Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP2426591A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 03:50:24+00:00

Document:
A portable electronic device (100) having a touch screen display (112) detects a first finger-down event at a first position (5805) on the touch screen display (112). The first position. (5805) is adjacent to first and second user interface objects (5806, 5802). The portable device (100) detects a second finger event at a second position (5808,5812,5809,5817,5807) on the touch screen display (112). The second finger event is either a finger-dragging event or a finger-up event. The portable device (100) determines a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position (5805) and the second position (5808,5812,5809,5817,5807). The portable device (100) performs a first action associated with the first user interface object (5806) if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold and performs a second action associated with the second user interface object (5802) if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
The disclosed embodiments relate generally to portable electronic devices, and more particularly, to portable devices that can uniquely determine operations associated with a finger gesture when the finger gesture occurs near multiple icons on a touch screen display.
As portable electronic devices become more compact, and the number of functions performed by a given device increase, it has become a significant challenge to design a user interface that allows users to easily interact with a multifunction device. This challenge is particular significant for handhold portable devices, which have much smaller screens than desktop or laptop computers. This situation is unfortunate because the user interface is the gateway through which users receive not only content but also responses to user actions or behaviors, including user attempts to access a device's features,tools, and functions. Some portable communication devices (e.g., mobile telephones, sometimes called mobile phones, cell phones, cellular telephones, and the like) have resorted to adding more pushbuttons, increasing the density of push buttons, overloading the functions of pushbuttons, or using complex menu systems to allow a user to access, store and manipulate data. These conventional user interfaces often result in complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must be memorized by the user.
Many conventional user interfaces, such as those that include physical pushbuttons,are also inflexible. This is unfortunate because it may prevent a user interface from being configured and/or adapted by either an application running on the portable device or by users. When coupled with the time consuming requirement to memorize multiple key sequences and menu hierarchies, and the difficulty in activating a desired pushbutton, such inflexibility is frustrating to most users.
Although a portable device with a touch screen including virtual icons such as keys and buttons may be configuration-flexible and user-friendly,it is often unable to correctly identify a virtual icon associated with a finger gesture and act accordingly if the finger gesture occurs in the vicinity of multiple virtual icons in a small area on the touch screen display. This is especially true if two or more of the virtual icons have overlapping hit regions (which may extend outward from, or surround, the displayed icons) and the finger gesture at least partially falls into the overlapping region.
Accordingly, there is a need for portable multifunction devices for uniquely determining an icon associated with a finger gesture if the finger gesture falls into an overlapping hit region shared by two or more virtual icons on a touch screen display.
The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for portable devices are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed portable multifunction device. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a "touch screen") with 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 display. In some embodiments, the functions may include telephoning, video conferencing,e-mailing, instant messaging, blogging, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Instructions for performing these functions may be included in a computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.
One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method performed by a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display. After detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display and a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display, the device determines a distance between the first position and the second position. If the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold, the device performs a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. If the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, the device then performs a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display, which is different from the first user interface object.
Another aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method performed by a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display. After detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display and a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display, the device determines a distance between the first position and the second position and identifies a button control user interface object and a slide control user interface object, both displayed on the touch screen display and both user interface objects being associated with the first position. For example, the first position may be within an overlapping "hidden hit region" shared by the hit regions of the two objects. The slide control user interface object includes a slide bar and a slide object. If the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold, the device activates the button control user interface object. If the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, the device then moves the slide object along the slide bar in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position.
Another aspect of the invention involves a graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The graphical user interface includes a first user interface object and a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. After detecting a finger-down event at a first position and a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display, the device determines a distance between the first position and the second position. If the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold, the device performs a first action with respect to a first user interface object. If the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, the device then performs a second action with respect to a second user interface object, which is different from the first user interface object. In some embodiments, the two user interface objects have hit regions, including "hidden hit regions" that surround the user interface objects. The hidden hit regions may overlap, sharing an overlapping hidden hit region. When the aforementioned first position falls within the overlapping hit region on the touch screen display, the action. performed by the device in response depends on the distance between the first and second positions.
Another aspect of the invention involves a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects. The device includes one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include: instructions for detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; instructions for detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; instructions for determining a distance between the first position and the second position; instructions for performing a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and instructions for performing a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
Another aspect of the invention involves a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects,cause the device to: detect a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; detect a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; determine a distance between the first position and the second position; perform a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and perform a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
Another aspect of the invention involves a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects.The device includes: means for detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; means for detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; means for determining a distance between the first position and the second position; means for performing a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and means for performing a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
Another aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method performed by a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects. The portable device detects a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display. The first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object. The first user interface object is different from the second user interface object. The portable device detects a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display. The second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event. The portable device determines a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position. The portable device performs a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold. The portable device performs a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
Another aspect of the invention involves a graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The graphical user interface comprises a plurality of user interface objects, including a first user interface object and a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. The first user interface object is different from the second user interface object. In response to detecting: a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to the first user interface object and the second user interface object, and a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event, a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position are determined. A first action associated with the first user interface object is performed if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold.A second action associated with the second user interface object is performed if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
Another aspect of the invention involves a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects. The device includes one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for detecting a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display. The first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object. The first user interface object is different from the second user interface object. The one or more programs also include instructions for detecting a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display. The second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event. The one or more programs also include: instructions for determining a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; instructions for performing a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold;and instructions for performing a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
Another aspect of the invention involves a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, cause the device to detect a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display. The first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object. The first user interface object is different from the second user interface object. The instructions also cause the device to detect a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display. The second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event. The instructions also cause the device to: determine a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; perform a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and perform a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
Another aspect of the invention involves a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects. The device includes: means for detecting a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display. The first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object. The first user interface object is different from the second user interface object. The device also includes means for detecting a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display. The second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event. The device also includes: means for determining a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; means for performing a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and means for performing a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary user interface for voicemail in accordance with some embodiments.
Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for performing a predefined action in response to a finger gesture near two adjacent user interface objects in accordance with some embodiments.
Figures 7A-7D are exemplary embodiments illustrating how a portable device identifies one of two adjacent user interface objects that have an overlapping hit region in response to a finger gesture that falls in the overlapping hit region and then performs a user-desired action.
Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for performing a predefined action in response to a finger gesture near two adjacent user interface objects in accordance with some embodiments.
Figures 9A-9C are exemplary embodiments illustrating how a portable device identifies one of two adjacent user interface objects that have an overlapping hit region in response to a finger gesture that falls in the overlapping hit region and then performs a user-desired action.
Embodiments of a portable multifunction device, 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 PDAand/or music player functions.
The user interfaces may include one or more soft keyboard embodiments. The soft keyboard embodiments may include standard (QWERTY)and/or non-standard configurations of symbols on the displayed icons of the keyboard, such as those described in U.S. Patent Applications 11/459,606 , "Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices," filed July 24, 2006, and 11/459,615 , "Touch Screen Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices," filed July 24, 2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The keyboard embodiments may include a reduced number of icons (or soft keys) relative to the number of keys in existing physical keyboards, such as that for a typewriter. This may make it easier for users to select one or more icons in the keyboard, and thus, one or more corresponding symbols. The keyboard embodiments may be adaptive. For example, displayed icons may be modified in accordance with user actions, such as selecting one or more icons and/or one or more corresponding symbols. One or more applications on the portable device may utilize common and/or different keyboard embodiments. Thus, the keyboard embodiment used may be tailored to at least some of the applications. In some embodiments, one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user. For example, one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user based on a word usage history (lexicography, slang, individual usage) of the respective user. Some of the keyboard embodiments may be adjusted to reduce a probability of a user error when selecting one or more icons, and thus one or more symbols, when using the soft keyboard embodiments.
Attention is now directed towards embodiments of the device. Figures 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices 100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a "touch screen" for convenience, and may also be known as or called a touch-sensitive display system. The device 100 may include a memory102 (which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), a memory controller 122, one or more processing units (CPU's) 120, a peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, a speaker 111, a microphone 113, an input/output (I/O) subsystem 106, other input or control devices 116, and an external port 124. The device 100 may include one or more optical sensors 164. These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines 103.
In some embodiments, the peripherals interface 118, the CPU 120, and the memory controller122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip 104. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.
The RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry108 converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and comnunicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108may include 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. The RF circuitry 108 may communicate 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 may use 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), 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 802.11gand/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX,a protocol for email (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), and/orInstant 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.
The I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on the device 100, such as the touch screen 112 and other input/control devices 116, to the peripherals interface 118. The I/O subsystem 106 may include a display controller 156 and one or more input controllers160 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 may 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 may be 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, Figure 2) may include an up/down button for volume control of the speaker 111 and/or the microphone 113. The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g., 206, Figure 2). A quick press of the push button may disengage a lock of the touch screen 112 or begin a process that uses gestures on the touch screen to unlock the device, as described in U.S. Patent Application 11/322,549 ,"Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock Image," filed December 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A longer press of the push button (e.g., 206) may turn power to the device 100 on or off. The user may be able to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen 112 is used to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards.
A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112 may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in the following U.S. Patents: 6,323,846 (Westerman et al. ), 6,570,557 (Westerman et al. ), and/or 6,677,932 (Westerman ), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1 ,each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. However, a touch screen 112 displays visual output from the portable device 100, whereas touch sensitive tablets do not provide visual output.
A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112 may be as described in the following applications: (1) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/381,313 , "Multipoint Touch Surface Controller," filed May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. Patent Application No. 10/840,862 ,"Multipoint Touchscreen," filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. Patent Application No. 10/903,964 , "Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed July 30, 2004; (4) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/048,264 ,"Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed January 31, 2005; (5) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/038,590 ,"Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed January 18, 2005; (6) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/228,758 , "Virtual Input Device Placement On A Touch Screen User Interface," filed September 16, 2005; (7) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/228,700 , "Operation Of A Computer With A Touch Screen Interface," filed September 16,2005;(8) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/228,737 , "Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen Virtual Keyboard," filed September 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/367,749 , "Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device," filed March 3,2006. All of these applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
The touch screen 112 may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen has a resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with the 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 are much 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 one or more actions desired by the user.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may include a physical or virtual click wheel as an input control device 116. A user may navigate among and interact with one or more graphical objects (henceforth referred to as icons) displayed in the touch screen 112 by rotating the click wheel or by moving a point of contact with the click wheel (e.g., where the amount of movement of the point of contact is measured by its angular displacement with respect to a center point of the click wheel). The click wheel may also be used to select one or more of the displayed icons. For example, the user may press down on at least a portion of the click wheel or an associated button. User commands and navigation commands provided by the user via the click wheel may be processed by an input controller 160 as well as one or more of the modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102. For a virtual click wheel, the click wheel and click wheel controller may be part of the touch screen 112 and the display controller 156, respectively. For a virtual. click wheel, the click wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object that appears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to user interaction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual click wheel is displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device and operated by user contact with the touch screen.
The device 100 also includes a power system 162 for powering the various components. The power system 162 may include 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.
The device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164. Figures 1A and 1B show an optical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller 158 in I/O subsystem 106. The optical sensor 164 may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors.The optical sensor 164 receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module 143 (also called a camera module), the optical sensor 164 may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of the device 100, opposite the touch screen display 112 on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder for either still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the position of the optical sensor 164 can be changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a single optical sensor 164 may be used along with the touch screen display for both video conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition.
The device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors 166. Figures 1A and 1B show a proximity sensor 166 coupled to the peripherals interface 118. Alternately, the proximity sensor 166 may be coupled to an input controller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The proximity sensor 166 may perform as described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/241,839 , "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device," filed September 30, 2005; Serial No. 11/240,788 , "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device," filed September 30, 2005; Serial No. to be determined, filed January 7,2007, "Using Ambient Light Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output," attorney docket no. 04860.P4851US1; Serial No. to be determined, filed October 24,2006, "Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices," attorney docket no. 04860.P4293; and Serial No. to be determined, filed December 12, 2006, "Methods And Systems For Automatic Configuration Of Peripherals," attorney docket no. 04860.P4634, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables the touch screen 112 when the multifunction device is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). In some embodiments, the proximity sensor keeps the screen off when the device is in the user's pocket, purse, or other dark area to prevent unnecessary battery drainage when the device is a locked state.
In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the contacts module 137 may be used to manage an address book or contact list, 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, microphone113, 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, the videoconferencing module 139 may be used to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants.
In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the e-mail client module 140 may be used to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail. In conjunction with image management module 144, the e-mail 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 may be used 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 may 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, image management module 144, and browsing module 147, the blogging module 142 may be used to send text, still images, video, and/or other graphics to a blog (e.g., the user's blog).
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, the music player module 146 allows 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. In some embodiments, the device 100 may include the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.).
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 may be 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 controller156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the notes module 153 may be used to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like.
Figure 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touch screen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen may display one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200, In this embodiment, as well as others described. below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making contact or touching the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In some embodiments, the contact may include a gesture, such as one or more taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with the device 100. In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an application icon may not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.
The device 100 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as "home" or menu button 204, As described previously, the menu button 204 may be used to navigate to any application 136 in a set of applications that may be executed on the device 100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI in touch screen 112.
In one embodiment, the device 100 includes a touch screen 112., a menu button 204, a push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot 210, a head set jack 212, and a docking/charging external port 124. The push button 206 may be 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, the device 100 also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through the microphone 113.
In some embodiments, the device detects contact with the touch-sensitive display (e.g., a user's finger making contact on or near the unlock image 302) while the device is in a user-interface lock state. The device moves the unlock image 302 in accordance with the contact. The device transitions to a user-interface unlock state if the detected contact corresponds to a predefined gesture, such as moving the unlock image across channel 306. Conversely, the device maintains the user-interface lock state if the detected contact does not correspond to the predefined gesture. As noted above, processes that use gestures on the touch screen to unlock the device are described in U.S. Patent Applications 11/322,549 , "Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image," filed December 23, 2005, and 11/322,550 , "Indication Of Progress Towards Satisfaction Of A User Input Condition," filed December 23, 2005, which arc hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
In some embodiments, UI 400A or 400B displays all of the available applications 136 on one screen so that there is no need to scroll through a list of applications (e.g., via a scroll bar). In some embodiments, as the number of applications increase, the icons corresponding to the applications may decrease in size so that all applications may be displayed on a single screen without scrolling. In some embodiments, having all applications on one screen and a menu button enables a user to access any desired application with at most two inputs, such as activating the menu button 204 and then activating the desired application (e.g., by a. tap or other finger gesture on the icon corresponding to the application).
In some embodiments, a user may rearrange the icons in UI 400A or 400B, e.g., using processes described in U.S. Patent Application No. 11/459,602 ., "Portable Electronic Device With Interface Reconfiguration Mode," filed July 24, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. For example, a user may move application icons in and out of tray 408 using finger gestures.
In some embodiments, UI 400A or 400B includes a gauge (not shown) that displays an updated account usage metric for an account associated with usage of the device (e.g., a cellular phone account), as described in U.S. Patent Application 11/322,552 , "Account Information Display For Portable Communication Device," filed December 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In some embodiments, an application module may have multiple closely-placed virtual icons on the touch screen, each virtual icon having an associated set of predefined operations, At least some of the virtual icons have hidden hit regions surrounding the virtual icons such that a user contact with a hidden hit region of a virtual icon (although not exactly on the virtual icon itself) can trigger the device to perform the same set of operations associated with the virtual icon. Because the touch screen is relatively small, the hit regions of two adjacent virtual icons may partially overlap each other. This situation becomes a challenge for the portable device if a user contact with one of the two virtual icons occurs within the overlapping hit region.
Delete icon 3222 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of a UI to confirm that the user wants to delete the corresponding voicemail; and.
Call icon 3240 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates a call to the phone number associated with the selected voicemail.
Each of the three icons 3204, 3240, 3222 has a respective hidden hit region (as represented by the corresponding meshed region surrounding each of the icons). But because the Progress bar 3204 is so close to the Call icon 3240 and the Delete icon 3222, its hidden hit region overlaps with the two icons' hidden hit regions, respectively. These overlapping hit regions cause a problem when an initial user contact with the touch screen occurs within one of the overlapping regions. For example, the initial finger contact 3206 that falls into the overlapping hit region between the Progress bar 3204 and the Delete icon 3222 may have two possible interpretations: (i) the user wants to fast-forward the message to the point corresponding to the horizontal location of the finger contact 3206 or (ii.) the user wants to delete the voicemail currently being played by the portable device. A misinterpretation of the initial finger contact 3206 (i.e., if the interpretation chosen by the portable device is different from the user's actual intention) would result in unsatisfactory user experience with the portable device.
In some embodiments, a. method of avoiding such misinterpretation of an initial user contact that falls within an overlapping hit region is to defer interpreting the initial user contact until a unique interpretation can be reached based in part on a subsequent finger interaction with the touch screen.
Below are descriptions of several embodiments of methods of disambiguating the user's actual intention if the initial user contact with the touch screen falls into an overlapping hidden hit region. Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for performing a predefined action in response to a finger gesture near two adjacent user interface objects in accordance with some embodiments. Figures 7A-7D are exemplary embodiments illustrating how a portable device identifies one of two adjacent user interface objects that have an overlapping hit region in response to a finger gesture that falls in the overlapping hit region and then performs a user-desired action.
The term "user interface object" (which is interchangeable with "graphical object" in this application) generally refers to a graphical icon displayed on the touch screen display, which may be associated with an information item or a set of application operations depending on the specific application module that employs the schemes described herein.
Figure '7A depicts two user interface objects, e.g., a button control user interface object 5802 and a slide control user interface object 5806, next to each other on the touch screen display. For example, the button control object 5802 may be the backup control icon, the play icon, or the forward icon, and the slide control user interface object 5806 may be the volume control icon of the music and video player module 152.
In some embodiments, the button control user interface object 5802 has a hidden hit region 5804 and the slide control user interface object 5806 has a hidden hit region. 5816. The two hidden hit regions overlap at region 5810.
The portable device detects a finger-down event at a. first position on the touch screen display (601). As shown in Figure 7A, the finger-down event occurs at a position 5805 within the overlapping hit region 5810. From this single finger-down event, it cannot be determined whether the user intends to activate the button control user interface object 5802 or the slide control user interface object 5806.
In some embodiments, using the finger-down event position 5805, which is also the current cursor position, the portable device identifies all the user interface objects that are associated with the position. A user interface object is associated with a cursor position if the position is within the user interface object or its hidden hit region. Therefore, both the button control user interface object 5802 and the slide control user interface object 5806 are identified as being associated with the first position 5805. Note that the slide control user interface object 5806 includes a. slide bar 5803 and a slide object 5801.
Finger contacts with the touch screen typically have different patterns. For example, a finger tap gesture on the touch screen often occurs at a button-style user interface object (e,g., a key icon of the soft keyboard), which comprises a finger-down event followed by a finger-up event at the same position, or substantially the same position as the finger-down event. A finger swipe gesture on the touch screen is often (but not always) associated with a slide control user interface object (e.g., the volume control icon of the music and video player), which comprises a finger-down event followed by one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by a finger-up event.
In some embodiments, a parameter is used to describe the process of a finger approaching a touch screen display, contacting the touch screen display, and leaving the touch screen display, The parameter can be a distance between the finger and the touch screen display, a pressure the finger has on the touch screen display, a contact area between the finger and the touch screen, a voltage between the finger and the touch screen, a capacitance between the finger and the touch screen display or a function of one or more of the physical parameters.
In some embodiments, depending on the magnitude of the parameter (e.g., capacitance) between the finger and the touch screen display, a finger-down event occurs when the parameter rises above a predefined threshold, a finger-dragging event occurs when the finger's corresponding cursor position moves from location A to location B while the parameter remains above the predefined threshold, and a finger-up event occurs when the parameter drops below the threshold level.
Following the finger-down event, the portable device detects a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display (603). Given the first and second positions corresponding to the finger-down and finger-up events, the portable device determines a distance between the two positions (605). In some embodiments, the amount of the distance implies the user's actual intention as to which user interface object should be activated and what action(s) the portable device should take.
If the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold (607), the user contact is interpreted as activating a first user interface object (e.g., the button control 5802, Figures 7C and 7D) and the device then performs a first action corresponding to the first user interface object (609).
In some contexts in which the user gesture activates the button control user interface object 5802, the second position (e.g., 5817 in Figure 7C) is also within the overlapping hit region, In some other contexts in which the user gesture activates the button control user interface object 5802, the second position (e.g., 5807 in Figure 7D) is within the hit region 5804 of the object 5802, but not within the slide control user interface object 5806's hit region. In either case, the device activates the button control user interface object 5802 to perform a predefined operation (e.g., displaying a GUI allowing the user to delete a voicemail message).
If the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold (611), the user contact is then interpreted as activating a second user interface object (e.g., the slide control 5806, Figures 7A and 7B) and the device performs a second action associated with the second user interface object (613).
In some contexts in which the user gesture activates the slide control user interface object 5806, the second position (e.g., 5808 in Figure 7A) is within the hit region 5816 of the slide control user interface object 5806 and not within the hit region 5804 of the button control user interface object 5802. In some other contexts in which the user gesture activates the slide control user interface object 5806, the second position (e.g., 5809 in Figure 7B) is outside hit region 5816, but has a projection onto the slide bar. In either case, the device moves the slide object 5801 along the slide bar 5803 to a position in accordance with the projection of the second position onto the slide bar. In some embodiments, the slide object 5801 does not move beyond the two opposite ends of the slide bar irrespective of the distance between the two positions as projected onto the slide bar. As shown in Figures 7A-7B, the distance Δdx by which the slide object 5801 is moved along the slide bar corresponds to the projection of the second position onto the slide bar 5803 . If the finger keeps moving to the right as shown in Figure 7A such that the second position 5812 is projected outside the slide bar (i.e., beyond the right end of the slide bar), the slide object 5801 will stop at its rightmost position 5814.
In some embodiments, the first user interface object is a different type of user interface object than the second user interface object (e.g., a button object versus a slide control object). The first and second predefined thresholds may have the same value, while in other embodiments they have distinct values. In some other embodiments, the second predefined threshold is higher than the first predefined threshold. In the latter embodiments, if the distance is between the two positions is between, the first and second thresholds, neither the first nor the second user interface object is activated (or more generally, no action is performed with respect to either object. As a result, the user will need to more clearly indicate his or her intent by performing another finger gesture.
In addition, in some embodiments, the hidden hit region of the first user interface object has a different width (e.g., maximum extent from the object) than the second user interface object. For example, in some embodiments a user interface object whose associated action is destructive, irreversible, or which may lead to a destructive or irreversible action, has a narrower hidden region (or even no hidden hit region) than a second user interface object whose associated action is not destructive or irreversible.
In some embodiments, after the finger-down event and before the finger-up event, a series of finger-dragging events are detected at positions on the touch screen display, but outside the slide control user interface object 5806's hit region 5816. In this case, the device moves the slide object 5801 along the slide bar 5803 from its current position to a different position determined at least in part by each finger-dragging event's associated position on the touch screen display. The slide object 5801 stops at a second position when the finger-up event is detected.
In some embodiments, the device interprets the user's actual intention associated with a finger gesture that begins in an overlapping hidden hit region between two adjacent user interface objects before the finger gesture is finished, e.g., while the finger is still in contact with the touch screen display. Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for performing a predefined action in response to a finger gesture near two adjacent user interface objects in accordance with some embodiments. Figures 9A-9C are exemplary embodiments illustrating how a portable device identifies one of two adjacent user interface objects that have an overlapping hit region in response to a finger gesture that falls in the overlapping hit region and performs a user-desired action.
Figure 9A depicts two user interface objects, e.g., a button control user interface object 902 and a slide control user interface object 906 having a slide object 910 that is movable along a slide bar 905, on the touch screen display In Figures 7A-7D, the two user interface objects are displayed side by side next to each other at the same horizontal level. In Figures 9A-9C, the slide control user interface object 906 is positioned above the button control user interface object. Note that the methods disclosed in this application are independent of any specific spatial arrangement of user interface objects and are equally applicable to other, e.g., vertical or diagonal, orientations of an overlapping hidden hit region between adjacent user interface objects.
The portable device detects a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display (801). As shown in Figures 9A-9C, an exemplary finger-down event occurs at the position 903 within the overlapping hit region 920. In some embodiments, the portable device identifies user interface objects that are associated with the first finger-down position 903. As noted above, each user interface object typically has an associated hidden hit region and the object is identified if the position 903 is within the user interface object or its hidden hit region. In this example, both the button control user interface object 902 and the slide control user interface object 906 are associated with the first position 903. Because at least two user interface objects are identified, the portable device postpones activation of either object until a subsequent finger event better reveals the user's actual intention.
The portable device detects a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display (803). In some embodiments, a finger gesture is characterized by a series of finger events, including one finger-down event in which the finger is first detected to be on or near the touch screen display, followed by zero or more finger-dragging events in which finger is detected to move from one position to another position on the touch screen display, followed by one finger-up event in which the finger is detected to be lifted off the touch screen display.
The portable device then determines the type of the second finger event and the distance between the first position and the second position (805). In some embodiments, this distance is defined as the component of a vector between the first position and the second position (e.g., 907 in Figure 9A and 909 in Figure 9B) along the slide direction of a slide object (e.g., the horizontal component of 907 in Figure 9A and the horizontal component of 909 in Figure 9B). In some embodiments, this distance is defined as the vertical component of the vector between the first position and the second position, e.g., if the slide direction of the slide control user interface object is oriented vertically (not shown). In some other embodiments, this distance is defined as the magnitude of the vector between the first position and the second position. For illustration, the distance in the present example is assumed to be the component of the vector between the first position and the second position along the slide direction of a slide object (e.g., the horizontal component of 907 in Figure 9A and the horizontal component of 909 in Figure 9B). Because the second finger event is detected after the detection of the first finger-down event, it is either a finger-dragging event or a finger-up event. In some embodiments, the vector between the two positions is projected onto the horizontal and vertical axes of the touch screen display. Figure 9A depicts that the second finger event is detected at the position 913. Figure 9B depicts that the second finger event is detected at the position 915 and the distance between the two positions in Figure 9B is smaller than that in Figure 9A.
Note that the type of the second finger event is independent of the distance between the two positions. A long distance as shown in Figure 9A may indicate that the finger moves quickly from the position 903 to the position 913 before any finger-dragging event is detected and the finger may still remain in contact with the touch screen display at the position 913. A short distance as shown in Figure 9B may suggest that the finger is lifted off the touch screen display after a brief movement and, accordingly, no finger-dragging event is detected before the finger-up event at the position 915.
If the distance between the two positions is greater than a predefined threshold (807), the device performs a first action associated with the first user interface object (811) (e.g., activating slide control user interface object 906 in Figure 9A and moving the slide object 910 from position 901 to position 911 along the slide bar 905).
If the distance between the two positions is equal to or less than the redefined threshold (809), the device checks the type of the second finger event detected at the second position (813). If the second finger event is a finger-up event, the device then performs a second action associated with the second user interface object (815), e.g., activating button control object 902. If the second finger event is a finger-dragging event, the device performs no further action other than returning to operation 803 to detect the next finger event.
Referring now to Figure 9A, because the distance, e.g., the horizontal component of the vector 907, is greater than a predefined threshold, which is determined heuristically and may be user-configurable, the device infers that the user intends to activate the slide control user interface object 906, e.g., to increase the audio volume if the object is used for volume control or to fast-forward a video stream if the object is used for play time control. The slide object 910 is moved along the slide bar 905 from the position 901 to the position 911. As noted above, the slide object 910 is typically moved along the slide bar 905 to a position that is determined by a projection of the second position onto the slide bar 905 until the slide object 910 reaches an end of the slide bar 905. In other words, the slide object 910 does not move beyond either end of the slide bar 905.
In the example shown in Figure 9A, the long distance by itself is deemed to be sufficient indicia of the user's intent. The type of the second finger event at the second position becomes irrelevant and the device will not activate the button control interface object at the conclusion of the finger gesture. In other words, if the change in position between 903 and 913 exceeds the predefined threshold, the device will activate the slide control user interface object 906, not the button control user interface object 902, even if the second finger event is a finger-up event and no previous finger-dragging event was detected. The main difference between a finger-dragging event at position 913 and a finger-up event at position 913 is that the finger gesture is not deemed to be finished if the second finger event is a finger-dragging event. Thus, the slide object 910 may be moved again along the slide bar in response to detection of a subsequent finger event until a finger-up event is detected.
Figure 9B depicts that a finger-up event is detected at the second position 915. Because the horizontal component of the vector 909 in Figure 9B is equal to or less than the predefined threshold, the device infers that the user intends to activate the button control user interface object 902 and performs a corresponding operation, e.g., initiating a call if the object 902 is the Call button 3240 as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 9C is another embodiment in which the portable device activates the slide control user interface object 906. In this example, the user drags his or her finger on the touch screen display along the dashed-line curve 919, which generates a series of finger-dragging events.
As noted above in connection with Figure 8, if the second finger event, which is a finger-dragging event, is detected at a second position and the distance between the two positions is equal to or less than the predefined threshold, the device activates neither user interface object and waits for the next finger event to occur. At some point, a finger-dragging event is detected at a position 918 and the horizontal component of the vector between position 903 and position 918 is greater than the threshold. In response, the slide control user interface object 906 is activated and the device starts moving the slide object 910 along the slide bar 905 to a new location in accordance with a projection of the detected position onto the slide bar 905. Subsequently, for each detected finger-dragging event at a new position 918-1, the device determines a horizontal component of the vector between a previous position associated with a previous finger-dragging event and the new position 918-1 and moves the slide object 910 along the slide bar 905 accordingly (e.g., to a new location 912' in Figure 9C). This set of operations is repeated until a finger-up event is detected at a last position 917 on the touch screen display and the slide object 910 accordingly stops at the location 912 on the slide bar 905.
Note that the last position 917 associated with the finger-up event in Figure 9C has no impact on the device's inference of the user's intention to activate the slide control user interface object 906. The slide control user interface object 906 is activated even if the last position 917 (i.e., the position at which a finger-up event is detected) is outside the hidden hit region 908 surrounding the slide control user interface object 906 and, e.g., within the hidden hit region of the non-activated user interface object (e.g., the button control user interface object 902 in Figure 9C). The slide control user interface object 906 is activated even if the horizontal component of the vector between the first position 903 and the last position 917 is equal to or less than the predefined threshold.
In some embodiments, the second position of the finger event that activates one of multiple adjacent user interface objects with an overlapping hidden hit region can be found anywhere on the touch screen display. For example, in Figures 9A and 9B, the second position can even be outside the hidden hit regions of the two user interface objects as long as the first position falls within the overlapping hidden hit region 920 between the two user interface objects. The slide control user interface object 906 is activated in Figure 9A even if the second position is outside the hidden hit region 908 surrounding the slide control user interface object 906 provided that the horizontal component of the vector between the two positions is greater than the predefined threshold. Similarly, the button control user interface object 902 is activated in Figure 9B even if the second position at which the finger-up event is detected is outside the hidden hit region 904 surrounding the button control user interface object 902, provided that the distance between the two positions is equal to or less than the predefined threshold.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; determining a distance between the first position and the second position; identifying a button control user interface object and a slide control user interface object, both displayed on the touch screen display and both associated with the first position, the slide control user interface object including a slide bar and a slide object; activating the button control user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold.
2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the button control user interface object has a hit region and the slide control user interface object has a hit region and the two hit regions overlap and the first position is within the overlap of the two hit regions.
3. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the first predefined threshold and second predefined threshold have distinct values.
4. A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; determining a distance between the first position and the second position; performing a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and performing a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
5. The method of embodiment 4, further comprising: identifying a button control user interface object and a slide control user interface object, both displayed on the touch screen display and both associated with the first position, the slide control user interface object including a slide bar and a slide object.
6. The method of embodiment 5, wherein the first action is to activate the button control user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold.
7. The method of embodiment 5, wherein the second action is to move the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold.
8. The method of embodiment 7, wherein the slide object is moved along the slide bar by an amount determined by a projection of the distance between the first position and the second position onto the slide bar.
9. The method of embodiment 5, wherein the button control user interface object has a hit region and the slide control user interface object has a hit region and the two hit regions overlap and the first position is within the overlap of the two hit regions.
10. The method of embodiment 9, further comprising: activating the button control user interface object if the second position is within the button control user interface object's hit region, but not in the slide control user interface object's hit region.
11. The method of embodiment 4, wherein the first predefined threshold and second predefined threshold have distinct values.
12. The method of embodiment 9, further comprising: moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the second position is not in the button control user interface object's hit region.
13. The method of embodiment 9, further comprising: moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the second position is within the slide control user interface object's hit region, but not in the button control user interface object's hit region.
14. The method of embodiment 5, further comprising : after detecting the finger-down event, detecting a finger-dragging event on the touch screen display, the finger- dragging event having an associated position on the touch screen display; moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object from its current position to a different position determined at least in part by the finger- dragging event's associated position on the touch screen display; and repeating said detecting the finger-dragging event and moving the slide object until the finger-up event is detected.
15. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising: a plurality of user interface objects including a first user interface object and a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display; wherein: a finger-down event is detected at a first position on the touch screen display; a finger-up event is detected at a second position on the touch screen display; a distance is determined between the first position and the second position; a first action is performed with respect to the first user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and a second action is performed with respect to the second user interface object if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
16. A portable electronic device, comprising: a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including: instructions for detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; instructions for detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; instructions for determining a distance between the first position and the second position; instructions for performing a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and instructions for performing a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
17. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, cause the device to: detect a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; detect a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; determine a distance between the first position and the second position; perform a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and perform a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
18. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising: means for detecting a finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display; means for detecting a finger-up event at a second position on the touch screen display; means for determining a distance between the first position and the second position; means for performing a first action with respect to a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold; and means for performing a second action with respect to a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
19. A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, detecting a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object, and wherein the first user interface object is different from the second user interface object; detecting a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event; determining a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; performing a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and performing a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
20. The method of embodiment 19, further comprising: detecting a next finger event at a position on the touch screen display if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-dragging event.
21. The method of embodiment 19, further comprising: after performing the first action, detecting a finger-dragging event at a new position on the touch screen display; determining a distance between the new position and a previous position associated with a previous finger-dragging event; performing another action associated with the first user interface object; and repeating said detecting, determining, and performing operations until a finger-up event is detected at a last position on the touch screen display.
22. The method of embodiment 21, wherein the distance between the first position and the last position is equal to or less than the predefined threshold.
23. The method of embodiment 21, wherein the last position is outside a hidden hit region surrounding the first user interface object.
24. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the second position at which the finger-up event is detected is outside a hidden hit region surrounding the second user interface object.
25. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the first position falls within an overlapping hidden hit region between the first user interface object and the second user interface object.
26. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the first user interface object is a slide control user interface object that includes a slide bar and a slide object.
27. The method of embodiment 26, wherein performing the first action includes moving the slide object along the slide bar to a position that is determined by a projection of the second position onto the slide bar.
28. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the second user interface object is a button control user interface object.
29. The method of embodiment 28, wherein performing the second action includes activating the button control user interface object.
30. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising: a plurality of user interface objects, including a first user interface object and a second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the first user interface object is different from the second user interface object; wherein: in response to detecting: a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to the first user interface object and the second user interface object, and a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger- dragging event and a finger-up event; a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position are determined; a first action associated with the first user interface object is performed if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and a second action associated with the second user interface object is performed if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined. threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
31. A portable electronic device, comprising: a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including: instructions for detecting a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object and the first user interface object is different from the second user interface object; instructions for detecting a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event; instructions for determining a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; instructions for performing a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and instructions for performing a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
32. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, cause the device to: detect a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object and the first user interface object is different from the second user interface object; detect a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event; determine a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; perform a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and perform a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
33. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising: means for detecting a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the first position is adjacent to a first user interface object and a second user interface object and the first user interface object is different from the second user interface object; means for detecting a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the second finger event is one selected from the group consisting of a finger-dragging event and a finger-up event; means for determining a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position; means for performing a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold; and means for performing a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.
performing a second action with respect to the second user interface object displayed on the touch screen display if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold, wherein the second user interface object is distinct from the first user interface object.
The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a button control user interface object and a slide control user interface object, both displayed on the touch screen display and both associated with the first position, the slide control user interface object including a slide bar and a slide object.
The method of claim 2, wherein the first action is to activate the button control user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than a first predefined threshold.
The method of claim 2, wherein the second action is to move the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the distance is greater than a second predefined threshold.
The method of claim 4, wherein the slide object is moved along the slide bar by an amount determined by a projection of the distance between the first position and the second position onto the slide bar.
activating the button control user interface object if the second position is within the button control user interface object's hit region, but not in the slide control user interface object's hit region.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first predefined threshold and second predefined threshold have distinct values.
moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the second position is not in the button control user interface object's hit region.
moving the slide object along the slide bar of the slide control user interface object in accordance with the distance between the first position and the second position if the second position is within the slide control user interface object's hit region, but not in the button control user interface object's hit region.
repeating said detecting the finger-dragging event and moving the slide object until the finger-up event is detected.
The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first position is the current cursor position.
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to cause, when executed by the electronic device, the electronic device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 11.

References: Application No. 11
 Application No. 10
 Application No. 10
 Application No. 11
 Application No. 11
 Application No. 11
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 Application No. 11