Patent ID: 12204747

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first gesture could be termed a second gesture, and, similarly, a second gesture could be termed a first gesture, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of a portable electronic 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 PDA and/or music player functions.

The user interface may include a physical click wheel in addition to a touch screen or a virtual click wheel displayed on the touch screen. A click wheel is a physical user-interface device that may provide navigation commands based on an angular displacement of the wheel or a point of contact with the wheel by a user of the portable electronic device. A click wheel may also be used to provide a user command corresponding to selection of one or more items, for example, when the user of the portable electronic device presses down on at least a portion of the wheel or the center of the wheel. Alternatively, breaking contact with a click wheel image on a touch screen surface may indicate a user command corresponding to selection. For simplicity, in the discussion that follows, a portable electronic device that includes a touch screen is used as an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood, however, that some of the user interfaces and associated processes may be applied to other devices, such as personal computers and laptop computers, which may include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical click wheel, a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The device supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an email application, an instant messaging application, a blogging application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the touch screen. One or more functions of the touch screen 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 screen) of the device may support the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent.

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 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 contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 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 electronic 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, 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.FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating a portable electronic device100with a touch-sensitive display112in accordance with some embodiments. The touch-sensitive display112is sometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience. The device100may include a memory102(which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), a memory controller122, one or more processing units (CPU's)120, a peripherals interface118, RF circuitry108, audio circuitry110, a speaker111, a microphone113, an input/output (I/O) subsystem106, other input or control devices116, and an external port124. The device100may include one or more optical sensors164. These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines103.

It should be appreciated that the device100is only one example of a portable electronic device100, and that the device100may 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 inFIG.1may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory102may 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 memory102by other components of the device100, such as the CPU120and the peripherals interface118, may be controlled by the memory controller122.

The peripherals interface118couples the input and output peripherals of the device to the CPU120and memory102. The one or more processors120run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory102to perform various functions for the device100and to process data.

In some embodiments, the peripherals interface118, the CPU120, and the memory controller122may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip104. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

The RF (radio frequency) circuitry108receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry108converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry108may 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 circuitry108may 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), 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, instant messaging, 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 audio circuitry110, the speaker111, and the microphone113provide an audio interface between a user and the device100. The audio circuitry110receives audio data from the peripherals interface118, converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the speaker111. The speaker111converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry110also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone113from sound waves. The audio circuitry110converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface118for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory102and/or the RF circuitry108by the peripherals interface118. In some embodiments, the audio circuitry110also includes a headset jack (not shown). The headset jack provides an interface between the audio circuitry110and 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).

The I/O subsystem106couples input/output peripherals on the device100, such as the touch screen112and other input/control devices116, to the peripherals interface118. The I/O subsystem106may include a display controller156and one or more input controllers160for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers160receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices116. The other input/control devices116may 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)160may 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,FIG.2) may include an up/down button for volume control of the speaker111and/or the microphone113. The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,206,FIG.2). A quick press of the push button may disengage a lock of the touch screen112or 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. A longer press of the push button (e.g.,206) may turn power to the device100on or off. The user may be able to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen112is used to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards.

The touch-sensitive touch screen112provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. The display controller156receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the touch screen112. The touch screen112displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects, further details of which are described below.

A touch screen112has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. The touch screen112and the display controller156(along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory102) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on the touch screen112and 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 embodiment, a point of contact between a touch screen112and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.

The touch screen112may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, or LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other embodiments. The touch screen112and the display controller156may 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 screen112. A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen112may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,932 (Westerman), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, a touch screen112displays visual output from the portable electronic device100, whereas touch sensitive tablets do not provide visual output. The touch screen112may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen in the display system has a resolution of approximately 168 dpi. The user may make contact with the touch screen112using 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 the actions desired by the user.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen112may be as described in the following applications: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,” filed on May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed on May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jul. 30, 2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jan. 18, 2005; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input Device Placement On A Touch Screen User Interface,” filed on Sep. 16, 2005; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,700, “Operation Of A Computer With A Touch Screen Interface,” filed on Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen Virtual Keyboard,” filed on Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,” filed on Mar. 3, 2006. All of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, the device100may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the touch screen112or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the portable electronic device100may include a physical or virtual click wheel as an input control device116. A user may navigate among and interact with one or more graphical objects (henceforth referred to as icons) displayed in the touch screen112by 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 controller160as well as one or more of the modules and/or sets of instructions in memory102. For a virtual click wheel, the click wheel and click wheel controller may be part of the touch screen112and the display controller156, 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 device100also includes a power system162for powering the various components. The power system162may 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 electronic devices.

The device100may also include one or more optical sensors164.FIG.1shows an optical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller158in I/O subsystem106. The optical sensor164may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. The optical sensor164receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module143(sometimes called a camera module), the optical sensor164may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of the device100, opposite the touch screen display112on 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 sensor164can be changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a single optical sensor164may be used along with the touch screen display for both video conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition.

The device100may also include one or more proximity sensors166.FIG.1shows a proximity sensor166coupled to the peripherals interface118. Alternately, the proximity sensor166may be coupled to an input controller160in the I/O subsystem106. The proximity sensor166may perform as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839, “Proximity Detector in Handheld Device,” filed Sep. 30, 2005, and Ser. No. 11/240,788, “Proximity Detector in Handheld Device,” filed Sep. 30, 2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables the touch screen112when 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 some embodiments, the software components stored in memory102may include an operating system126, 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.

The operating system126(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.

The communication module128facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports124and also includes various software components for handling data received by the RF circuitry108and/or the external port124. The external port124(e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.) devices.

The contact/motion module130may detect contact with the touch screen112(in conjunction with the display controller156) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). The contact/motion module130includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred, determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch screen112, and determining if the contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact has ceased). Determining movement of the point of contact 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 embodiments, the contact/motion module130and the display controller156also detects contact on a touchpad. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module130and the controller160detects contact on a click wheel116.

The graphics module132includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on the touch screen112, 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.

The text input module134, which may be a component of graphics module132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts module137, email client module140, IM module141, blogging142, browser module147, and any other application that needs text input).

The GPS module135determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone module138for use in location-based dialing, to camera module143and/or blogger142as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

The applications136may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:a contacts module137(sometimes called an address book or contact list);a telephone module138;a video conferencing module139;an email client module140;an instant messaging (IM) module141;a blogging module142;a camera module143for still and/or video images;an image management module144;a video player module145;a music player module146;a browser module147;a calendar module148;widget modules149, which may include weather widget149-1, stocks widget149-2, calculator widget149-3, alarm clock widget149-4, dictionary widget149-5, and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets149-6;widget creator module150for making user-created widgets149-6; and/orsearch module151.

Examples of other applications136that may be stored in memory102include memo pad and other word processing applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen112, display controller156, contact module130, graphics module132, text input module134, and camera module143, the image management module144may be used to arrange, modify or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes using image management module144are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry108, touch screen112, display system controller156, contact module130, graphics module132, and text input module134, the browser module147may 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. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes using browser module147are described further below.

Note that the above identified modules and applications (including the image management module144and the browser module147) correspond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functions described above. 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 embodiments. In some embodiments, memory102may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory102may store additional modules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, the device100is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen112and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input/control device for operation of the device100, the number of physical input/control devices (such as pushbuttons, dials, and the like) on the device100may be reduced.

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 embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates the device100to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on the device100. In such embodiments, the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some other embodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or other physical input/control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG.2illustrates a portable electronic device100having a touch screen112in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen may display one or more graphics. 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 fingers202(not drawn to scale in the figure) or a stylus (not shown 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 (e.g., from left to right, or right to left, or back-and-forth in both directions; upward, or downward, or upward and 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 device100. In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture with that sweeps over an application icon may not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap. In other words, the portable electronic device100interprets the meaning of a gesture and acts accordingly after considering which application or module is in use at the moment.

The device100may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button204. As described previously, the menu button204may be used to navigate to any application136in a set of applications that may be executed on the device100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI in touch screen112.

In one embodiment, the device100includes a touch screen112, a menu button204, a push button206for powering the device on/off and locking the device, and volume adjustment button(s)208. The push button206may 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 device100also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through the microphone113.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) and associated processes that may be implemented on a portable electronic device100.

FIG.3illustrates an exemplary user interface for unlocking a portable electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface300includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:Unlock image302that is moved with a finger gesture to unlock the device;Arrow304that provides a visual cue to the unlock gesture;Channel306that provides additional cues to the unlock gesture;Time308;Day310;Date312; andWallpaper image314.

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 image302) while the device is in a user-interface lock state. The device moves the unlock image302in 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 channel306. 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 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.

FIG.4illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu of applications on a portable electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface400includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:Signal strength indicator402for wireless communication;Time404;Battery status indicator406;Tray408with icons for frequently used applications, such as:Phone138;Email client140, which may include an indicator410of the number of unread emails;Browser147; andMusic player146; andIcons for other applications, such as:IM141;Image management144;Camera143;Video player145;Weather149-1;Stocks149-2;Blog142;Calendar148;Calculator149-3;Alarm clock149-4;Dictionary149-5; andUser-created widget149-6.

In some embodiments, UI400displays all of the available applications136on 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 button204and then activating a desired application (e.g., activating the image management module144by a finger tap412or other finger gesture on the icon corresponding to the application). Activating the desired application leads to another user interface corresponding to the user-selected application.

FIG.5illustrates an exemplary user interface for viewing photo albums in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface500includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:402,404, and406, as described above;Graphics504, e.g., thumbnail images of the first picture or a user-selected picture in the corresponding albums;Album names506;Selection icons508that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates display of the corresponding album (e.g., UI600,FIG.6); andSettings icon510, that brings up a settings menu when activated by a user gesture (e.g., a tap gesture).

FIG.6illustrates an exemplary user interface for viewing an album in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface1000includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:402,404, and406, as described above;Photo albums icon602that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates transfer to the photo albums UI (e.g., UI500);Thumbnail images606of images in the corresponding album;Play icon608that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates a slide show of the images in the album;

In some embodiments, the user may scroll through the thumbnails606using vertically upward/downward gestures610on the touch screen. A stationary gesture on a particular thumbnail (e.g., a finger tap612on thumbnail606-11) initiates transfer of the application to a different mode, i.e., an enlarged display of the corresponding image (e.g., UI700,FIG.7).

FIG.7illustrates an exemplary user interface for viewing enlarged images in an album in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, user interface700includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:402,404, and406, as described above;Album name icon702that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates transfer to the corresponding album UI (e.g., UI600);Image706;Additional options icon708that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates transfer to a UI with additional options for use of image706;Previous image icon710that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture722on the icon) initiates display of the previous image in the album (e.g.,606-10);Play icon712that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture on the icon) initiates a slide show of the images in the album; andNext image icon714that when activated (e.g., by a finger gesture724on the icon) initiates display of the next image in the album (e.g.,606-12).

In some embodiments, selecting the previous or next image icon is not the only way of displaying the previous or next image in the album. For example, the user can initiate viewing of the previous image by making a tap gesture718on the left side of the image or making a swipe gesture716from left to right on the image. The image706moves off screen to the right as the previous image moves on screen from the left. Similarly, the user can initiate viewing of the next image by making a tap gesture720on the right side of the image or making a swipe gesture716from right to left on the image. The image706moves off screen to the left as the next image moves on screen from the right.

With multiple ways to perform the same task, the portable electronic device enables a user to choose whichever the user prefers, thereby making the photo management simpler and more intuitive.

FIGS.8A through8Dillustrate exemplary user interfaces for a browser in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, user interface800A includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:402,404, and406, as described above;Previous page icon802that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of the previous web page;Web page name804;Next page icon806that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of the next web page;URL (Uniform Resource Locator) entry box808for inputting URLs of web pages;Refresh icon810that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates a refresh of the web page;Web page812or other structured document, which includes one or more blocks814of text content and other graphics (e.g., images);Settings icon816that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of a settings menu for the browser;Bookmarks icon818that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of a bookmarks list or menu for the browser;Add bookmark icon820that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the icon) initiates display of a UI for adding bookmarks; andNew window icon822that when activated (e.g., by a finger lap on the icon) initiates display of a UI for adding new windows to the browser (e.g., UI800D,FIG.8D).

In some embodiments, in response to a predefined gesture by the user on a block814(e.g., a single tap gesture or a double tap gesture), the portable device initiates a predefined mode of the browser application that, e.g., causes the block to be enlarged and centered (or substantially centered) in the web page display. For example, in response to a single tap gesture823on block814-5, block814-5may be enlarged and centered in the display, as shown in UI800B,FIG.8B.

In some embodiments, the width of the user-selected block is scaled to fil the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the width of the block is scaled to fill the touch screen display with a predefined amount of padding along the sides of the display. In some embodiments, a zooming animation of the block is displayed during enlargement of the block. Similarly, in response to a single tap gesture825on block814-2, block814-2may be enlarged with a zooming animation and two-dimensionally scrolled to the center of the display (not shown).

In some embodiments, the device analyzes the render tree of the web page812to determine the blocks814in the web page. In some embodiments, a block814corresponds to a render node that is: a replaced inline, a block, an inline block, or an inline table.

In some embodiments, in response to the same predefined gesture by the user on a block814(e.g., a single tap gesture or a double tap gesture) that is already enlarged and centered, the enlargement and/or centering is substantially or completely reversed. As shown in the UI800B (FIG.8B), in response to a single tap gesture829on block814-5, the web page image may zoom out and return to UI800A,FIG.8A.

In some embodiments, in response to a predefined gesture (e.g., a single tap gesture or a double tap gesture) by the user on a block814that is already enlarged but not centered, the block is centered (or substantially centered) in the web page display. For example, in response to a single tap gesture827on block814-4, block814-4may be centered (or substantially centered) in the web page display. Similarly, in response to a single tap gesture835on block814-6, block814-6may be centered (or substantially centered) in the web page display. Thus, for a web page display that is already enlarged, in response to a predefined gesture, the device may display in an intuitive manner a series of blocks that the user wants to view. This same gesture may initiate different actions in different contexts (e.g., (1) zooming and/or enlarging a block in combination with scrolling when the block is displayed in reduced size, and (2) reversing the enlargement and/or centering if the block is already centered and enlarged).

In some embodiments, in response to a substantially vertical upward (or downward) swipe gesture828by the user, the web page (or, more generally, an electronic document) may scroll one-dimensionally upward (or downward) in the vertical direction.

In some embodiments, in response to a multi-touch841and843rotation gesture by the user, the web page may be rotated from portrait viewing (UI800B,FIG.8B) to landscape viewing (UT800C,FIG.8C), even if the amount of rotation in the multi-touch841and843rotation gesture is substantially different from 90°. Similarly, in response to a multi-touch845and847rotation gesture by the user, the web page may be rotated back from landscape viewing to portrait viewing, even if the amount of rotation in the multi-touch845and847rotation gesture is substantially different from 90°.

In some embodiments, multi-touch841and843rotation is performed by a user performing two substantially simultaneous finger contact rotations on or near the touch screen112within the display area occupied by the web page (e.g., on block814-5).

Thus, in response to imprecise gestures by the user, precise movements of graphics occur. The device behaves in the manner desired by the user despite inaccurate input by the user. Note that the gestures described above for UI800B, which has a portrait view, are also applicable to UIs with a landscape view (e.g., UI800C) so that the user can choose whichever view the user prefers for web browsing.

FIG.8Ddepicts a UI800D for adding new windows to an application, such as the browser147. For example, in response to a user finger tap848on the New Window icon822, UI800D displays an application (e.g., the browser147) in a predefined mode, which includes a displayed window (e.g., web page812-2) and at least one partially hidden window (e.g., web pages812-1and812-3and possibly other web pages that are completely hidden off-screen). UT800D also displays an icon for adding windows to the application (e.g., new window or new page icon836). Upon detecting activation of the icon836for adding windows, the browser adds a window to the application (e.g., a new window for a new web page812).

Upon detecting a gesture on the touch screen display, a displayed window in the application is moved off the display and a hidden window is moved onto the display. For example, in response to detecting a tap gesture849on the left side of the screen, the window with web page812-2moves partially off-screen to the right to occupy the position left by the window with web page812-3, which may move completely off-screen. Meanwhile, the partially hidden window with web page812-1moves to the center of the display, and another completely hidden window with a web page (not shown) may move partially onto the display. Alternatively, a left-to-right swipe gesture851on the touch screen may achieve the same effect.

Conversely, in response to detecting a tap gesture853on the right side of the screen, the window with web page812-2moves partially to the left and pushes the window with web page812-1off the display. Meanwhile, the partially hidden window with web page812-3moves to the center of the display, and another completely hidden window with a web page (not shown) may move partially onto the display. Alternatively, a right-to-left swipe gesture851may achieve the same effect.

In some embodiments, the tap gestures849or853may or may not be performed on (or within) the corresponding windows812-1or812-3. The portable device operates in the same manner mentioned above as long as the tap gestures are within a predefined range from the corresponding windows.

In some embodiments, in response to a tap or other predefined gesture on a delete icon834, the corresponding window812is deleted. In some embodiments, after the user-selected window is deleted from the display, a neighboring window moves in from the left or right to occupy the spot used to be occupied by the deleted window. In some embodiments, in response to a tap or other predefined gesture on Done icon838, the window in the center of the display (e.g.,812-2) is enlarged to fill the screen. The operations described above in connection with UI800D, which has a landscape view, are also applicable to UIs with a landscape view (e.g., UI800A) so that the user can choose whichever view the user prefers for web browsing.

A comparison between the image management application (e.g., UI700,FIG.7) and the browser application (e.g., UI800D,FIG.8D) indicates that both applications have the feature of performing the same set of operations in response to different types of user gestures.FIG.9is a generalized flowchart illustrating a process for performing a predefined operation upon detecting multiple types of user gestures on the portable electronic device's touch screen in accordance with some embodiments.

Upon a user selection of an icon in an application UI, the device displays a set of objects associated with the application on its touch screen (902). Depending on the application, the set of objects may be a set of thumbnail images (UI600,FIG.6), browsing windows, web page blocks, or the like.

Upon detecting a user selection of one of the objects (904), the device displays a specific, user-selected object (e.g., an enlarged image) on the touch screen (906) and then starts monitoring user gestures on the touch screen (908).

If the user gesture is a horizontal/vertical finger swipe on the touch screen (910), a finger tap on an edge of the touch screen (912), or a finger tap on the previous/next object icon (914), the device identifies in the set the previous or next object that is chosen by the user (916) and displays the previous or next object on the touch screen in replacement of the current object on the display (918,920).

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.