an increase in intensity of a contact from an intensity below the hysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-input intensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below the press-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to the press-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where an operation is described as being performed in response to detecting a decrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensity threshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response to detecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-input intensity threshold.
User Interfaces and Associated Processes Accessing Toolbar ControlsMany applications on electronic devices include toolbars for activating various operations or adjusting one or more properties of a document or object. A toolbar can have one or more buttons or controls for activating operations, adjusting properties, etc. An application can have more available buttons and controls than can fit onto a toolbar given the available display space. In some methods, the display space issue can be resolved by hiding some buttons and controls. The hidden buttons or controls are accessed by performing a multi-step process to reconfigure the toolbar or by accessing the corresponding functionality from a menu, which can be disruptive and distracting from the task at hand. The embodiments described below improve on these methods. When a user makes a press input with sufficient intensity while a cursor is located over a toolbar of controls, one or more of the controls in the toolbar are replaced with other controls, which are, optionally, related to the replaced control(s). This provides a less disruptive and more efficient way to access toolbar buttons and controls.
In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separate display (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device is portable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitive display system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactile output generators 167 on the display (
Window 4502 includes toolbar 4506-1. Toolbar 4506-1 includes one or more controls (e.g., buttons, pull-down menus, etc.) for adjusting one or more properties of a document (e.g., document 4504) displayed in window 4502. For example, toolbar 4506-1 includes font selection control 4508 (e.g., for selecting a font for text in the document), change tracking control 4510 (e.g., for turning change tracking on or off in the document), and text alignment (also called “paragraph alignment”) control 4512 (e.g., for changing an alignment of text in the document). A focus selector (e.g., cursor 4514) is also displayed on display 450. In some embodiments, cursor 4514 is a pointer (e.g., a mouse pointer). In
The device detects a press input that includes an increase in intensity of contact 4516 from an intensity below a light press intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”) in
In some embodiments, the controls in toolbar 4506-2 include one or more controls that are used less frequently than the controls in toolbar 4506-1. For example, the specific text alignment controls 4518, 4520, 4522, and 4524, paragraph spacing control 4526, and paragraph indentation control 4528 in toolbar 4506-2 are used less frequently than at least one of font selection control 4508, change tracking control 4510, and text alignment control 4512 in toolbar 4506-1 shown in
In some embodiments, toolbar 4506-2 is replaced with toolbar 4506-1 (e.g., reversal of the replacement described above) in response to detection of a press input that has a contact with an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold (e.g. “ITD”) while cursor 4514 is located over toolbar 4506-2.
The other controls in toolbar 4506-1 and 4506-2 (e.g., controls 4508, 4510, 4518, 4520, etc.), described with reference to
In some embodiments, controls 4534, 4536, 4538, and 4540 are selected for inclusion in toolbar 4506-3 because they are related to change tracking control 4510, over which cursor 4514 is located when the press input was detected; control 4510 and controls 4534, 4536, 4538, and 4540 are related to the tracking of changes to a document. In some embodiments, controls 4534, 4536, 4538, and 4540 are replaced with change tracking control 4510 (e.g., reversal of the replacement described above) in response to detection of a press input that has a contact with an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold (e.g. “ITD”) while cursor 4514 is located over any of controls 4534, 4536, 4538, or 4540.
As described below, the method 4600 provides an intuitive way to access toolbar controls. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when accessing toolbar controls, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to access toolbar controls faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
The device displays (4602), on the display, an application window and a toolbar that includes a first plurality of controls for adjusting properties (e.g., text properties such as font, font size, color, style; image properties such as brightness, contrast, saturation; and/or shape properties such as opacity, text wrapping, border thickness) of an electronic document (e.g., a webpage, word processing document, presentation document, spreadsheet document, PDF, or image) displayed in the application window.
The device detects (4604) a press input on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is on the toolbar on the display.
The device, in response (4606) to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input includes (4607) a contact with an intensity above a respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), ceases (4608) to display one or more of the first plurality of controls, and displays (4612) a second plurality of controls for adjusting properties of the electronic document, where the second plurality of controls includes one or more controls not included in the first plurality of controls. For example, in
In some embodiments, ceasing to display the one or more of the first plurality of controls includes (4610) displaying an animation of the toolbar rotating around an axis parallel to the display, so that a side of the toolbar that includes the first plurality of controls is rotated off of the display and a side of the toolbar that includes the second plurality of controls is rotated onto the display. For example, in
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls replaces (4614) the first plurality of controls. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls includes (4616) controls that are used less frequently than the first plurality of controls (e.g., the first plurality of controls includes controls that are used frequently, and the second plurality of controls are a second tier of controls for controlling functions that are usually hidden from the user because the user is less likely to need to access these controls). In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls are selected based on inputs from the user (e.g., controls that are less used based on historical usage patterns or controls actively hidden or moved from the first plurality of controls by the user). In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls are selected by an application developer based on typical usage patterns (e.g., detailed options for paragraph formatting such as paragraph indents and spacing are not used frequently and thus are generally hidden from view while a few frequently used options such as paragraph alignment are displayed in the first plurality of controls). For example, toolbar 4506-2 in
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls is selected (4618) based at least in part on a location of the focus selector on the toolbar when the press input is detected (e.g., in response to detecting a deep press on a particular button in a toolbar or a particular region of the toolbar, show a plurality of buttons related to the particular button). For example, if the press input is detected on a paragraph alignment button, the device would display additional options for paragraph spacing and indentation. For example, in
In some embodiments, the press input is detected while a focus selector is on an icon associated with a respective operation (e.g., turning a “track changes” mode on/off), and the second plurality of controls are controls associated with operations that are related to the respective operation (e.g., options for reviewing an electronic document). In some of these embodiments, in response (4606) to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input meets control-activation criteria but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above the respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), the device performs (4620) the respective operation. For example, the respective operation is turning on a “track changes” mode, which is turned on if the press input meets the control-activation criteria (e.g., the press input includes an increase in intensity of a contact from an intensity below ITL or a hysteresis intensity threshold associated with ITL) to an intensity above ITL) but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above the respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”). In this example, if the press input includes a contact that has a maximum intensity above the respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), the options for reviewing the electronic document would be displayed instead of, or in addition to, turning on the “track changes” mode. Other examples of icons corresponding to operations associated with the second plurality of controls include: a text formatting icon associated with a set of text formatting controls; a paragraph formatting icon associated with a set of paragraph formatting controls; an image insertion icon associated with a plurality of image property controls; a table insertion icon associated with a plurality of table property controls; an equation insertion icon associated with a plurality of equation entry controls; and a chart insertion icon associated with a plurality of chart property controls.
For example, in
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in
In accordance with some embodiments,
As shown in
The processing unit 4708 is configured to: detect a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit 4704 while a focus selector is on the toolbar on the display unit 4702 (e.g., with the detecting unit 4710); and in response to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input includes a contact with an intensity above a respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”): cease to display one or more of the first plurality of controls (e.g., with the ceasing unit 4712), and enable display of a second plurality of controls for adjusting properties of the electronic document (e.g., with the display enabling unit 4714), wherein the second plurality of controls includes one or more controls not included in the first plurality of controls.
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls replaces the first plurality of controls.
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls includes controls that are used less frequently than the first plurality of controls.
In some embodiments, the second plurality of controls are selected based at least in part on a location of the focus selector on the toolbar when the press input is detected.
In some embodiments, ceasing to display the one or more of the first plurality of controls includes displaying an animation of the toolbar rotating around an axis parallel to the display unit 4702, so that a side of the toolbar that includes the first plurality of controls is rotated off of the display unit 4702 and a side of the toolbar that includes the second plurality of controls is rotated onto the display unit 4702.
In some embodiments, the press input is detected while a focus selector is on an icon associated with a respective operation, the second plurality of controls are controls associated with operations that are related to the respective operation, and the processing unit 4708 is configured to, in response to detecting the press input, in accordance with a determination that the press input meets control-activation criteria but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above the respective intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), perform the respective operation (e.g., with the performing unit 4716).
The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to
The operations described above with reference to
Many electronic devices use graphical user interfaces to display information and allow users to perform tasks. For example, a media player will display a list of content (e.g., songs, videos, and pictures) available to a user. In some examples, tasks associated with the content include playing a song or displaying a picture stored in a computer's memory. In some embodiments, information about the media is contained in fields and displayed in text boxes within the graphical user interface. For example, a song is associated with certain fields such as the name of the song, artist, album, the length of the song or its rating. Likewise, personal information managers provide user access to electronic documents, such as email, by displaying information about those documents (e.g., sender, subject line) in text fields. In some circumstances, the layout of the graphical user interface places limits on the size of the text boxes such that long text entries are truncated within the display. There is a need to provide a fast, efficient, and convenient way for users to view the entire contents of a text box.
In some circumstances, the amount of text exceeds what can be displayed in text box 4804. For example, the text box 4804 includes text (“Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor—II. Allegretto,” as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, gestures (e.g., swiping with one finger or swiping with two fingers, pinching, or applying a press input) are associated with context dependent operations. For example, if a focus selector is over a folder in a graphical user interface for an operating system, tapping once on the touch-sensitive surface will often “open” the folder by displaying it contents. On the other hand, if a focus selector is over a text box containing a song title in a graphical user interface for a media player, tapping once on a touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a lower intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”) will, in some embodiments, be interpreted as a command to play the song.
Also for convenience of explanation, reference numbers appended with hyphens and lower case letters (e.g., “4806-a”,
In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive surface is configured to detect the intensity of the contact associated with the press input, as illustrated by the intensity meter in
As described below, the method 4900 provides an intuitive way to display hidden text in a text box. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when displaying hidden text in a text box, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to display hidden text in a text box faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
The device displays (4902) a text box that includes text. The text includes more text than can be displayed in the text box. In some embodiments, such as when the method is implemented in a media player or a device with a media player application, the text includes (4904) a song name in a play list. While the embodiments described below are illustrated with reference to an example of a song name in a playlist, the embodiments described below are, optionally, used in analogous way to display a previously undisplayed portion of text in any text box or text field that includes a previously undisplayed portion of text, such as, for example: a cell in a spreadsheet; a text box in a form; or a metadata field in an application (e.g., a song title, artist name, album name, song length, song rating, file name, file edit date, file path).
While a focus selector is over the text box, the device detects (4906) a first press input corresponding to a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on a touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a predefined activation threshold (e.g., ITD). In response to detecting the first press input, the device displays (4908) the previously undisplayed portion of the text (e.g., the hidden portion). In some embodiments, the previously undisplayed portion of the text is a portion of text that was not displayed in the text box immediately prior to detecting the first press input. Thus, in some situations, even when respective text was previously displayed at a point in time prior to detecting the first press input, if the respective text was not displayed just before the first press input was detected (e.g., the respective text was hidden when the first press input was detected), then the respective text was an “undisplayed portion of the text” at the point in time when the first press input was detected. Various optional ways to display the previously undisplayed portion of the text are described above, with reference to the graphical user interfaces shown in
In some embodiments, displaying the previously undisplayed portion of the text includes (4910) expanding the text outside of a boundary of the text box (e.g., as illustrated in
In some embodiments, while the focus selector is over the text box, the device (4940) detects a second press input (e.g., after the first press input) from a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on the touch-sensitive surface with a maximum intensity below the predefined activation threshold (e.g., a maximum intensity between ITL and ITD). In response to detection of the second press input, the device performs (4942) an operation associated with the text box without redisplaying the portion of the text that was displayed in response to the first input (e.g., as described above with reference to
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in
In accordance with some embodiments,
As shown in
The processing unit 5008 is configured to, while the focus selector is over the text box, detect (e.g., with the detecting unit 5010) a first press input corresponding to a contact on the touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a predefined activation threshold. The processing unit 5008 is configured to, in response to detecting the first press input, enable display of a previously undisplayed portion of the text (e.g., with the display enabling unit 5016).
In some embodiments, the text includes a song name in a playlist.
In some embodiments, enabling display of the previously undisplayed portion of the text includes expanding the text outside of a boundary of the text box (e.g., with the display enabling unit 5016).
In some embodiments, enabling display of the previously undisplayed portion of the text includes scrolling the text within the text box (e.g., with the scrolling unit 5018).
In some embodiments, the text is scrolled in the text box at a speed determined in accordance with an intensity of the contact (e.g., with the scrolling unit 5018).
In some embodiments, the text is scrolled in the text box at a fixed speed (e.g., with the scrolling unit 5018).
In some embodiments, the text is scrolled in the text box in accordance with a change in intensity of the contact (e.g., with the scrolling unit 5018).
In some embodiments, the processing unit 5008 is configured to, while the focus selector is over the text box, detect a second press input (e.g., with the detecting unit 5010) corresponding to a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 5004 with a maximum intensity below the predefined activation threshold; and in response to detecting the second press input (e.g., with the detecting unit 5010), performing an operation associated with the text box without redisplaying the portion of the text that was displayed in response to the first press input (e.g., with the performing unit 5020).
The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to
The operations described above with reference to
Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with user interface objects (such as controls—e.g., buttons or sliders) which, upon user-activation, are configured to perform specific predefined functions or operations. Frequently, two or more controls displayed separately (e.g., displayed concurrently, in distinct spatial locations) in a user interface are associated with related functions. For example, the ‘play’ button on a media player interface upon activation is configured to enable media playback at a default speed, whereas a ‘fast forward’ button on a media player interface upon activation is configured to enable media playback at a speed faster than the default speed. While the functionality provided by these buttons is related, traditional interfaces display these buttons in a spatially separated manner on the user interface. As a result, the user experiences increased cognitive burden associated with selecting or activating one of these related controls by having to physically move his/her finger on the touch-screen display or on a touch-sensitive surface so as to select one out of the two controls for performing one of the related functions. It would be beneficial to provide the user the enhanced capability to select one out of the two controls based on the one of the two related operations that the user intends to perform (e.g., either select the ‘play’ button and the associated default media playback speed, or select the ‘fast forward’ button and the associated higher media playback speed), based on a pressure or intensity of the user contact on the touch-screen display (or on the touch-sensitive surface) rather than on the location of the user contact with respect to the desired one out of the two controls.
The disclosed embodiments provide the user a capability to activate one of two different operations associated with one of two controls—a first operation (e.g., activating playback of a media file at a default playback speed) associated with a first control (e.g., the ‘play’ button) or a second operation (e.g., activating playback of a media file at a speed other than a regular playback speed, such as 2× or twice the default playback speed) associated with a second control—either the first or second control being made available (e.g., being displayed for activation) to the user based on the intensity (e.g., pressure) of a contact associated with the user input. Thus, in some embodiments, the first control (associated with the first operation) is made available (e.g., is displayed for activation) to the user if the user input includes a contact with an intensity below a respective threshold whereas the second control (associated with the first operation) is made available to the user if the user input includes a contact with an intensity above a respective threshold. As a result, the user has the enhanced capability to interact with a control in at least two distinct manners (e.g., based on an intensity or pressure of the user's contact) to serve one of two distinct but related operations; for example, the control functioning as a first control associated with a first operation if the contact has an intensity below a respective intensity threshold or the control functioning as a second control associated with a second operation if the contact has an intensity above the respective intensity threshold.
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In
Thus, in some embodiments, the device provides a user with a capability to interact with a first control associated with a first operation if the user input meets first control-activation criteria (e.g., a tap gesture with an intensity below ITL or a press input with an intensity between ITL and ITD) and the user input includes a contact that has an intensity below the deep press intensity threshold (e.g., ITD). On the other hand, when interacting with the first control, if the user input includes a contact that has an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold (e.g., ITD), then the first control reveals a second control (e.g., the first control morphs into, or is partially or fully replaced or adjoined by a second control) associated with a second operation. As a result, the user has the enhanced capability to interact with a control in at least two distinct manners (e.g., based on an intensity or pressure of the user's contact) to serve one of two distinct but related operations; for example, the control functioning as a first control associated with a first operation if the contact has an intensity below the deep press intensity threshold (e.g., ITD) or the control functioning as a second control associated with a second operation if the contact has an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold (e.g., ITD).
Along similar lines,
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In
In
In
As described below, the method 5500 provides an intuitive way to interact with controls in a user interface. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when interacting with controls in a user interface, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to interact with controls in a user interface faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
The device displays (5502), on the display, a first control (e.g., control 5406 in
In response (5506) to detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first control-activation criteria (e.g., the first input includes a contact that has an intensity above the light press intensity threshold “ITL”) but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above a respective intensity threshold (e.g., deep press intensity threshold “ITD”), the device performs the first operation (e.g., the device activates the shutter once to capture a single image with a camera as explained with reference to
In some embodiments, displaying the second control includes replacing (5508) at least a portion of the first control with the second control (e.g., second control 5408 shown in
In some embodiments, the second control is (5514) a control for performing an operation that includes one or more steps in common with the first operation. For example, the first operation is taking a single photograph (e.g., as explained with reference to
In some embodiments, the first operation includes (5516) turning a visual effect on or off; and the second operation includes adjusting a magnitude of the visual effect. For example, the first operation includes toggling a visual effect such as changing brightness/hue/saturation/contrast adjustment or other image property of an image (e.g., as explained with reference to
In some embodiments, the first operation includes (5518) controlling media playback at a default playback speed (e.g., playing or pausing music, video, or slideshow at a standard playback speed—e.g., as explained with reference to
In some embodiments, the first operation includes (5520) turning a timer on or off (e.g., toggling the timer); and the second operation includes setting a time of the timer (e.g., selecting an amount of time that the timer will count down from, and or adding time to or removing time from a count-down timer or a count-up timer). In some embodiments, the first operation includes (5522) turning an alarm on or off (e.g., toggling the alarm); and the second operation includes setting a time for the alarm (e.g., changing a day or time at which the alarm will be played by the device if the alarm is on).
In some embodiments, the device detects (5524) a second input on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., movement of the respective contact on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector relative to the second control—e.g., movement of contact 5416 as shown in
In some embodiments, after displaying (5530) the second control: the device detects (5532) a decrease in intensity of the contact below an intensity threshold that meets second control display criteria (e.g., an intensity threshold at or below the respective intensity threshold ITD, such as ITD, ITL, or a hysteresis intensity threshold associated with ITD). In response to detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact, the device ceases (5534) to display the second control on the display and, optionally, redisplays the first control or a portion thereof that was replaced by the second control. For example, in response to a decrease in intensity of contact 5413 to an intensity below ITL, control 5406 would be redisplayed in the camera user interface (e.g., as shown in
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in
In accordance with some embodiments,
As shown in
The processing unit 5608 is configured to: detect, on the touch-sensitive surface unit 5604, a first input that corresponds to the first control (e.g., with the detecting unit 5610); and in response to detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first control-activation criteria but does not include a contact with a maximum intensity above a respective intensity threshold (e.g., ITD), perform the first operation (e.g., with the performing unit 5612); and in accordance with a determination that the first input includes a contact with an intensity above the respective intensity threshold, enable display of a second control for performing a second operation associated with the first operation (e.g., with the display enabling unit 5614).
In some embodiments, displaying the second control includes replacing at least a portion of the first control with the second control.
In some embodiments, the second control is a control for adjusting a parameter of the first operation.
In some embodiments, the first control includes a button; and the second control includes a slider.
In some embodiments, the second control is a control for performing an operation that includes one or more steps in common with the first operation.
In some embodiments, processing unit 5608 is further configured to: detect a second input on the touch-sensitive surface unit (e.g., with the detecting unit 5610); and in response to detecting the second input, perform the second operation corresponding to the second control (e.g., with the performing unit 5612).
In some embodiments, the first input and the second input are part of a multi-part gesture that includes at least one continuously detected contact.
In some embodiments, processing unit 5608 is further configured to, after displaying the second control: detect a decrease in intensity of the contact below an intensity threshold that meets second control display criteria (e.g., with the detecting unit 5610); and in response to detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact, cease to enable display of the second control on the display unit 5602 (e.g., with the ceasing unit 5616).
In some embodiments, the first operation includes turning a visual effect on or off; and the second operation includes adjusting a magnitude of the visual effect.
In some embodiments, the first operation includes controlling media playback at a default playback speed; and the second operation includes navigating through the media at a respective speed that is different from the default playback speed.
In some embodiments, the first operation includes turning a timer on or off; and the second operation includes setting a time of the timer.
In some embodiments, the first operation includes turning an alarm on or off; and the second operation includes setting a time for the alarm.
The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to
The operations described above with reference to
Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with application windows that include controls (e.g., buttons) associated with various operations, such as content modification buttons (e.g., text/image/table formatting buttons), content navigation buttons (e.g., scroll bar arrows), and/or application menu buttons for displaying menus associated with the application. Such application windows frequently include large border regions which are not commonly associated with particular functions. It would be beneficial to provide the user an ability to interact with the large border regions of such application windows, by associating such border regions with one or more operations that can be performed upon user-activation of the border regions. However, in such embodiments, it would be desirable to prevent accidental activation of the border regions by the user. Accordingly, some embodiments provide dual activation criteria, based on dual activation intensity thresholds of user contact—a lower control-activation intensity threshold for the regular controls present in the application window and a higher border-activation intensity threshold for the border region—for activating either of the regular controls or the border region.
As a result, when the user can activate a regular control in an application window with an input that includes a contact with an intensity below the border-activation intensity threshold as long as the contact has an intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold. (However, when the user interacts with a portion of the border region in the application window, the user needs to provide an input including a contact with an intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold in order for the device to perform operation corresponding to the respective portion of the border region to be performed. The dual contact intensity thresholds preserve the expected behavior of regular controls (e.g., controls normally expected to be responsive to regular or lower contact pressures), while enabling users to interact with a larger hit region (e.g., border regions) to perform various operations associated with the application, while still preventing accidental or inadvertent activation of those operations by the user by activating these border regions upon detection of a contact with an intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold.
In
In
In
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, if the user places a contact with an intensity above a predefined border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., an intensity threshold such as ITD that is higher than a control-activation intensity threshold ITL that is used to activate regular controls in an application window or user interface), while the focus-selector is on a predefined portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, a respective predefined operation is performed (e.g., the user interface is scrolled through). On the other hand, though, if the user places a contact with an intensity below the predefined border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), while the focus-selector is on a predefined portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, the respective predefined operation is not performed (e.g., the user interface is scrolled through), even if the intensity of the contact is greater than a regular (control-activation) intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”). As a result, by requiring the user to place a contact with an intensity that is higher than the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., an intensity threshold that exceeds the control-activation intensity threshold required to activate regular controls in a user interface), the user is provided with a safeguard against accidentally performing the respective predefined operation.
In
In
In some embodiments, if the user places a contact with an intensity above a predefined control-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”) and lower than the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”), while the focus-selector is positioned on a respective control (e.g., on control 6608-2) rather than on a respective portion of the border region 6606 that does not include any visible controls, a respective predefined operation is performed (e.g., the user interface is scrolled through if the respective control is a scroll arrow). As a result, when the user interacts with a respective control (e.g., of regular controls) in an application window, the device will respond to user inputs that include contacts with an intensity below the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”) as long as the inputs include a contact with an intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”). However, when the user interacts with a respective portion of a border region that does not include any visible controls in an application window, device will only respond to user inputs that include contacts with an intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”). This dual threshold preserves the expected behavior of regular controls (responsive to regular contact pressures), while enabling users to interact with a larger hit region (e.g., border regions) to perform various operations associated with the application, while still preventing accidental or inadvertent activation of those operations by the user by necessitating a higher pressure of contact while interacting with such border regions.
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As described below, the method 6700 provides an intuitive way to allow users to interact with application windows, and in particular, with border regions in application windows. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when the user interacts with application windows, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to interact with application windows faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
The device displays (6702), on the display, an application window that includes content. The application window includes (6704) a plurality of visible controls. In some embodiments, the plurality of visible controls include content modification buttons (e.g., text, image, table formatting buttons), content navigation buttons (e.g., scroll bar arrows), and/or application menu buttons for displaying menus associated with the application. The plurality of visible controls include one or more controls that are responsive to corresponding gestures that include at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold. The application window includes (6708) a border region, wherein one or more portions of the border region do not include any visible controls. For example, the border region is a predefined border region corresponding to the “chrome” of the application window. For example, as shown in
The device detects (6710) a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector (e.g., cursor 6610 in
In response (6718) to detecting the first gesture, in accordance with a determination that the first gesture does not include any contact with a maximum intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., even though the first gesture includes a contact with an intensity greater than the control-activation intensity threshold), the device forgoes (6720) performing the respective operation on the content. For example, as explained with reference to
In contrast, in response (6718) to detecting the first gesture, in accordance with a determination that the respective contact has an intensity above a border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”) that is higher than the control-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”), the device performs (6722) a respective operation on the content. In some embodiments, the plurality of visible controls include (6724) one or more controls for performing operations other than the respective operation. For example as shown in
In some embodiments, the respective operation is (6726) a scrolling operation. In some embodiments, a direction of the scrolling operation depends (6728) on location of the respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls relative to the content. For example, as explained with reference to
In some embodiments, performing the respective operation in response to detecting the first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is on the respective portion of the border region includes (6730) scrolling the content at a speed determined in accordance with the intensity of the respective contact. For example, the scrolling speed increases as the intensity of the respective contact increases. In the example shown in
In some embodiments, the plurality of visible controls include (6734) a respective control for performing the respective operation that is responsive to a corresponding gesture that includes at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITL”). In some embodiments, the respective control is (6736) a scroll arrow. In some embodiments, the respective control is (6738) a thumb in a slider control. For example as shown in
In some embodiments, the device detects (6740) a second gesture that includes a contact with a maximum intensity above the control-activation intensity (e.g., “ITL”) threshold and below the border-activation intensity threshold (e.g., “ITD”) while a focus selector is over or proximate to the respective control, and in response to detecting the second gesture, the device performs (6742) the respective operation on the content. For example, as explained with reference to
While the example above is described with reference to detecting the first gesture on a respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, operations analogous to operations 6718-6732 are, optionally, performed in response to detecting a first gesture on a respective portion of the border region that does not include visible controls that are activatable by the first gesture. For example, a next album button 6609-2 is activatable in response to a tap gesture (e.g., a contact detected for less than a tap-gesture time threshold such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 second or some other reasonable time threshold) and the first gesture is a press and hold input that includes a contact with a duration greater than the tap-gesture time threshold. When the device detects a tap and hold input while a focus selector is over next album button in this example (e.g., next album button 6609-2 in
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in
In accordance with some embodiments,
As shown in
The processing unit 6806 is configured to: enable display of the application window, where the application window includes a plurality of visible controls, wherein the plurality of visible controls include one or more controls that are responsive to corresponding gestures that include at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold; and the application window includes a border region, where one or more portions of the border region do not include any visible controls. The processing unit 6806 is further configured to detect a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface unit 6804 while a focus selector is on a respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls, wherein the first gesture includes a respective contact with an intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold (e.g., with the detecting unit 6810); and in response to detecting the first gesture: in accordance with a determination that the respective contact has an intensity above a border-activation intensity threshold that is higher than the control-activation intensity threshold, perform a respective operation on the content (e.g., with the performing unit 6812); and in accordance with a determination that the first gesture does not include any contact with a maximum intensity above the border-activation intensity threshold, forgo performing the respective operation on the content (e.g., with the performing unit 6812).
In some embodiments, the plurality of visible controls include one or more controls for performing operations other than the respective operation.
In some embodiments, the plurality of visible controls include a respective control for performing the respective operation that is responsive to a corresponding gesture that includes at least one contact with an intensity above a control-activation intensity threshold.
In some embodiments, the processing unit 6806 is configured to: detect a second gesture that includes a contact with a maximum intensity above the control-activation intensity threshold and below the border-activation intensity threshold while a focus selector is over or proximate to the respective control (e.g., with the detecting unit 6810); and in response to detecting the second gesture, perform the respective operation on the content (e.g., with the performing unit 6812).
In some embodiments, the respective control is a scroll arrow. In some embodiments, the respective control is a thumb in a slider control. In some embodiments, the respective operation is a scrolling operation. In some embodiments, a direction of the scrolling operation depends on location of the respective portion of the border region that does not include any visible controls relative to the content. In some embodiments, performing the respective operation in response to detecting the first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is on the respective portion of the border region includes scrolling the content at a speed determined in accordance with the intensity of the respective contact.
In some embodiments, performing the respective operation in response to detecting the first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is on the respective portion of the border region includes scrolling the content by a predefined amount for the first gesture.
In some embodiments, the first gesture includes a press input corresponding to the respective contact.
In some embodiments, the first gesture includes a press input corresponding to the respective contact and liftoff of the respective contact.
The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to
The operations described above with reference to
Many electronic devices include optical sensors (e.g., camera) and camera applications for capturing media (e.g., photos, video) with the optical sensors. The camera applications typically include autofocus capability. Sometimes, the user prefers to manually set an autofocus point for a camera rather than use an autofocus point automatically selected by the camera application. However, in some methods, once the user sets the autofocus point, the user has to make a non-continuous input to activate the shutter button. In the meantime, too much time may have passed, and the camera application may have intervened to automatically select a new autofocus point. The embodiments described below provide convenient and intuitive methods for allowing the user to activate media capture after setting an autofocus point without activating the shutter button. The user makes a contact at a location that corresponds to a location in a camera preview to set an autofocus point in the camera preview. While the contact continues to be detected, the user makes a press input with the contact to activate media capture in accordance with the set autofocus point. Thus, the user has more effective and efficient manual control of the autofocus point as desired.
In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separate display (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device is portable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitive display system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactile output generators 167 on the display (
In some embodiments, the device includes a physical shutter button (e.g., a dedicated physical shutter button, a physical button that serves as a shutter button as well as other functions) in addition to, or in lieu of, virtual shutter button 7204. As with virtual shutter button 7204, media is, optionally, captured by the camera application, in conjunction with the camera (e.g., optical sensors 164) on the device or coupled to the device, in response to activation of the physical shutter button.
User interface 7202 also includes a virtual mode switch 7206. While mode switch 7206 is under photo icon 7208, the camera application is in photo mode; while in photo mode, the camera application captures still images. While mode switch 7206 is under video icon 7210, the camera application is in video mode; while in video mode, the camera application captures video. The mode of the camera application (i.e., photo mode or video mode) is switched by toggling mode switch 7206 (e.g., in response to detection of an input (e.g., a gesture) on touch-sensitive surface 451 while a focus selector (e.g., cursor 7216) is located over mode switch 7206) so that mode switch 7206 is under the icon (photo icon 7208 or video icon 7210) corresponding to the desired mode. In
Camera preview 7212 is displayed in user interface 7202. Camera preview 7212 shows a preview of the environment, objects, and subjects that are sensed by the optical sensors (e.g., optical sensors 164, sometimes called a digital camera) on the device or coupled to the device prior to capture into media (e.g., one or more images and/or video). In other words, camera preview 7212 displays whatever content is sensed by the camera (e.g., optical sensors 164) in real time or near real time. In
A focus selector (e.g., cursor 7216) is displayed on display 450. In some embodiments cursor 7216 is a pointer (e.g., a mouse pointer). In
In
After the autofocus reference point is set, contact 7218 continues to be detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. A press input that includes an increase in the intensity of contact 7218 above the light press intensity threshold (e.g., ITL) is detected, as shown in
In some embodiments, there are multiple thresholds above the input-detection intensity threshold. For example, in
If mode switch 7206 is under video icon 7210 (e.g., the camera application is in video mode) while the contact and press input (e.g., contact 7222 and the press input performed with contact 7222 (
Additional press inputs are, optionally, detected. For example,
In contrast, if contact 7224 and the press input performed with contact 7224 are detected while cursor 7216 is located at a location in camera preview 7212 (e.g., the location of cursor 7216 shown in
In
After the autofocus reference point is set, contact 7230 continues to be detected on touch screen 112. A press input that includes an increase in the intensity of contact 7230 from an intensity between the input-detection intensity threshold IT0 and the light press intensity threshold ITL to an intensity above the light press intensity threshold ITL is detected, as shown in
If the press input increased the intensity of the contact above the deep press intensity threshold (e.g., contact 7232 and its corresponding press input including an increase in intensity of contact 7232 from an intensity below ITL to an intensity above ITD, which are analogous to contact 7221 and its corresponding press input (
If mode switch 7206 is under video icon 7210 e.g., the camera application is in video mode) while the contact and press input (e.g., contact 7234 and the press input performed with contact 7234 (
In contrast, if contact 7236 and the press input performed with contact 7236 are detected at a location in camera preview 7212 (e.g., the location of contact 7234 in
As described below, the method 7300 provides an intuitive way to capture media. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when capturing media, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to capture media faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.
The device displays (7302), on the display, a camera preview in a camera application; (e.g., a still and/or video camera application). For example, in
While displaying the camera preview on the display, the device detects (7304) a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, where the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview. For example, in
In response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, the device sets (7310) the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point. The location of cursor 7216 in
After setting (7312) the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point, the device continues (7314) to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, detects (7316) a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL), and in response to detecting the first press input, captures (7320) media with the camera application, where the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point. In some embodiments, media capture occurs in response to detecting the increase in intensity of the contact above the first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL). In some embodiments, media capture occurs in response to detecting lift off of the contact, provided the intensity of the contact was above the first intensity threshold prior to detecting lift off (e.g., the first press input includes an increase in intensity above the first intensity threshold ITL followed by lift off of the contact). For example, in
In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the contact is detected at the respective location on the touch screen display (7306). For example,
In some embodiments, the contact is detected (7308) at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is remote from a virtual or physical camera shutter button (e.g., the camera application includes a virtual shutter button that is separate from the camera preview). For example, In
In some embodiments, the device includes sensors that are (7318) configured to detect a range of contact intensity from an input-detection intensity threshold at which a contact is detected as present on the touch-sensitive surface through a plurality of contact intensities that are higher than the input-detection intensity threshold, and the first intensity threshold is higher than the input-detection intensity threshold. For example, the embodiments described above include an input-detection intensity threshold (e.g., IT0), a first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL), and a second intensity threshold (e.g., ITD).
In some embodiments, the device includes (7322) a camera, the media is an image, and capturing the media includes taking a photo with the camera. For example, the device includes optical sensors 164 and a camera application (e.g., camera module 143). When the camera application is in photo mode, as in
In some embodiments, the device includes (7324) a camera, the media is a video, and capturing the media includes beginning to record video with the camera. For example, the device includes optical sensors 164 and camera application 143. When the camera application is in video mode, as in
In some embodiments, capturing the media includes: in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity between the first intensity threshold and a second intensity threshold (e.g., ITD) that is higher than the first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL) during the first press input, capturing (7326) a single image; and in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity above the second intensity threshold during the first press input, capturing (7328) multiple sequential images (e.g., when the device detects a “deep press,” the camera application enters a burst photo capture mode, a continuous photo capture mode, or a video capture mode, whereas when the device detects a normal press, the camera application takes a single photo). For example, in
In some embodiments, the device includes (7330) a camera shutter button (e.g., a virtual camera shutter button displayed on a touch screen display or a physical camera shutter button on the device). In some embodiments, the device detects (7332) a second press input on the device. In response to detecting the second press input on the device (7334) in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a location that corresponds to the camera shutter button, the device automatically, without user intervention, selects (7336) an autofocus reference point remote from the camera shutter button and captures media in accordance with the autofocus reference point (e.g., the device selects the autofocus reference point based on an infrared rangefinder, facial recognition or other techniques to automatically detect a likely point of interest in the field of view of the camera and takes a picture in response to detecting a press input by the user on a camera shutter button that is remote from the autofocus reference point). In contrast, in response to detecting the second press input on the device (7334) in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a user-selected location in the camera preview that is remote from the camera shutter button, the device sets (7338) the user-selected location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point and captures media in accordance with the autofocus reference point (e.g., the user selects the autofocus reference point by placing a contact at the autofocus reference point and then takes a picture by pressing the contact harder on the touch screen at the autofocus reference point or by pressing the contact harder on the touch screen at the autofocus reference point and then lifting off the contact). The devices shown in
While the examples described herein have been described primarily with reference to an autofocus reference point, in some embodiments analogous operations are performed for other media capture settings. For example the location of an auto exposure reference point, a white balance reference point, and/or a filter reference point (e.g., a radial blur point or a vignette hotspot) could be set instead of, or in addition to, an autofocus reference point using the various approaches described above. Thus, in some embodiments the device displays, on the display, a camera preview in a camera application; and while displaying the camera preview on the display, the device detects a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, where the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview. In response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, the device sets the respective location in the camera preview as media-capture setting reference point (e.g., a media-capture setting reference point for autofocus, auto exposure, white balance and/or one or more media filters). After setting the respective location in the camera preview as the media-capture setting reference point, the device continues to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, detects a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold. In response to detecting the first press input, the device captures media with the camera application, where the camera application captures the media in accordance with the media-capture setting reference point. For example the device sets the respective location as the reference point for the autofocus, auto exposure, white balance and/or one or more media filter reference and takes a picture or video accordingly (e.g., based on autofocus, auto exposure, white balance or media filter settings based on the respective location in the media preview). In contrast, when a predefined shutter button of the media capture application is activated, the device automatically selects the media-capture setting reference point (e.g., automatically, without user intervention, selecting an automatically selected location in the media preview as an autofocus, auto exposure, white balance, and/or media filter reference point)
In some embodiments different intensity thresholds set different media-capture setting reference points for different media-capture settings. For example when the focus selector is at a first location on the display the device detects an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL) and the device sets a first media-capture reference point at the first location for a first media-capture setting (e.g., an autofocus reference point). Subsequently when the focus selector is at a second location on the display (e.g., a location different from the first location determined based on movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector) the device detects an increase in intensity of the contact above a second intensity threshold (e.g., ITD) and the device sets a second media-capture reference point (e.g., different from the first media-capture reference point) at the second location for a second media-capture setting different from the first media-capture setting (e.g., an auto exposure, white balance, or filter reference point). In some embodiments, the media is captured in response to detecting the increase in intensity of the contact above the second intensity threshold. In some embodiments, the media is captures in response to detecting an increase in intensity of the contact above a third intensity threshold that is greater than the second intensity threshold. In some embodiments, there are N intensity thresholds each of which corresponds to setting a different media-capture setting, where N is an integer between 1 and 10. In some embodiments, there are N+1 intensity thresholds, where the first N intensity thresholds each correspond to a different media-capture setting and the N+1th intensity threshold corresponds to a media capture input that, when detected by the device, causes the device to capture media in accordance with the various media-capture settings set at lower. The ability to set multiple different media-capture settings at different locations with a single continuous contact enables a user to quickly and intuitively apply multiple different settings to media capture rather than having to navigate through a complex set of menus and settings. Improving the speed and efficiency of changing media capture settings is especially important in media capture applications such as still image capture and video capture applications, where a delay in changing the appropriate settings may cause the operator of the device to “miss the moment” or fail to get a desired photo or video. Thus, the quick and intuitive media-capture setting features described above can dramatically improve user experience by enabling a user to control a larger range of media-capture settings without “missing the moment.”
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in
In accordance with some embodiments,
As shown in
The processing unit 7408 is configured to: while enabling display of the camera preview on the display unit 7402, detect a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 7404 (e.g., with the detecting unit 7410), where the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview; in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 7404, set the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point (e.g., with the setting unit 7412); and after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continue to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 7404 (e.g., with the detecting unit 7410), detect a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL) (e.g., with the detecting unit 7410), and in response to detecting the first press input, capture media with the camera application (e.g., with the capturing unit 7414), wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
In some embodiments, the display unit 7402 is a touch screen display and the contact is detected at the respective location on the touch screen display.
In some embodiments, the contact is detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface unit 7404 that is remote from a virtual or physical camera shutter button.
In some embodiments, the device includes a camera shutter button, and the processing unit 7408 is configured to: detect a second press input on the device (e.g., with the detecting unit 7410); and in response to detecting the second press input on the device: in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a location that corresponds to the camera shutter button, automatically, without user intervention, select an autofocus reference point remote from the camera shutter button (e.g., with the selecting unit 7416) and capture media in accordance with the autofocus reference point (e.g., with the capturing unit 7414), and in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a user-selected location in the camera preview that is remote from the camera shutter button, set the user-selected location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point (e.g., with the setting unit 7412) and capture media in accordance with the autofocus reference point (e.g., with the capturing unit 7414).
In some embodiments, the device includes a camera, the media is an image, and capturing the media includes taking a photo with the camera.
In some embodiments, the device includes a camera, the media is a video, and capturing the media includes beginning to record video with the camera.
In some embodiments, the device includes sensors that are configured to detect a range of contact intensity from an input-detection intensity threshold (e.g., IT0) at which a contact is detected as present on the touch-sensitive surface unit 7404 through a plurality of contact intensities that are higher than the input-detection intensity threshold, and the first intensity threshold is higher than the input-detection intensity threshold.
In some embodiments, capturing the media includes: in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity between the first intensity threshold (e.g., ITL) and a second intensity threshold (e.g., ITD) that is higher than the first intensity threshold during the first press input, capturing a single image, and in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity above the second intensity threshold during the first press input, capturing multiple sequential images.
The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to
The operations described above with reference to
It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations have been described above is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that the various processes separately described herein can be combined with each other in different arrangements. For example, the contacts, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, and/or focus selectors described above with reference to any one of the various processes separately described herein optionally have one or more of the characteristics of the contacts, gestures, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, and focus selectors described herein with reference to one or more of the other methods described herein. For brevity, all of the various possible combinations are not specifically enumerated here, but it should be understood that the claims described above may be combined in any way that is not precluded by mutually exclusive claim features.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the various described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the various described embodiments and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A method, comprising:
- at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, wherein the electronic device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface: displaying, on the display, a camera preview in a camera application; while displaying the camera preview on the display, detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview; in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, setting the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point; and after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continuing to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface; detecting a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold; and in response to detecting the first press input, capturing media with the camera application, wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display and the contact is detected at the respective location on the touch screen display.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact is detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is remote from a virtual or physical camera shutter button.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a camera shutter button; and the method includes:
- detecting a second press input on the electronic device; and
- in response to detecting the second press input on the electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a location that corresponds to the camera shutter button, automatically, without user intervention, selecting an autofocus reference point remote from the camera shutter button and capturing media in accordance with the autofocus reference point; and in accordance with a determination that the second press input is at a user-selected location in the camera preview that is remote from the camera shutter button, setting the user-selected location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point and capturing media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
- the electronic device includes a camera;
- the media is an image; and
- capturing the media includes taking a photo with the camera.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein:
- the electronic device includes a camera;
- the media is a video; and
- capturing the media includes beginning to record video with the camera.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein:
- the electronic device includes sensors that are configured to detect a range of contact intensity from an input-detection intensity threshold at which a contact is detected as present on the touch-sensitive surface through a plurality of contact intensities that are higher than the input-detection intensity threshold; and
- the first intensity threshold is higher than the input-detection intensity threshold.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the media includes:
- in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity between the first intensity threshold and a second intensity threshold that is higher than the first intensity threshold during the first press input, capturing a single image; and
- in accordance with a determination that the contact has an intensity above the second intensity threshold during the first press input, capturing multiple sequential images.
9. An electronic device, comprising:
- a display;
- a touch-sensitive surface;
- one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface;
- 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, on the display, a camera preview in a camera application; while displaying the camera preview on the display, detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview; in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, setting the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point; and after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continuing to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface; detecting a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold; and in response to detecting the first press input, capturing media with the camera application, wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
10. A 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 display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the electronic device to:
- display, on the display, a camera preview in a camera application;
- while displaying the camera preview on the display, detect a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact corresponds to a focus selector at a respective location in the camera preview;
- in response to detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, set the respective location in the camera preview as an autofocus reference point; and
- after setting the respective location in the camera preview as the autofocus reference point: continue to detect the contact on the touch-sensitive surface; detect a first press input that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above a first intensity threshold; and in response to detecting the first press input, capture media with the camera application, wherein the camera application captures the media in accordance with the autofocus reference point.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 15, 2019
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2020
Inventor: Nicholas Zambetti (Largo, FL)
Application Number: 16/685,773
