Source: http://www.patentsencyclopedia.com/app/20130219321
Timestamp: 2018-11-20 11:50:39
Document Index: 288944359

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'art 1600', 'arts 1500', 'art 1700', 'art 1800', 'art 1900', 'art 2000', 'art 2100', 'art 2200', 'art 2300', 'art 2400', 'art 2500', 'art 2600', 'art 2700', 'art 2700', 'art 2800', 'art 2800']

Patent application number: 20130219321
1. A method of presenting information to a user, the method comprising: presenting, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page; enabling a user to interact with the page through a touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; recording, on the electronic device, physical characteristics of the user interaction with the touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; identifying, based on the physical characteristics of the user interaction, a modeled impact on the electronic representation of a paper page; and generating an animated transition reflecting a page turning of the electronic representation of a paper page that reflects the modeled impact.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects a location within the electronic representation of the paper page where the user touched the electronic representation of a paper page.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects a velocity at which the user swiped the electronic representation of the paper page to turn the page.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects an acceleration at which the user swiped the electronic representation of the paper page to turn the page.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects a direction at which the user swiped the electronic representation of the paper page to turn the page.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects a user tilting the electronic device to turn the page.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects an acceleration applied in tilting the electronic device to turn the page.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects an angle applied by a user to tilt the electronic device to turn the page.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects differences in an orientation of the electronic device applied by a user to tilt the electronic device to turn the page.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein identifying the modeled impact reflects whether the orientation of the electronic device has been changed by more than a threshold amount.
11. A system, comprising a processor and instructions that when performed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations that include: presenting, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page; enabling a user to interact with the page through a touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; recording, on the electronic device, physical characteristics of the user interaction with the touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; identifying, based on the physical characteristics of the user interaction, a modeled impact on the electronic representation of a paper page; and generating an animated transition reflecting a page turning of the electronic representation of a paper page that reflects the modeled impact.
12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed on a processor cause the processor to perform operations that include: presenting, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page; enabling a user to interact with the page through a touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; recording, on the electronic device, physical characteristics of the user interaction with the touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book; identifying, based on the physical characteristics of the user interaction, a modeled impact on the electronic representation of a paper page; and generating an animated transition reflecting a page turning of the electronic representation of a paper page that reflects the modeled impact.
[0033] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, capturing the user manipulation and identifying the command may include detecting that the electronic device has been tilted less than a threshold degree. In response to detecting that the electronic device has been tilted less than the threshold degree, an excerpt of a next page in the electronic book is presented. Capturing the user manipulation and identifying the command may include detecting that the electronic device has been shaken and presenting, in response to detecting that the electronic device has been shaken, that the electronic book has been returned to an electronic bookshelf. Capturing the user manipulation and identifying the command may include detecting that the electronic device has been manipulated in a first manner and presenting, in response to detecting that the electronic device has been manipulated in the first manner, that a cover of the electronic book has been closed.
[0081] The geographic map is rendered as a second reduced-size representation with a user-interactive object corresponding to the source map so that the user can select (e.g., click or touch) a portion of the map in order to display a map with greater detail.
[0082] FIG. 3D illustrates how the selected interactive map may be invoked to retrieve additional information. As show, a larger map is shown that enables the user to perceive the map in greater detail. In addition, a bubble message is shown indicating that the user has selected a portion of the interactive map corresponding to North America. The user may select the bubble message to retrieve addition information related to North America, or the user may select another region of the map in order to retrieve additional information related to another area on map.
[0083] FIG. 4 illustrates how a first reduced-size representation or a second reduced-size representation is displayed based on available display space relative to a size of the underlying object. There two sets of dimension for each of the displayable objects. First, there is a set of original dimensions for the displayable object that originally exceeds the viewing area (not shown). Second, there is the set of dimensions that are available to a displayable object within the eBook application. As shown, eBook reader device 400 includes a display with a table of contents 410 and a map 420. Both the table of contents 410 and the map 420 have a width 430. Table of contents has a height 440 and map 420 has a height 450. The width 430 and the heights 440 and 450 are based on the available display area within the eBook application.
[0084] The original dimensions and the available display are may be used to determine whether to display the an end-user experience is better served by displaying a first reduced-size representation with a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object or a second reduced-size representation with a user-interactive object corresponding to the displayable object. For example, if the differences are determined to be less than 20%, then a scaling algorithm may be used to render the displayable object as a first reduced-size representation with a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object. If the differences are more than 20%, then the eBook application may be configured to modify the content so as to render a user-interactive object corresponding to the displayable object so that the user may better identify the requested content through user interaction.
[0085] The selection of a first reduced-size representation with a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object or a second reduced-size representation with a user-interactive object corresponding to the displayable object also may be based on the underlying content. For example, a first threshold may be used in response to determining that the source includes text while a second threshold may be used in response to determining that the source includes imagery (e.g., a map). In still another configuration, the decision to use a first reduced-size representation with a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object or a second reduced-size representation with a user-interactive object corresponding to the displayable object may be based on the degree of underlying detail in the source object. For example, a map with a high amount of granular detail may be transformed into an interactive displayable object while a map with less granular detail may be transformed into a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object. The map (or image) may be analyzed to determine the lossiness and/or degree of compression available to ascertain whether a threshold degree of detail is present that leads to transformation to a first format or a second format.
[0086] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary architecture of an electronic client device 100 that can be used to for eBook applications. The client device 100 includes a processor 605 configured to control the operation of the client device 100. For example, the processor 605 can control communications with one or more media servers to receive eBooks or other media for presentation on the client device 100. A media server can be any general purpose server that provides access to media content. The media can be received through push and/or pull operations, including through downloading and streaming. The processor 605 also can be configured to generate output signals for presentation, such as one or more streams representing media content or an interface for interacting with a user.
[0087] The client device 100 also includes a storage device 610 that can be configured to store information including media, configuration data, user preferences, and operating instructions. The storage device may include non-transitory media. The storage device 610 can be any type of non-volatile storage, including a hard disk device or a solid-state drive. For example, media received from an external media server can be stored on the storage device 610. The received media thus can be locally accessed and processed. Further, configuration information, such as the resolution of a coupled display device or information identifying an associated media server, can be stored on the storage device 610. Additionally, the storage device 610 can include one or more sets of operating instructions that can be executed by the processor 605 to control operation of the client device 100. In an implementation, the storage device 610 further can be divided into a plurality of partitions, wherein each partition can be utilized to store one or more types of information. Additionally, each partition can have one or more access control provisions.
[0088] A communication bus 615 couples the processor 605 to the other components and interfaces included in the client device 100. The communication bus 615 can be configured to permit unidirectional and/or bidirectional communication between the components and interfaces. For example, the processor 605 can retrieve information from and transmit information to the storage device 610 over the communication bus 615. In an implementation, the communication bus 615 can be comprised of a plurality of busses, each of which couples at least one component or interface of the client device 100 with another component or interface.
[0089] The client device 100 also includes a plurality of input and output interfaces for communicating with other devices, including media servers and presentation devices. A wired network interface 620 and/or a wireless network interface 625 each can be configured to permit the client device 100 to transmit and receive information over a network, such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet, thereby enabling either wired and/or wireless connectivity and data transfer. Additionally, an input interface 630 can be configured to receive input from another device through a direct connection, such as a USB, eSATA or an IEEE 1394 connection.
[0090] Further, an output interface 635 can be configured to couple the client device 100 to one or more external devices, including a television, a monitor, an audio receiver, and one or more speakers. For example, the output interface 635 can include one or more of an optical audio interface, an RCA connector interface, a component video interface, and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The output interface 635 also can be configured to provide one signal, such as an audio stream, to a first device and another signal, such as a video stream, to a second device. Further, a non-volatile memory 640, such as a read-only memory (ROM) also can be included in the client device 100. The non-volatile memory 640 can be used to store configuration data, additional instructions, such as one or more operating instructions, and values, such as one or more flags and counters. In an implementation, a random access memory (RAM) also can be included in the client device 100. The RAM can be used to store media content received in the client device 100, such as during playback or while the user has paused playback. Further, media content can be stored in the RAM whether or not the media content is stored on the storage device 610.
[0091] Additionally, the client device 100 can include a remote control interface 645 that can be configured to receive commands from one or more remote control devices (not pictured). The remote control interface 645 can receive the commands through wireless signals, such as infrared and radio frequency signals. The received commands can be utilized, such as by the processor 605, to control media playback or to configure the client device 100. In an implementation, the client device 100 can be configured to receive commands from a user through a touch screen interface. The client device 100 also can be configured to receive commands through one or more other input devices, including a keyboard, a keypad, a touch pad, a voice command system, and a mouse.
[0092] Configurations of computing devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some configurations, the computing 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 configurations of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone® and iPod Touch® devices from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable devices such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads) may also be used. It should also be understood that, in some configurations, 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).
[0093] In the discussion that follows, a computing device that includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should be understood, however, that the computing device may include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.
[0094] The device 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.
[0095] The various applications that may be executed on the device may 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 may be 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 may support the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent.
[0096] The user interfaces may include one or more soft keyboard configurations. The soft keyboard configurations 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 application Ser. No. 11/459,606, "Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices," filed Jul. 24, 2006, and Ser. No. 11/459,615, "Touch Screen Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices," filed Jul. 24, 2006. The keyboard configurations 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 configurations 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 device may utilize common and/or different keyboard configurations. Thus, the keyboard configuration used may be tailored to at least some of the applications. In some configurations, one or more keyboard configurations may be tailored to a respective user. For example, one or more keyboard configurations 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 configurations 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 configurations.
[0097] Attention is now directed towards configurations of portable devices with touch-sensitive displays. FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices 100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with some configurations. 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 memory 102 (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.
[0098] It should be appreciated that the device 100 is only one example of a portable multifunction device 100, and that the device 100 may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or a may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.
[0099] Memory 102 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include 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 the device 100, such as the CPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, may be controlled by the memory controller 122.
[0100] The peripherals interface 118 couples the input and output peripherals of the device to the 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 the device 100 and to process data.
[0101] In some configurations, the peripherals interface 118, the CPU 120, and the memory controller 122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip 104. In some other configurations, they may be implemented on separate chips.
[0102] The RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 may 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 802.11g and/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), 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.
[0103] The audio circuitry 110, the speaker 111, and the microphone 113 provide an audio interface between a user and the device 100. The audio circuitry 110 receives audio data from the peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the speaker 111. The speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone 113 from sound waves. The audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or the RF circuitry 108 by the peripherals interface 118. In some configurations, the audio circuitry 110 also includes a headset jack. The headset jack provides an interface between the audio circuitry 110 and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone).
[0104] 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 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 may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate configurations, 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 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. 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 Ser. No. 11/322,549, "Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock Image," filed Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference 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.
[0105] The touch-sensitive touch screen 112 provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. The display controller 156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the touch screen 112. The touch screen 112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed "graphics"). In some configurations, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects.
[0106] A 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. The touch screen 112 and the 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 the 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 the touch screen. In an exemplary configuration, a point of contact between a touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.
[0107] The touch screen 112 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, or LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other configurations. The touch screen 112 and the display controller 156 may 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 a touch screen 112. In an exemplary configuration, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone® and iPod Touch® from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
[0108] A touch-sensitive display in some configurations of the touch screen 112 may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive touchpads described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 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. However, a touch screen 112 displays visual output from the portable device 100, whereas touch sensitive touchpads do not provide visual output.
[0109] A touch-sensitive display in some configurations of the touch screen 112 may be as described in the following applications: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,313, "Multipoint Touch Surface Controller," filed May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, "Multipoint Touchscreen," filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, "Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jul. 30, 2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264, "Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, "Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices," filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,758, "Virtual Input Device Placement On A Touch Screen User Interface," filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,700, "Operation Of A Computer With A Touch Screen Interface," filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,737, "Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen Virtual Keyboard," filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749, "Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device," filed Mar. 3, 2006.
[0110] The touch screen 112 may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In an exemplary configuration, 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 configurations, 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 configurations, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user.
[0111] In some configurations, in addition to the touch screen, the device 100 may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some configurations, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.
[0112] In some configurations, 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 (e.g., 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 configurations, a virtual click wheel is displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device and operated by user contact with the touch screen.
[0113] 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.
[0114] The device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an optical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller 158 in I/O subsystem 106. The optical sensor 164 may include a 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 configurations, 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 still and/or video image acquisition. In some configurations, 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 configurations, 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.
[0115] The device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors 166. FIGS. 6A and 6B 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 Ser. Nos. 11/241,839, "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device"; 11/240,788, "Proximity Detector In Handheld Device"; 11/620,702, "Using Ambient Light Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output"; 11/586,862, "Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices"; and 11/638,251, "Methods And Systems For Automatic Configuration Of Peripherals," which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some configurations, 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).
[0116] The device 100 may also include one or more accelerometers 168. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an accelerometer 168 coupled to the peripherals interface 118. Alternately, the accelerometer 168 may be coupled to an input controller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The accelerometer 168 may perform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0190059, "Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable Electronic Devices," and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0017692, "Methods And Apparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An Accelerometer," both of which are which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In some configurations, information is displayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers.
[0117] In some configurations, the software components stored in memory 102 may include an operating system 126, a communication module (or set of instructions) 128, a contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130, a graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, a text input module (or set of instructions) 134, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions) 135, and applications (or set of instructions) 136.
[0118] The 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.
[0119] The 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 the RF circuitry 108 and/or the external port 124. The 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 configurations, 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.
[0120] The contact/motion module 130 may detect contact with the touch screen 112 (in conjunction with the display controller 156) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). The 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 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). The 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, may include 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 may be applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., "multitouch"/multiple finger contacts). In some configurations, the contact/motion module 130 and the display controller 156 detects contact on a touchpad. In some configurations, the contact/motion module 130 and the controller 160 detects contact on a click wheel.
[0121] The contact/motion module 130 may detect a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns. Thus, a gesture may be 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 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 event.
[0122] The graphics module 132 includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on the touch screen 112 or other display, including components for changing the intensity 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.
[0123] In some configurations, the graphics module 132 stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code. The 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.
[0124] The text input module 134, which may be 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).
[0125] The 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).
[0126] The applications 136 may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
[0127] a contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact list);
[0128] a telephone module 138;
[0129] a video conferencing module 139;
[0130] an e-mail client module 140;
[0131] an instant messaging (IM) module 141;
[0132] a workout support module 142;
[0133] a camera module 143 for still and/or video images;
[0134] an image management module 144;
[0135] a video player module 145;
[0136] a music player module 146;
[0137] a browser module 147;
[0138] a calendar module 148;
[0139] widget modules 149, which may include 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;
[0140] widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;
[0141] search module 151;
[0142] video and music player module 152, which merges video player module 145 and music player module 146;
[0143] notes module 153;
[0144] map module 154; and/or
[0145] online video module 155.
[0146] Examples of other applications 136 that may be 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.
[0147] 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.
[0148] 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, the telephone module 138 may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in the 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 may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies.
[0149] 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, the videoconferencing module 139 may be used to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants.
[0150] 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.
[0151] 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 configurations, 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).
[0152] 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, the workout support module 142 may be used 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.
[0153] 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, the camera module 143 may be used 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.
[0154] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and camera module 143, the image management module 144 may be used 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.
[0155] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, and speaker 111, the video player module 145 may be used to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port 124).
[0156] 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 configurations, the device 100 may include the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple, Inc.).
[0157] In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the browser module 147 may be used to browse the Internet, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.
[0158] 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 module 140, and browser module 147, the calendar module 148 may be used to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.).
[0159] 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 modules 149 are mini-applications that may be 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 configurations, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some configurations, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).
[0160] 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).
[0161] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the search module 151 may be used 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).
[0162] In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, 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.
[0163] 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, the map module 154 may be 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).
[0164] 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, the online video module 155 allows 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 configurations, instant messaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used to send a link to a particular online video. Additional description of the online video application can be found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/936,562, "Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos," filed Jun. 20, 2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/968,067, "Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos," filed Dec. 31, 2007.
[0165] 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 may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various configurations. For example, video player module 145 may be combined with music player module 146 into a single module (e.g., video and music player module 152, FIG. 6B). In some configurations, memory 102 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 102 may store additional modules and data structures not described above.
[0166] In some configurations, the device 100 is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen 112 and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input/control device for operation of the device 100, the number of physical input/control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on the device 100 may be reduced.
[0167] The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between user interfaces. In some configurations, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates the device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on the device 100. In such configurations, the touchpad may be referred to as a "menu button." In some other configurations, the menu button may be a physical push button or other physical input/control device instead of a touchpad.
[0168] As shown in FIG. 7A, an electronic client device such as an eBook Reader 200 can be figured to present a graphical user interface (GUI) that uses a bookshelf metaphor to indicate to a user of the device which eBooks (and/or other items of digital media) are available to the user. The eBook Reader can be equipped with a touchscreen interface (e.g., multi-touch capable) so that the user can interact with the Reader 200, and thus eBooks, using hands and fingers much in the same manner as real paper & ink books. In the example of FIG. 7A, this user has four eBooks available (or more generally, four separate ePubs indicated generally at 205) that are displayed as resting on the top two shelves of the user's personal bookcase 202 (also referred to as the user's Library). The eBooks may be depicted as hardcover editions of the paper & ink books to which they correspond, with appropriate graphics, including coloring and text, to make the eBooks appear the same as (or similar to) the paper & ink books as they would appear on the shelves of a bricks & mortar book store. Alternatively, an ePub may be depicted to appear similar to other types of publications such as journals, periodicals, newspapers, newsletters, binders, parchment, scrolls, or the like.
[0169] The user's personal bookcase 202 may be implemented to be scrollable (vertically and/or horizontally) by the user so that it can be as large as needed to hold all of the eBooks in question. The eBooks may be arranged automatically based on certain characteristics, for example, newness, most recently purchased, most recently accessed, most frequently accessed, and the like, so that some eBooks are placed in positions of more prominence and/or conspicuousness than others. The arrangement of the available eBooks also may be altered--either automatically and/or based on user input--to sort and display them according to title, author, genre, date obtained, copyright date, genre, language, or the like.
[0182] The device's GUI and operation can be implemented to accommodate any or all of the various different reading navigation models corresponding to different languages or media types. For example, for publications in the English language, the device would be configured to adopt a left-to-right, top-to-bottom, front-to-back reading and navigation model, consistent with the standard convention for the English language. Alternatively, or in addition, the device could be configured to adopt a different reading/navigation direction or model such as one or more of right-to-left, bottom-to-top and/or back-to-front to accommodate publications in other languages such as Arabic or Hebrew. Similarly, the device could be configured to adopt reading/navigation models that are optimized for the format of the content being viewed--for example, a newspaper formatted into side-by-side columns or a comic book or graphic novel having discrete panels or cells that are to be viewed in a certain order and direction. In the case of a comic book or graphic novel, each cell could be automatically re-sized and/or arranged to occupy a specified portion and/or region of the device's screen--for example, two cells at a time, either side-by-side or one on top of the other. Any or all of these features and capabilities could be selected or customizable by the user of the device.
[0243] FIG. 16 is a flow chart 1600 of a process by which information is presented to a user. Like flow charts 1500 and 1600, the operations may be performed using the systems described above. Initially, an eBook application accesses a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication (1610) and determines a state for the first publication (1620). For example, the eBook application may determine that a first publication represents promotional content while a second publication is newly-purchased. The eBook application generates a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf that reflects the state of the first publication (1630). The first publication may be bound or wrapped in a ribbon that indicates that the first publication is new or promotional content.
[0244] FIG. 17 is a flow chart 1700 of a process by which information is presented to a user. Initially, an eBook application accesses a library of electronic publications (1710). A representation of the first publication is generated in an electronic bookshelf in a bookshelf view that indicates electronic publications that are owned by a user (1720). The eBook application enables the user to switch between a bookstore view and the bookshelf view (1730). The bookstore view may include a representation of a bookshelf that enables a user to browse electronic books on the bookstore shelf and purchase those electronic books if the user is interested. The electronic book application receives an instruction from the user to switch from the bookshelf view to the bookstore view (1740). For example, the user may press a software-based button within the eBook application that inspires a transition.
[0245] In response to receiving the instruction from the user to switch from the bookshelf view to the bookstore view, the eBook application generates a display of an animated transition of a revolving bookshelf that originally presents the bookshelf view and concludes the animated transition by displaying the bookstore view (1750). A bookshelf may turn or rotate or slide or float into place in order to render a bookstore view. If the user elects to purchase an electronic book, the electronic book may float forward as the representation of the bookshelf is rotated from the bookstore view into the bookshelf view and the newly-purchased book is placed on a shelf.
[0246] FIG. 18 is a flow chart 1800 of a process by which information is presented to a user so that a user may preserve their settings in content that was originally promotional content. Initially, an eBook application enables a user to download an electronic publication in a promotional configuration (1810). A publisher may permit a user to browse the first 30 pages of an electronic book or access the electronic book for a specified duration. The eBook application then enables the user to navigate through the electronic publication with a relative indicator identifying a portion of the electronic publication being accessed by the user (1820). The relative indicate may indicate which portions of the electronic book have been read and where the user spent time in the electronic book. The eBook application enables the user to purchase a full version of the electronic publication (1830). A user may select a purchase tab or button that appears on a last page of the promotional content. As a result of a purchase, the eBook application downloads the full version of the electronic publication (1840). The eBook application then preserves the relative indicator so that subsequent user access to the electronic publication enables the user to access the portion of the electronic publication associated with the relative indicator (1850). In that manner, a user is able to perceive their bookmarks and an indication of which content has already been read.
[0247] FIG. 19 is a flow chart 1900 of a method of presenting information to a user that enables a user to share content among multiple devices. The eBook application enables a user to purchase an electronic publication using an electronic bookstore (1910) and the user is enabled to download the electronic publication to a first device (1920). A user purchase of the electronic publication is recorded (1930). A registration server may be used to record which users have access to which content. The eBook application receives an indication that the user has a second device (1940). For example, a user may own both an eBook device and also a wireless phone. The eBook application may generate an icon of a wireless phone in a portion of the display so that the user may interact with the icon to exchange content between different devices. The eBook application then enables the user to transmit the electronic publication to the second device (1950). The registration server may verify rights to content and transmit the content to the second device (e.g., loading the electronic publication to a library on the wireless phone).
[0248] FIG. 20 is a flow chart 2000 of a process by which information is presented to a user so that a user may perceive relative progress in navigating through a book by viewing relative heights of the paper on the left and right side of a binding. Initially, an eBook application presents, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book with an indication of left side pages and an indication of right side pages (2010). A user starting out reading an electronic book may have a large volume of pages on the right hand side and a small volume of pages on a right hand side. As the user turns pages, the relative heights may be altered to reflect a user's passage through an electronic book. The eBook application enables the user to navigate through the electronic publication with a relative indicator identifying a portion of the electronic publication being accessed by the user (2020). The relative indicator may indicate that a user is on a specified page relative to an overall page count. The eBook application modifies, using the relative indicator, the indication of the left side pages and the indication of right side pages to reflect a relative height of left side pages and right side pages (2030).
[0249] In one configuration, the relative height is mathematically determined so that a height is precisely calculated on a page by page basis. In another configuration, a series of discrete values is used so that a series of different display height settings is used where each display setting represents a range of pages.
[0250] FIG. 21 is a flow chart 2100 of a process by which information is presented to a user so that an animated transition is presented to a user that reflects a manner in which a user turned a page. Initially, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book is presented that includes an electronic representation of a paper page (2110). The electronic book may be presented in a portrait setting, a landscape setting, or in a setting that features two pages with a virtual binding in between.
[0251] The eBook application enables a user to interact with the page through a touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book (2120). For example, a user may swipe a finger across the touch screen to turn the page. The eBook application records, on the electronic device, physical characteristics of the user interaction with the touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book (2130). Thus, if a swipe is performed rapidly or with a certain degree of acceleration, the physical characteristics of the swipe are recorded. The location at which the electronic representation was touched also may be recorded in addition to length of the swipe. The eBook application identifies, based on the physical characteristics of the user interaction, a modeled impact on the electronic representation of a paper page (2140). The modeled impact reflects a translation that describes the impact on the user performing the same gesture or action on an actual piece of paper. The eBook application generates an animated transition reflecting a page turning of the electronic representation of a paper page that reflects the modeled impact (2150). Thus, if a page is rapidly turned, the page is shown as being rapidly turned over. If a swipe begins at a specified location, the page may be rendered as if the page were beginning to be bent at the specified location.
[0252] FIG. 22 is a flow chart 2200 of a process that enables a user to access an electronic bookstore. Initially, the eBook application presents, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page (2210). The eBook application presents, within the electronic book reader application, a control to access an electronic bookstore (2220). The control may include a software-based button appearing in the screen to inspire a transition to the electronic bookstore. The eBook application enables the user to interact with the control to access the electronic bookstore (2230). Through user interaction with the control, a user instruction to access the electronic bookstore is received (2240). For example, a user may press the software-based button. The eBook application determines that a wireless communications interface on the electronic device is not active (2250) and activates the wireless communications interface (2260). Using the wireless communications interface, materials from the electronic bookstore are accessed (2270). Thus, a user is shielded from a burden of having to selectively activate a communications interface in order to access the electronic bookstore.
[0253] FIG. 23 is a flow chart 2300 of a process by which a menu of commands is presented to a user. Initially, an eBook application presents, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page (2310). The eBook application enables a user to interact with the page through a touch screen control to navigate through the electronic book (2320) and detects that a user has touched a portion of the electronic representation of the paper page (2330). For example, a user may maintain a touch for a threshold period of time on a display to inspire invocation of a menu. The eBook application detects that the user intended to hold the touched portion (2340). The eBook application then presents, in response to detecting that the user intended to hold the touched portion, a menu of commands related to the touched portion of the electronic representation of a paper page (2350). The menu of commands may enable a user to highlight a portion of text or inspire invocation of a map related to a current book. In one configuration, the menu of commands reflects the underlying content that is selected with the selection command (e.g., the portion of a text that was selected). Thus, if the underlying content related to baseball, then the menu commands may include links to baseball-related resources or applications (e.g., a baseball game).
[0254] FIG. 24 is a flow chart 2400 of a process by which a user is enabled to manipulate an accelerometer within an electronic device to perform a command on an electronic book. Initially, a user is presented, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page (2410). The user is enabled to interact with an accelerometer for the electronic device by controlling an orientation of the electronic device (2420). For example, a user may move, manipulate, shake, or accelerate the electronic device. Using the accelerometer for the electronic device, user manipulation of the electronic device is capture (2430). The accelerometer may determine that a book was rotated in a specific direction.
[0255] Based on the user manipulation of the electronic device, a command for the electronic book is identified (2440). An electronic device may be shaken to close a cover of an electronic book, tilted more than a threshold degree to change pages, and tilted less than a threshold degree to provide a preview of a next page. The command is then performed on the electronic book (2450).
[0256] FIG. 25 is a flow chart 2500 of a process that enables a user to interface with an electronic publication. Initially, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page is presented (2510). The first user is enabled to interact with a touch screen controller for the electronic device (2520). For example, an eBook application may render an icon for other users in the social network that are proximate to the user. The electronic device captures user manipulation of the touch screen controller (2530). An example of user manipulation includes a gesture that throws a book icon towards a user icon or even in the actual direction of the user. The eBook application may transmit an indication of the gesture to a server that records an indication of other users proximate to the user and their location. Based on the user manipulation of the touch screen controller, a command for interfacing with a second user is performed through the electronic book (2540). Thus, a first user may flick a book off an electronic bookshelf towards another user to transmit the book to the other user. The eBook application then performs the command for the electronic book (2550).
[0257] FIG. 26 is a flow chart 2600 of a process that enables a user to interface with an electronic publication. The eBook application presents, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book that includes an electronic representation of a paper page (2610). The electronic representation of a paper page is modeled to resemble actual paper so that the representation would behave and respond to stimuli in the same manner as actual paper would respond to the stimuli. A first user is enabled to interact with a touch screen controller for the electronic device (2620). User manipulation of the touch screen controller is captured (2630). Thus, a first gesture on a touch screen may be recorded to indicate starting location(s) for a gesture, an ending location, a velocity of a gesture, and acceleration for a gesture. Based on the user manipulation of the touch screen controller, a command to interface with an electronic bookshelf is identified (2640). For example, a three finger swipe may be used to advance to a next selection on an electronic bookshelf. The command is performed for the electronic book (2650).
[0258] FIG. 27 is a flow chart 2700 of a process of presenting information to a user. The operations shown in flow chart 2700 may be used to preserve a viewing experience as a user transitions from a first orientation (e.g., landscape) to a second orientation (portrait). Within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book is presented that includes an electronic representation of a paper page in a first orientation (2710). A first portion of the electronic book is presented in the first orientation (2720). For example, a particular portion may be displayed in landscape mode. The user is enabled to manipulate an orientation of the electronic device from a first orientation to a second orientation (2730). It is determined whether to preserve a font size (2740). For example, a user may prefer to preserve a font size in order to enjoy a better viewing experience. Based on the first portion and in response to determining to preserve the font size, a second portion that will be displayed in the second orientation is identified (2750). Switching from a two page landscape view to a single page portrait view may require that additional content be presented within the display. The second portion is displayed in the second orientation (2760).
[0259] FIG. 28 is a flow chart 2800 of a process by which information is presented to a user. The operations shown in flow chart 2800 may be used to modify a viewing experience so that content is removed as a font size changes in a transition from a first orientation (e.g., portrait) to a second orientation (landscape). Initially, within an electronic book reader application on an electronic device, a representation of an electronic book is presented that includes an electronic representation of a paper page in a first orientation (2810). A first portion of the electronic book is presented in the first orientation (2820). A user is enabled to manipulate an orientation of the electronic device from a first orientation to a second orientation (2830), for example, to switch from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation. It is determined whether to preserve a font size (2840). A user may have a setting that indicates that the user is able to accommodate font size changes within a certain range while also specifying that font size changes beyond a threshold should be preserved. Based on the first portion and in response to determining to not preserve the font size, a second portion is identified that will be displayed in the second orientation (2850). This may include additional content that should be rendered as a result of an increased area being available for display. The second portion is displayed in the second orientation (2860). Thus, a new display in landscape mode may feature newly added content.
[0260] Optionally, an eBook reader application could have features, aspects and/or functionality that, potentially based on output from the device's motion, attitude, touch and/or other sensors, could
[0261] The eBook reader application may be configured to enable the user to peek at the next page by tilting the device (e.g., to one side) by a threshold amount that causes at least a portion of the next page to be displayed. In addition, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close, go to the first page, go to the last or other predetermined page (e.g., index or table of contents), and/or go back to the adjacent previous page.
[0262] In one configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close to its cover and/or return to the book shelf in response to detecting a multi-touch pinch performed by the user on the device's touch sensitive surface. In another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close to its cover and/or return to the book shelf in response to detecting a multi-touch pinch performed by the user on the device's touch sensitive surface.
[0263] In yet another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close to its cover and/or return to the book shelf in response to detecting a multi-touch pinch performed by the user on the device's touch sensitive surface. In still yet another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close to its cover and/or return to the book shelf in response to detecting a multi-touch pinch performed by the user on the device's touch sensitive surface.
[0264] In one configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to switch to a next eBook in a queue (e.g., selected automatically based on factors such as newness, frequency of use, related subject matter, related author, and/or predetermined by user) in response to detecting a predetermined user gesture (e.g., a swipe on the touch sensitive surface or shake of the device), potentially without requiring the user to go through the process of having to go back to the library or bookstore and manually select a new eBook to open. In another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause information about the current state of the device, the eBook reader application, and/or the user to be automatically broadcast or otherwise transmitted to one or more other humans (alternatively also referred to as "throwing" information) in response to detecting that the user has performed a predetermined gesture. The "thrown" information could include one or more of the user's location, user's identity, title of the eBook currently open on the user's device, current page number of the eBook currently open on the user's device, a bookmark, a segment of text, an image or movie, or essentially any other item of information about current state known to the device, user and/or eBook reader application.
[0265] In another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to cause a currently open eBook to close to its cover in response to detecting that the user has rotated the device away from the away (e.g., a 180 degree pivot about a vertical axis), and/or re-open upon detecting that the user has once again rotated the device back to face the user (and/or in response to another criterion, such as time lapse). An advantage of this behavior may be to allow the user to show another person what the user is currently reading by momentarily displaying the cover of the eBook rather than the current page (which likely would have smaller font text and/or less readily discernible information about the identity of the eBook).
[0266] In yet another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to enable a user to share eBooks (portions or entire contents) with one or more other users in response to detecting that the user has performed a predetermined gesture or, in response to the passage of time, cause the display of unopened or seldom opened eBooks to change appearance, e.g., by displaying only the spine of such books rather than complete covers, and/or cause the eBooks to appear dusty, yellowed, translucent or other visual indications of disuse. Similarly, an eBook reader application could change the display of available newspapers or magazines so that they appear in a pile after a few issues have accumulated so that they do not unduly clutter the bookshelf display. Archiving of such eBooks (either locally on the device via compression or the like or remotely on a server or other data store) could accompany such a change in display based on age or disuse.
[0267] In one configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to enable eBooks to have links to web pages, inline videos, images, music or other audio clips or the like, which reside remotely from the device but which can be accessed through wireless (and/or wired) communications. In another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to enable an eBook's content to be updated, potentially automatically, for example, if the author or the publisher changes or supplements the ePub, e.g., through the use of embedded dynamic content in an eBook that receives the changed or supplemental content via the internet or other network. In still yet another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to enable a user to electronically chat (e.g., via email or a chat plugin utility) with others about a particular eBook, e.g., similar to a forum, salon or book club or display opportunities (e.g., links, banners, advertisements or the like) for a user to purchase or otherwise obtain digital content (e.g., movie, soundtrack, audiobook or the like) that is complementary to a particular eBook.
[0268] In yet another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to enable a user to listen along and/or read along to an eBook by concurrently presenting, potentially in synchronization, a corresponding audio (or audiovisual) version of that eBook. In one configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to provide a user with intelligent suggestions (e.g., by using a mechanism similar to the "GENIUS" feature of iTunes from Apple, Inc.) for other books or other content that are complementary to a particular eBook.
[0269] In another configuration, the eBook reader application may be configured to provide animated page flipping functionality that responds visually and selectively to swiping a user's finger horizontally across the page, can display a page corner curl (e.g., toward the center of the page) for example in response to a corresponding movement of the user's finger, cause page flipping to occur on other gestures such as finger taps (single or multiple), movement or rotation of the device or the like; implement a "point of no return" threshold in which a flipping page, upon removal of the user's finger, either continues to complete the flip to the next page--e.g., if the user's finger movement on the touch screen has reached a predetermined location on the screen (e.g., the half way point)--or falls back to the previous page display if the user's finger is removed before reaching that point; can simulate ripping pages out of an eBook based on a predetermined gesture; and/or respond to a user's thumb gesture in the direction substantially equal to 45 degrees from the eBook text direction by causing the page to flip. In any or all of these implementations, the eBooks pages can be displayed to the extent desired to comport with the applicable laws of physics associated with physical paper & ink books (e.g., gravity, friction and the like).
[0270] In one configuration, the representation of an electronic bookshelf is configured to distinguish between magazines and books, and also based on the state of books within the electronic bookshelf. For example, the electronic bookshelf may be configured to exchange books between different users. A book that is lent to another user may be "ghosted" to indicate that the book is temporarily unavailable because it is being used by another user while a book that is being borrow from another user may appear with a frosted binding or halo above the book to indicate that the book is available on a temporary basis or has been made available with limited rights. A user then may interact with the ghosted book to retrieve the book, or with the borrowed book to return the book and/or to purchase the book itself from an electronic bookstore.
[0271] The representation of the electronic bookshelf may be customized with a user. For example, an electronic bookshelf may be automatically organized according to a default scheme that presents the library organized according to a particular taxonomy. The user then may rearrange a bookshelf according to personal preferences. Thus, a user may elect to place certain publications in certain locations (e.g., placing a favorite periodical in a specified location on a bookshelf). The user customization may be stored so that a user may invoke one of several locations may be used. A user may use an academic configuration used when engaged in academic pursuits, while using an entertainment configuration used when using the bookshelf to navigate among leisurely content.
[0272] The user may configure an electronic bookshelf to configure individual shelves within the electronic bookshelf. For example, a first bookshelf may include periodicals sorted by frequency of access, while a second shelf includes nonfiction materials sorted by publication date, and a third shelf includes a fiction sorted by popularity as specified by a best seller list.
[0273] A bookshelf may be modified to reflect a theme or motif. For example, a type of used may be used to indicate the theme so that an oak bookshelf is used to present nonfiction content while a walnut bookshelf is used to present classic literature. A newsstand-type shelf may be used to present periodical literature. The bookshelf may be an add in package so that certain content is automatically placed in certain locations of the bookshelf. Thus, the periodical receiving the greatest circulation or page views over the preceding time period may be placed in the top shelf and books within the user's library directed to current trends may be placed alongside the periodical in the top shelf. As trends and Internet viewership changes over time, the selection of particular publications in the specified locations of the shelf also may change with the changing trends. The books may be labeled to indicate which books are newly-purchased and which books represent samples and/or promotional content. The bookshelf also may be modified to surface information relevant to a user's context. Thus, if a bookshelf application receives information that a user is in a particular location, the particular location may be used to showcase those publications relevant to a user's current location. If the user receives information that a user is travelling abroad, a travel publication for the current country may be placed on the user's top shelf. Similarly, if the user is travelling in a city (e.g., Savannah, Ga.), the electronic bookshelf may surface fictional literature associated with that city (e.g., a novel by John Berendt). In yet another example, if the electronic bookshelf receives information that the user is dining or about to dine in a particular establishment, for example, through a mapping application, the bookshelf may place a restaurant guide on the top shelf with a bookmark for the particular restaurant appearing in the book. In addition to placing a publication on a particular shelf, a publication also may be coded with a particular label or ribbon. The electronic bookshelf may indicate that there is a new periodical available and automatically place the updated periodical a location set aside for more current content.
[0274] The bookshelf may include notebooks or lab notebooks with user notes taken during class. The bookshelf also may display electronic books and feature a content view to display additional forms of content (e.g., audio).
[0275] A bookmark may be explicit or implicit. An example of an implicit bookmark may include a reference indicating a portion in a publication as determined by an electronic book reader application to likely represent a portion being viewed by a user. An explicit bookmark may include a location specified by a user as representing an area that the user wishes to return to upon selecting a bookmark. The bookmarks may be presented in a list so that the user may perceive their reading history and interact with the list to navigate to the recently read content. The list also may include a "time spent" viewing so that a user may perceive how much time was spent in each portion. If the publication includes audio that accompanies text, the bookmarks also may include a bookmark that links to the specified audio portion. A publication may include a progress bar separately and/or in association with bookmarks. The progress bark may indicate progress within a chapter or within a publication.
[0276] In one configuration, a user may zoom into an electronic book and still use the same interactive controls to navigate through an electronic book. For example, a user may be zoomed in and enjoying an illustration in a picture book (e.g., an illustrated children's book). In the course of reviewing the picture book, the user may use a gesture that advances to a next page. Using the gesture may inspire an animation which first zooms out and then causes the page to advance. And, even though the user is zoomed into a page, the physical characteristics of the user's gesture in turning the page may be used to foster an animated transition responsive to the physical characteristics. In one setting, the physical characteristics are modeled so that the actual screen size represents the size of the paper that inspires the transition (e.g., a swipe across two inches the screen is represented as a swipe across two inches of paper even though the screen is zoomed). In another setting the physical characteristics are modeled so that the actual screen size is scaled to the size of the paper that inspires the transition (e.g., a swipe across two inches the screen is represented as a swipe across one inch of paper as the screen is zoomed 100%.). The animated transition may inspire a change in the orientation of the electronic book application. A page turn may cause a change in a display from a zoomed in display of a single page to a landscape display of two pages.
[0277] The menus that are presented may be based upon the content that a user is accessing and/or reflect a configuration for the publication. For example, if a user is reading a piece of science fiction, a menu and/or instruction may be configured to present a map that reflects a location of interest where the portion of the story being read is set. The map may be configured to "fly" onto or off of the screen in response to invocation of the menu option and/or type of gesture that is invoked. An electronic book reader application may be configured to present a supplemental control to enable a user to perceive the portion of the display that is being read. For example, a user may run their finger below the portion of the screen that is being read. As the user continues to navigate through an electronic publication, a portion of the screen that is determined to no longer be of interest may be dimmed. A user wishing to resume reading a book may perceive which portion of the screen has been dimmed and begin using the finger tracking to drag their finger below the portion of text where they wish to resume. The electronic book reader application may be configured to maintain a rate of progress through a book so that even if a user has moved their tracking finger to slightly above or below a specified range, so long as the user maintains a specified rate of movement with an index across the surface, the dimmed portion will continue to progress. In addition to a dimming function, the electronic book reader application also may include a highlight function that spotlights an area of interest, for example by using a highlighter or animated halo effect to identify a portion of text of interest.
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2014-01-30 E-book application with multi-document display