Patent ID: 8059099

Claim:
A method for providing input to multiple executable application programs configured to run at the same time on a mobile device, comprising: providing an input area, the input area at least partially spanning a touch surface or button associated with the input device; receiving at at least one first location of the input area an input provided in a particular manner, the manner comprising at least one of a positional input, a directional input, a rubbing input, a pressing input and a pushing input; determining whether the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to a first executable application program running on the mobile device or a second executable application program running on the mobile device, the manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program being different from the manner designated for providing input to the second executable application program; then providing the input to the first executable application program running on the mobile device if determined that the at least one first location and manner of providing the input is a location and manner designated for providing input to the first executable application program; and thereafter providing the input to a second executable application program running on the mobile device if the input is not provided to the first executable application program, wherein the at least one first location of the input area can be used to provide input to multiple applications running at the same time on the mobile device.