PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9442654-B2
Application Number: US-201314094735-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Apparatus and method for conditionally enabling or disabling soft buttons

Abstract:
A method of operating a multifunction device includes displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including one or more unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons. The method further includes detecting a first input with a first button at a first time; detecting a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time, where the second button is a conditionally enabled button; and in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time: in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activating the second button; and in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is below the predefined threshold, preventing the second button from being activated.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multifunction device, comprising:
 a touch screen display; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including one or more unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the one or more unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed; 
 detecting a first input with a first button at a first time; 
 detecting a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time, wherein the second button is a conditionally enabled button; and 
 in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time:
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activating the second button; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is below the predefined threshold, preventing the second button from being activated. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard. 
     
     
       7. A method, comprising:
 at a multifunction device with a touch screen display:
 displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including one or more unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the one or more unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed; 
 detecting a first input with a first button at a first time; 
 detecting a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time, wherein the second button is a conditionally enabled button; and 
 in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time:
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activating the second button; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is below the predefined threshold, preventing the second button from being activated. 
 
 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:
 display a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including one or more unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, wherein each respective unconditionally enabled button of the one or more unconditionally enabled buttons is always responsive to an activation input on the respective unconditionally enabled button while the soft keyboard is displayed; 
 detect a first input with a first button at a first time; 
 detect a second input with a second button at a second time after the first time, wherein the second button is a conditionally enabled button; and 
 in response to the detecting the second input with the second button at the second time:
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, activate the second button; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the period of time between the first time and the second time is below the predefined threshold, prevent the second button from being activated. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for hiding the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       15. The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard. 
     
     
       16. The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, and wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language. 
     
     
       17. The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers and symbols keyboard. 
     
     
       18. The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more conditionally enabled buttons comprise a button for switching from a numbers and symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/788,283, filed on May 26, 2010, which is a continuation of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2010/020263, filed Jan. 6, 2010, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces, including but not limited to electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays that can conditionally activate or deactivate soft buttons on a displayed user interface, such as soft keys or other objects on a soft keyboard. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touch pads and touch screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display. 
     Exemplary manipulations include entering characters using one or more soft keyboards. A user may need to perform such manipulations on user interface objects in any program or application where character input is needed. 
     But existing methods for using such keyboards are cumbersome and inefficient. For example, buttons for hiding the keyboard or switching to a different language keyboard can be unintentionally activated while typing on the keyboard, which makes the text entry experience tedious and creates a significant cognitive burden on a user. In addition, some conventional methods take longer than necessary to complete a task, thereby wasting a user&#39;s time and a device&#39;s power reserve, which can be particularly important consideration for battery-operated devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, there is a need for computing devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for activating buttons on a soft keyboard. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for activating buttons on a soft keyboard. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges. 
     The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for computing devices with touch-sensitive displays (also known, for example, as “touch screens” or “touch screen displays”) are reduced by the disclosed devices. In one example, a keyboard selection button in a soft keyboard is temporarily disabled in response to activation of certain other soft keyboard buttons (e.g., any of the letter buttons in the displayed soft keyboard), and is otherwise enabled for activation. By conditionally disabling the keyboard selection button, faster, more efficient typing by the user is enabled, and accidental activations of the keyboard selection button are avoided. Another example of a conditionally enabled button that facilitates faster and more efficient typing by the user is a keyboard hiding button. Typically, users do not want to hide a soft keyboard while actively typing, and therefore making the keyboard hiding button (whether displayed within a soft keyboard or elsewhere within a user interface on a touch-sensitive display) a conditionally enabled button facilitates faster and more efficient typing by the user, which in turn saves energy and a device&#39;s power reserve. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a multifunction device with a touch screen display. The method includes displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons, detecting a first input with a first button at a first time, and responding to detecting the first input by activating the first button. The method further includes detecting a second input with a second button at a second time, and responding to detection of the second input with the second button at the second time. When the first button and second button are both unconditionally enabled, the method activates the second button. However, when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is a conditionally enabled button, the method conditionally disables the second button. In particular, when the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold, the method enables activation of the second button, and when the period of time between the first time and the second time is below the predefined threshold, the method disables activation of the second button. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a multifunction device with a touch screen display. The method includes displaying a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons detecting a first input with a respective unconditionally enabled button at a first time, and responding to detection of the first input at the first time by activating the respective unconditionally enabled button, and disabling at least one of the conditionally enabled buttons for a predefined period of time commencing from the first time. The method further includes detecting a second input with a conditionally enabled button disabled in response to the first input, the second input being detected at a second time that is within the predefined period of time, and responding to detection of the second input at the second time by disregarding the second input. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device includes a touch screen display, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a touch screen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of the elements displayed in any of the methods described above, which are updated in response to inputs, as described in any of the methods above. In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed by a multifunction device with a touch screen display, cause the device to perform the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, a multifunction device includes: a touch screen display; and means for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, an information processing apparatus, for use in a multifunction device with a touch screen display, includes means for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. 
     Thus, multifunction devices with touch screen displays are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for activating keys, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for activating keys. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices with touch-sensitive displays in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 1C  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu of applications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 5A-5I  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for activating buttons in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of activating buttons in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of activating buttons in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     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 present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present 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 contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. 
     The terminology used in the description of the 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 “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “if” 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 computing devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, 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 embodiments 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 embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touch pad). 
     In the discussion that follows, 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. 
     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. 
     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 to the user. 
     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 in their entireties. 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 device may utilize common and/or different keyboard embodiments. Thus, the keyboard embodiment used may be tailored to at least some of the applications. In some embodiments, one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user. For example, one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user based on a word usage history (lexicography, slang, individual usage) of the respective user. Some of the keyboard embodiments may be adjusted to reduce a probability of a user error when selecting one or more icons, and thus one or more symbols, when using the soft keyboard embodiments. 
     Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with touch-sensitive displays.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices  100  with touch-sensitive displays  112  in accordance with some embodiments. 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. Device  100  may include memory  102  (which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller  122 , one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  120 , peripherals interface  118 , RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , input/output (I/O) subsystem  106 , other input or control devices  116 , and external port  124 . Device  100  may include one or more optical sensors  164 . These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  103 . 
     It should be appreciated that device  100  is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device  100  may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  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. 
     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 device  100 , such as CPU  120  and the peripherals interface  118 , may be controlled by memory controller  122 . 
     Peripherals interface  118  can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU  120  and memory  102 . The one or more processors  120  run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory  102  to perform various functions for device  100  and to process data. 
     In some embodiments, peripherals interface  118 , CPU  120 , and memory controller  122  may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip  104 . In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips. 
     RF (radio frequency) circuitry  108  receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  108  converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  108  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. 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. 
     Audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , and microphone  113  provide an audio interface between a user and device  100 . Audio circuitry  110  receives audio data from peripherals interface  118 , converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker  111 . Speaker  111  converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry  110  also receives electrical signals converted by microphone  113  from sound waves. Audio circuitry  110  converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface  118  for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory  102  and/or RF circuitry  108  by peripherals interface  118 . In some embodiments, audio circuitry  110  also includes a headset jack (e.g.,  212 ,  FIG. 2 ). The headset jack provides an interface between 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). 
     I/O subsystem  106  couples input/output peripherals on device  100 , such as touch screen  112  and other input control devices  116 , to peripherals interface  118 . I/O subsystem  106  may include 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 embodiments, input controller(s)  160  may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g.,  208 ,  FIG. 2 ) may include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  111  and/or microphone  113 . 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 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 device  100  on or off. The user may be able to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. Touch screen  112  is used to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards. 
     Touch-sensitive display  112  provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller  156  receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen  112 . Touch screen  112  displays visual output to the user. The visual output 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. 
     Touch screen  112  has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen  112  and display controller  156  (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  102 ) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen  112  and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen  112  and the user corresponds to a finger of the user. 
     Touch screen  112  may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other embodiments. Touch screen  112  and 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 touch screen  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone® and iPod Touch® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch screen  112  may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive touchpads described in the following U.S. patents: 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 in its entirety. However, touch screen  112  displays visual output from portable device  100 , whereas touch sensitive touchpads do not provide visual output. 
     A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of 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. All of these applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     Touch screen  112  may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen  112  using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user. 
     In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device  100  may 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 touch screen  112  or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  may include a physical or virtual wheel (e.g., a click wheel) as input control device  116 . A user may navigate among and interact with one or more graphical objects (e.g., icons) displayed in 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 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 touch screen  112  and display controller  156 , respectively. For a virtual click wheel, the click wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object that appears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to user interaction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual click wheel is displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device and operated by user contact with the touch screen. 
     Device  100  also includes power system  162  for powering the various components. 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. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more optical sensors  164 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller  158  in I/O subsystem  106 . Optical sensor  164  may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. 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 imaging module  143  (also called a camera module), optical sensor  164  may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of device  100 , opposite 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 embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user&#39;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 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. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more proximity sensors  166 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show proximity sensor  166  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, proximity sensor  166  may be coupled to input controller  160  in I/O subsystem  106 . Proximity sensor  166  may perform as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839, “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device”; Ser. No. 11/240,788, “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device”; Ser. No. 11/620,702, “Using Ambient Light Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output”; Ser. No. 11/586,862, “Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices”; and Ser. No. 11/638,251, “Methods And Systems For Automatic Configuration Of Peripherals,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables touch screen  112  when the multifunction device is placed near the user&#39;s ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). 
     Device  100  may also include one or more accelerometers  168 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show accelerometer  168  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, accelerometer  168  may be coupled to an input controller  160  in I/O subsystem  106 . Accelerometer  168  may perform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059, “Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable Electronic Devices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, “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 embodiments, 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. Device  100  optionally includes, in addition to accelerometer(s)  168 , a magnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory  102  include operating system  126 , communication module (or set of instructions)  128 , contact/motion module (or set of instructions)  130 , graphics module (or set of instructions)  132 , text input module (or set of instructions)  134 , Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions)  135 , and applications (or sets of instructions)  136 . Furthermore, in some embodiments memory  102  stores device/global internal state  157 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3 . Device/global internal state  157  includes one or more of: active application state, indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicating what applications, views or other information occupy various regions of touch screen display  112 ; sensor state, including information obtained from the device&#39;s various sensors and input control devices  116 ; and location information concerning the device&#39;s location and/or attitude. 
     Operating system  126  (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components. 
     Communication module  128  facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports  124  and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry  108  and/or external port  124 . External port  124  (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices. 
     Contact/motion module  130  may detect contact with touch screen  112  (in conjunction with display controller  156 ) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module  130  includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module  130  receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, 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, contact/motion module  130  and display controller  156  detects contact on a touchpad. In some embodiments, contact/motion module  130  and controller  160  detects contact on a click wheel. 
     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 (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event. 
     Graphics module  132  includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen  112  or other display, including components for changing the 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. 
     In some embodiments, graphics module  132  stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module  132  receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller  156 . 
     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). 
     GPS module  135  determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone  138  for use in location-based dialing, to camera  143  as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets). 
     Applications  136  may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
         contacts module  137  (sometimes called an address book or contact list);   telephone module  138 ;   video conferencing module  139 ;   e-mail client module  140 ;   instant messaging (IM) module  141 ;   workout support module  142 ;   camera module  143  for still and/or video images;   image management module  144 ;   video player module  145 ;   music player module  146 ;   browser module  147 ;   calendar module  148 ;   widget modules  149 , which may include one or more of: weather widget  149 - 1 , stocks widget  149 - 2 , calculator widget  149 - 3 , alarm clock widget  149 - 4 , dictionary widget  149 - 5 , and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets  149 - 6 ;   widget creator module  150  for making user-created widgets  149 - 6 ;   search module  151 ;   video and music player module  152 , which merges video player module  145  and music player module  146 ;   notes module  153 ;   map module  154 ; and/or   online video module  155 .       

     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. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , contacts module  137  may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state  192  of contacts module  137  in memory  102  or memory  370 ), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone  138 , video conference  139 , e-mail  140 , or IM  141 ; and so forth. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , telephone module  138  may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book  137 , modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , optical sensor  164 , optical sensor controller  158 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , contact list  137 , and telephone module  138 , videoconferencing module  139  includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140  includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module  144 , e-mail client module  140  makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module  143 . 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , the instant messaging module  141  includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , GPS module  135 , map module  154 , and music player module  146 , workout support module  142  includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , optical sensor(s)  164 , optical sensor controller  158 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and image management module  144 , camera module  143  includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory  102 , modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory  102 . 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and camera module  143 , image management module  144  includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , audio circuitry  110 , and speaker  111 , video player module  145  includes executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen  112  or on an external, connected display via external port  124 ). 
     In 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 , music player module  146  includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files. In some embodiments, device  100  may include the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , browser module  147  includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140 , and browser module  147 , calendar module  148  includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and browser module  147 , widget modules  149  are mini-applications that 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 embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and browser module  147 , the widget creator module  150  may be used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget). 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , search module  151  includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory  102  that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , notes module  153  includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , GPS module  135 , and browser module  147 , map module  154  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) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , RF circuitry  108 , text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140 , and browser module  147 , online video module  155  includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port  124 ), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module  141 , rather than e-mail client module  140 , is used to send a link to a particular online video. 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, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     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 embodiments. 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. 1B ). In some embodiments, 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. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device  100 , the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device  100  may 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 device  100  to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on device  100 . 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. 1C  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  102  (in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) or  370  ( FIG. 3 ) includes event sorter  170  (e.g., in operating system  126 ) and a respective application  136 - 1  (e.g., any of the aforementioned applications  137 - 151 ,  155 ,  380 - 390 ). 
     Event sorter  170  receives event information and determines the application  136 - 1  and application view  191  of application  136 - 1  to which to deliver the event information. Event sorter  170  includes event monitor  171  and event dispatcher module  174 . In some embodiments, application  136 - 1  includes application internal state  192 , which indicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch sensitive display  112  when the application is active or executing. In some embodiments, device/global internal state  157  is used by event sorter  170  to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, and application internal state  192  is used by event sorter  170  to determine application views  191  to which to deliver event information. 
     In some embodiments, application internal state  192  includes additional information, such as one or more of: resume information to be used when application  136 - 1  resumes execution, user interface state information that indicates information being displayed or that is ready for display by application  136 - 1 , a state queue for enabling the user to go back to a prior state or view of application  136 - 1 , and a redo/undo queue of previous actions taken by the user. 
     Event monitor  171  receives event information from peripherals interface  118 . Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., a user touch on touch-sensitive display  112 , as part of a multi-touch gesture). Peripherals interface  118  transmits information it receives from I/O subsystem  106  or a sensor, such as proximity sensor  166 , accelerometer(s)  168 , and/or microphone  113  (through audio circuitry  110 ). Information that peripherals interface  118  receives from I/O subsystem  106  includes information from touch-sensitive display  112  or a touch-sensitive surface. 
     In some embodiments, event monitor  171  sends requests to the peripherals interface  118  at predetermined intervals. In response, peripherals interface  118  transmits event information. In other embodiments, peripheral interface  118  transmits event information only when there is a significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predetermined noise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration). 
     In some embodiments, event sorter  170  also includes a hit view determination module  172  and/or an active event recognizer determination module  173 . 
     Hit view determination module  172  provides software procedures for determining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views, when touch sensitive display  112  displays more than one view. Views are made up of controls and other elements that a user can see on the display. 
     Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is a set of views, sometimes herein called application views or user interface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-based gestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) in which a touch is detected may correspond to programmatic levels within a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example, the lowest level view in which a touch is detected may be called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs may be determined based, at least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture. 
     Hit view determination module  172  receives information related to sub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multiple views organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module  172  identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which should handle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowest level view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the first sub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potential event). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determination module, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view. 
     Active event recognizer determination module  173  determines which view or views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determination module  173  determines that only the hit view should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizer determination module  173  determines that all views that include the physical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, and therefore determines that all actively involved views should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touch sub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with one particular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain as actively involved views. 
     Event dispatcher module  174  dispatches the event information to an event recognizer (e.g., event recognizer  180 ). In embodiments including active event recognizer determination module  173 , event dispatcher module  174  delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined by active event recognizer determination module  173 . In some embodiments, event dispatcher module  174  stores in an event queue the event information, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module  182 . 
     In some embodiments, operating system  126  includes event sorter  170 . Alternatively, application  136 - 1  includes event sorter  170 . In yet other embodiments, event sorter  170  is a stand-alone module, or a part of another module stored in memory  102 , such as contact/motion module  130 . 
     In some embodiments, application  136 - 1  includes a plurality of event handlers  190  and one or more application views  191 , each of which includes instructions for handling touch events that occur within a respective view of the application&#39;s user interface. Each application view  191  of the application  136 - 1  includes one or more event recognizers  180 . Typically, a respective application view  191  includes a plurality of event recognizers  180 . In other embodiments, one or more of event recognizers  180  are part of a separate module, such as a user interface kit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application  136 - 1  inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respective event handler  190  includes one or more of: data updater  176 , object updater  177 , GUI updater  178 , and/or event data  179  received from event sorter  170 . Event handler  190  may utilize or call data updater  176 , object updater  177  or GUI updater  178  to update the application internal state  192 . Alternatively, one or more of the application views  191  includes one or more respective event handlers  190 . Also, in some embodiments, one or more of data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178  are included in a respective application view  191 . 
     A respective event recognizer  180  receives event information (e.g., event data  179 ) from event sorter  170 , and identifies an event from the event information. Event recognizer  180  includes event receiver  182  and event comparator  184 . In some embodiments, event recognizer  180  also includes at least a subset of: metadata  183 , and event delivery instructions  188  (which may include sub-event delivery instructions). 
     Event receiver  182  receives event information from event sorter  170 . The event information includes information about a sub-event, for example, a touch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the event information also includes additional information, such as location of the sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch the event information may also include speed and direction of the sub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the device from one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event information includes corresponding information about the current orientation (also called device attitude) of the device. 
     Event comparator  184  compares the event information to predefined event or sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines an event or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event or sub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator  184  includes event definitions  186 . Event definitions  186  contain definitions of events (e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event  1  ( 187 - 1 ), event  2  ( 187 - 2 ), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events in an event  187  include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touch movement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, the definition for event  1  ( 187 - 1 ) is a double tap on a displayed object. The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition for event  2  ( 187 - 2 ) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, for example, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitive display  112 , and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments, the event also includes information for one or more associated event handlers  190 . 
     In some embodiments, event definition  187  includes a definition of an event for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, event comparator  184  performs a hit test to determine which user-interface object is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an application view in which three user-interface objects are displayed on touch-sensitive display  112 , when a touch is detected on touch-sensitive display  112 , event comparator  184  performs a hit test to determine which of the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch (sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respective event handler  190 , the event comparator uses the result of the hit test to determine which event handler  190  should be activated. For example, event comparator  184  selects an event handler associated with the sub-event and the object triggering the hit test. 
     In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event  187  also includes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event information until after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-events does or does not correspond to the event recognizer&#39;s event type. 
     When a respective event recognizer  180  determines that the series of sub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions  186 , the respective event recognizer  180  enters an event impossible, event failed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequent sub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other event recognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue to track and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture. 
     In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  includes metadata  183  with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how the event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to actively involved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata  183  includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how event recognizers may interact with one another. In some embodiments, metadata  183  includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varying levels in the view or programmatic hierarchy. 
     In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  activates event handler  190  associated with an event when one or more particular sub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  delivers event information associated with the event to event handler  190 . Activating an event handler  190  is distinct from sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view. In some embodiments, event recognizer  180  throws a flag associated with the recognized event, and event handler  190  associated with the flag catches the flag and performs a predefined process. 
     In some embodiments, event delivery instructions  188  include sub-event delivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-event without activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event delivery instructions deliver event information to event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved views receive the event information and perform a predetermined process. 
     In some embodiments, data updater  176  creates and updates data used in application  136 - 1 . For example, data updater  176  updates the telephone number used in contacts module  137 , or stores a video file used in video player module  145 . In some embodiments, object updater  177  creates and updates objects used in application  136 - 1 . For example, object updater  176  creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of a user-interface object. GUI updater  178  updates the GUI. For example, GUI updater  178  prepares display information and sends it to graphics module  132  for display on a touch-sensitive display. 
     In some embodiments, event handler(s)  190  includes or has access to data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178 . In some embodiments, data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178  are included in a single module of a respective application  136 - 1  or application view  191 . In other embodiments, they are included in two or more software modules. 
     It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding event handling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies to other forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices  100  with input-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens, e.g., coordinating mouse movement and mouse button presses with or without single or multiple keyboard presses or holds, user movements taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads, pen stylus inputs, movement of the device, oral instructions, detected eye movements, biometric inputs, and/or any combination thereof, which may be utilized as inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to be recognized. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portable multifunction device  100  having a touch screen  112  in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen may display one or more graphics within user interface (UI)  200 . In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making contact or touching the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers  202  (not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses  203  (not drawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In some embodiments, the contact may include a gesture, such as one or more taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with device  100 . In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an application icon may not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button  204 . As described previously, menu button  204  may be used to navigate to any application  136  in a set of applications that may be executed on device  100 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen  112 . 
     In one embodiment, device  100  includes touch screen  112 , menu button  204 , push button  206  for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s)  208 , Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot  210 , head set jack  212 , and docking/charging external port  124 . Push button  206  may be used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device  100  also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone  113 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments. Device  300  need not be portable. In some embodiments, device  300  is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device (such as a child&#39;s learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device (e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device  300  typically includes one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  310 , one or more network or other communications interfaces  360 , memory  370 , and one or more communication buses  320  for interconnecting these components. Communication buses  320  may include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Device  300  includes input/output (I/O) interface  330  comprising display  340 , which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface  330  also may include a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)  350  and touchpad  355 . Memory  370  includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory  370  may optionally include one or more storage devices remotely located from CPU(s)  310 . In some embodiments, memory  370  stores programs, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ), or a subset thereof. Furthermore, memory  370  may store additional programs, modules, and data structures not present in memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100 . For example, memory  370  of device  300  may store drawing module  380 , presentation module  382 , word processing module  384 , website creation module  386 , disk authoring module  388 , and/or spreadsheet module  390 , while memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may not store these modules. 
     Each of the above identified elements in  FIG. 3  may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of the above identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (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, memory  370  may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  370  may store additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) that may be implemented on portable multifunction device  100 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu of applications on portable multifunction device  100  in accordance with some embodiments. Similar user interfaces may be implemented on device  300 . In some embodiments, user interface  400 A includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:
         Signal strength indicator(s)  402  for wireless communication(s), such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;   Time  404 ;   Bluetooth indicator  405 ;   Battery status indicator  406 ;   Tray  408  with icons for frequently used applications, such as:
           Phone  138 , which may include an indicator  414  of the number of missed calls or voicemail messages;   E-mail client  140 , which may include an indicator  410  of the number of unread e-mails;   Browser  147 ; and   Music player  146 ; and   
           Icons for other applications, such as:
           IM  141 ;   Image management  144 ;   Camera  143 ;   Video player  145 ;   Weather  149 - 1 ;   Stocks  149 - 2 ;   Workout support  142 ;   Calendar  148 ;   Calculator  149 - 3 ;   Alarm clock  149 - 4 ;   Dictionary  149 - 5 ; and   User-created widget  149 - 6 .   
               

     In some embodiments, user interface  400 B includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:
           402 ,  404 ,  405 ,  406 ,  141 ,  148 ,  144 ,  143 ,  149 - 3 ,  149 - 2 ,  149 - 1 ,  149 - 4 ,  410 ,  414 ,  138 ,  140 , and  147 , as described above;   Map  154 ;   Notes  153 ;   Settings  412 , which provides access to settings for device  100  and its various applications  136 , as described further below;   Video and music player module  152 , also referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module  152 ; and   Online video module  155 , also referred to as YouTube (trademark of Google Inc.) module  155 .       

     In the descriptions provided below, the term “contact” (except when used to describe an entry in a contact list, address book or the like) is used as a short hand term for “touch gesture,” and thus each contact mentioned or described below may be any suitable touch gesture detected by a sensor (or set of sensors) of a touch-sensitive display or other touch-sensitive surface. Furthermore, in some embodiments, “touch gestures” include not only gestures, made by one or more fingers or one or more styluses, that make physical contact a touch-sensitive screen  112  or other touch-sensitive surface, but also gestures that occur, in whole or in part, sufficiently close to touch-sensitive screen  112  or other touch-sensitive surface that the one or more sensors of touch-sensitive screen  112  or other touch-sensitive surface are able to detect those gestures. 
     The term “conditionally enabled” button means a button, key or object displayed on a soft keyboard or user interface that can be activated when enabled and that cannot be activated when disabled. The term “conditionally enabled button” is logically equivalent to “conditionally disabled button” because whether the button in enabled or disabled is conditional. 
     Activation of a soft button or other user interface object in response to a user-initiated touch gesture, at a location associated with the soft button or object, may occur upon a touch down event, a liftoff event, or any other detectable event associated with the user-initiated touch gesture. The term “activation” means an event that activates a button or a function associated with a button. For example, activation of a key on a soft keyboard is an event that adds a character corresponding to the key to a text buffer, or that performs a keyboard function such as: shifting a text entry mode from lowercase to uppercase characters, shifting one or more keys of the keyboard to represent alternative symbols or functions, replacing the current soft keyboard with a respective alternate keyboard, and so on. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) and associated processes that may be implemented on a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, such as device  300  or portable multifunction device  100 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5I  illustrate exemplary interfaces for conditionally activating buttons or other displayed objects in accordance with some embodiments. The interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in  FIGS. 6A-6B  and  FIG. 7 . Activation of a button or object results in performance of an action or function corresponding to the button or object; in some cases, the action or function performed depends both on the identity of the button or object that is activated and on the context in which the button or object is activated. A non-exhaustive set of examples of actions performed in response to activation of a respective button or object includes: adding a symbol (corresponding to the activated button or object) to a document or input text field, changing the displayed keyboard from a currently displayed keyboard to a keyboard corresponding to the activated button or object, launching or resuming execution or resuming display of an application or function corresponding to the activated button or object. As described below, in some cases activation of a button or object results in performance of both a primary function (e.g., inserting a letter or symbol in an input text field) and a secondary function (e.g., temporarily enabling or disabling activation of one or more buttons or objects displayed in the user interface, or temporarily enabling or disabling the performance of a function that is related to the primary function). 
     In  FIGS. 5A-5I , some finger contact movement sizes may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes. No depiction in the figures bearing on finger contact movements should be taken as a requirement or limitation for the purpose of understanding sizes and scale associated with the methods and devices disclosed herein. 
     UI  500 A ( FIG. 5A ) depicts an exemplary text input user interface (e.g., for notes module  153 , email client module  140 , etc.) on touch screen  112  of device  100 . In this example, UI  500 A includes a text entry region  502  and a QWERTY soft keyboard  504 . Text entry region  502  may include input text  506  with text  506 - 1  and a cursor  508  at position  508 -A. In some embodiments, soft keyboard  504  is associated with one or more languages. Soft keyboard  504  includes one or more soft buttons (or “soft keys”)  510 . Some of buttons  510  are associated with a respective letter. For example, button  510 -A is associated with the letter “Q,” button  510 -B with the letter “W,” button  510 -C with the letter “E,” and button  510 -E with a new line or line break character. Some others of the buttons  510  are associated with particular text input functions or operations. For example, button  510 -D is associated with the delete/backspace operation, and button  510 -F with the shift function (for modifying the character input of other buttons  510 , for example). 
     Keyboard  504  also includes soft buttons (or “soft keys”)  512  related to operation of the keyboard. For example, buttons  512  include a button  512 -A for switching from QWERTY keyboard  504  to a keyboard of numbers and symbols, button  512 -B for switching from keyboard  504  to a keyboard associated with a different language or switching to a different language for keyboard  504 , and button  512 -C for hiding keyboard  504 . Thus, buttons  512  in this example are mode changing buttons, which change the mode of operation of the device, by changing the soft keyboard displayed or by removing the keyboard from display. 
     UI  500 H ( FIG. 5H ) depicts another exemplary text input user interface (e.g., for notes module  153 , email client module  140 , etc.) on touch screen  112  of device  100 . UI  500 H includes text entry region  502  and a numbers and symbols soft keyboard  520 . Text entry region  502  may include input text  506  with text  506 - 1  and a cursor  508  at position  508 -A. In some embodiments, keyboard  520  is associated with one or more languages. Soft keyboard  520  includes one or more soft buttons (or “soft keys”)  522 . Some of buttons  522  are associated with respective numbers or symbols. For example, button  522 -A is associated with the numeral “1,” button  522 -B with the numeral “2,” and button  522 -C with the question mark symbol (“?”). Some of the other buttons  522  are associated with particular text input functions or operations. For example, buttons  522 -D,  522 -E, and  522 -F have the same functionality as buttons  510 -D,  510 -E, and  510 -F, respectively. Keyboard  522  also includes a button  512 -D for switching to an alphabet/letters keyboard, as well as buttons  512 -B and  512 -C. 
     In some embodiments, buttons  510  or  522  are unconditionally enabled buttons and buttons  512  are conditionally enabled buttons. Conditionally enabled buttons  512  have particular conditions on their activation, while unconditionally enabled buttons  510  or  522  are not subject to those conditions. Or, in some embodiments, buttons  512  are disabled under particular conditions, while buttons  510  or  522  are not disabled under those particular conditions. An example of a conditionally enabled button is a keyboard selection button for activating a second keyboard (e.g., a keyboard having numeric keys and other symbols, at least some of which are not displayed by a first keyboard that includes the keyboard selection button). In this example the keyboard selection button is conditionally enabled because it is temporarily disabled in response to activation of certain other soft keyboard buttons (e.g., any of the letter buttons in the displayed soft keyboard), and is otherwise enabled for activation. 
     In some embodiments, a condition to activation of a respective conditionally enabled button  512  is whether a contact on a location corresponding to the respective button  512  is detected within a predefined period (i.e., a time window of a predefined amount of time) commencing from detection of a contact on a location corresponding to another button on keyboard  504  or  520 ; activation of button  512  is disabled during the time window. In some embodiments, the time window starts from a detection of contact on any button on the keyboard  504  or  520 , including buttons  510 ,  522 ,  512 . In some other embodiments, the time window starts from a detection of contact on a button  510  or  520 , but not on a button  512 . As discussed below, the time window has a predefined duration, i.e., lasts for a predefined amount of time, which is fixed (i.e., invariant) in some embodiments, and in other embodiments is variable or context dependent. 
     UI  500 B ( FIG. 5B ) illustrates contact  514  on touch screen  112 . In this example, contact  514  is at a location  514 -A on touch screen  112  corresponding to the location of button  510 -C, which also corresponds to the activation region of button  510 -C. In response to detection of contact  514  at location  514 -A, a character “e”  516  is inserted into input text  506 , changing text  506 - 1  to text  506 - 2 , and advancing cursor  508  to position  508 -B. 
     The detection of contact  514  at location  514 -A corresponding to the location of button  510 -C also starts a time window of a predefined amount of time, during which contacts detected at locations on touch screen  112  corresponding to the locations of one or more conditionally enabled buttons (e.g., buttons  512 ) of keyboard  504  are disregarded; those buttons are disabled during the time window. In some embodiments, the predefined duration of the time window is fixed (i.e., invariant), having a duration, for example, between 200 and 500 milliseconds; in another example the predefined duration of the time window is fixed at a value between 150 and 700 milliseconds; in yet another example the predefined duration of the time window is fixed at a value between 300 and 750 milliseconds. In other embodiments, the length of the time window depends on heuristics, user history or other relevant contextual information. In one example, the device measures the user&#39;s average delay between keystrokes, or between intra-word keystrokes, compares that value with a predefined average keystroke delay value, and adjusts the time window&#39;s length in accordance with the difference between (or the ratio of) the user&#39;s average keystroke delay and the predefined average. In another example, the time window length is different for one set of applications (e.g., notes and email applications) than for another application (or set of applications) (e.g., a browser application). The time window is sometimes called a mode change suppression time window, because keyboard mode changes are suppressed during the time window in accordance with some embodiments. 
     UI  500 C ( FIG. 5C ) illustrates contact  518  on touch screen  112  directly following contact  514 . UI  500 C shows three (of many) possible locations on keyboard  504  at which contact  518  can be made and detected. In this example, the contact  518  can be detected at location  518 -A,  518 -B, or  518 -C on touch screen  112 . The following figures illustrate the effect of the contact  518  being detected at a respective location  518 -A,  518 -B, or  518 -C following contact  514 . 
     UI  500 D ( FIG. 5D ) illustrates contact  518  on touch screen  112  directly following contact  514 . In this example, contact  518  is at a location  518 -A on touch screen  112  corresponding to the location of button  510 -B, which also corresponds to the activation region of button  510 -B. In response to detection of contact  518  at location  518 -A, a character “w”  520  is inserted into input text  506 , changing text  506 - 2  to text  506 - 3 , and cursor  508  is moved to position  508 -C. Button  510 -B is an unconditionally enabled button that is not affected by the time window from contact  514 ; the character insertion and cursor movement occurs whether contact  518  detected at location  518 -A occurs inside or outside of the time window from contact  514 . 
     Further, detection of contact  518  at location  518 -A begins a new time window having the predefined amount of time. In effect, the time window is shifted or otherwise varied so that it starts from the detection of contact  518  or is adjusted accordingly. 
     UI  500 E ( FIG. 5E ) illustrates a contact  518  on touch screen  112  directly following contact  514 . In this example, contact  518  is at a location  518 -B on touch screen  112  corresponding to the location of button  510 -D, which also corresponds to an activation region of button  510 -D. In response to detection of contact  518  at location  518 -B, the character “e”  516  in text  506 - 2  is deleted, reverting text  506 - 2  back to text  506 - 1 , and cursor  508  is moved to position  508 -A. Button  510 -D is an unconditionally enabled button that is not affected by the time window triggered by contact  514 ; the character deletion and cursor movement occurs whether contact  518  detected at location  518 -B occurs inside or outside of the time window from contact  514 . Further, detection of contact  518  at location  518 -B begins a new time window. As explained above, the time window has a predefined duration, which is fixed (i.e., invariant) in some embodiments and is variable or context-dependent in other embodiments. 
     UI  500 F ( FIG. 5F ) illustrates a contact  518  on touch screen  112  directly following contact  514 . In this example, contact  518  is at location  518 -C on touch screen  112  corresponding to the location of button  512 -C, which also corresponds to the activation region of button  512 -C. Button  512 -C is a conditionally enabled button that is affected by the time window from contact  514 . Depending on when contact  518  was made (and thus when contact  518  was detected), either keyboard  504  is hidden or nothing happens in response to detection of contact  518  at location  518 -C. If contact  518  is detected at location  518 -C at a time within the time window, keyboard  504  is not hidden, and UI  500 F continues to be displayed; contact  518  is disregarded. If contact  518  is detected at location  518 -C at a time after the time window, keyboard  504  is hidden, as illustrated in UI  500 G ( FIG. 5G ). 
     Timeline  550  (not drawn to scale) ( FIG. 5I ) depicts times at which the contacts described above may be detected and illustrate the time windows started by the detected contacts. Timeline  550  depicts time  552  at which a contact is detected, and times  554 ,  556 , and  558  at which subsequent contacts may be detected (assuming, for example, that no contacts are detected before time  552  within the time window length of time  552 ). A contact detected at time  552 , at a location corresponding to button  510  (e.g., contact  514  at location  514 -A) or  522  (or in some embodiments, any button on soft keyboard  504  or  522 , including a button  512 ), starts time window  560 -A of a duration commencing from time  552 . The button corresponding to the location of the contact detected at time  552  is activated. If a contact is detected at time  554  and that contact is at a location corresponding to a button  510  or  522  (e.g., contact  514  at location  514 -A, corresponding to button  510 -C), then the corresponding button is activated (e.g., button  510 -C is activated); activation of buttons  510  or  520  are not affected by the time windows. If a contact is detected at time  554  and that contact is at a location corresponding to a conditionally enabled button (e.g., contact  518  at location  518 -C, corresponding to button  512 -C), then the activation of the corresponding button is prevented (e.g., activation of button  512 -C is prevented); the conditionally enabled button is disabled during time window  560 -A. On the other hand, if a contact at a location corresponding to a conditionally enabled button is detected at time  558 , which is outside of time window  560 -A, without any intervening contacts detected between times  552  and  558 , then the corresponding conditionally enabled button is activated. 
     A contact on button  510  or  522  detected at time  554 , directly following the contact detected at time  552  described above, starts a time window  560 -B, which can have the same length as time window  560 -A. If the contact directly following the contact detected at time  554  is a contact at a location corresponding to a conditionally enabled button, and the contact is detected at time  556 , then activation of the conditionally enabled button is prevented. The activation is prevented because even though time  556  is outside of time window  560 -A, time  556  is within time window  560 -B. If the contact is detected instead at time  558 , then the corresponding conditionally enabled button is activated because time  558  is outside of time windows  560 -A and  560 -B. 
       FIGS. 6A-6B  are flow diagrams illustrating a method  600  of activating buttons in accordance with some embodiments. Method  600  is performed at a multifunction device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch-sensitive display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. 
     As described below, method  600  provides an intuitive way to activate buttons that reduces the cognitive burden on a user, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to activate buttons faster and more efficiently, while preventing inadvertent activations of mode-changing buttons or other conditionally enabled buttons, conserves power and increases the time between battery charges. 
     The device displays ( 602 ) a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons. For example, in  FIG. 5A , keyboard  504  is displayed on touch screen  112 . Keyboard  504  includes unconditionally enabled buttons  510  and buttons  512 , one or more of which (e.g., button  512 -C) are conditionally enabled buttons. As another example, in  FIG. 5H , keyboard  520  is displayed on touch screen  112 . Keyboard  520  includes unconditionally enabled buttons  522  and buttons  512 , one or more of which are conditionally enabled buttons. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more conditionally enabled buttons include one or more of: a button for hiding the keyboard (e.g., button  512 -C) ( 620 ); a button for changing a language associated with the soft keyboard (e.g., button  512 -B) ( 622 ); where the soft keyboard is associated with a first language, a button for switching to a soft keyboard associated with a second language (e.g., button  512 -B) ( 624 ); a button for switching from an alphabet keyboard to a numbers-and-symbols keyboard (e.g., button  512 -A) ( 626 ); and a button for switching from a numbers-and-symbols keyboard to an alphabet keyboard (e.g., button  512 -D) ( 628 ). 
     The device detects ( 604 ) a first input with a first button at a first time. For example, in  FIG. 5B , contact  514  (the first input) is detected at time  552  ( FIG. 5I ) at location  514 -A, which corresponds to button  510 -C. 
     The device responds ( 606 ) to detecting the first input by activating the first button. For example, in  FIG. 5B , the device responds to the detection of contact  514  at location  514 -A by activating button  510 -C. The effects of the activation include insertion of the character “e”  516  into input text  506  and movement of the cursor  508  to position  508 -B. 
     After detecting and acting upon the activation of the first button, the device detects ( 608 ) a second input with a second button at a second time. For example, in  FIG. 5C , the device detects contact  518  at a second time (time  554  or  556 ,  FIG. 5I ) after time  552 . Different effects can occur depending on the location where contact  518  at the second time is detected (e.g., depending on which button is selected by contact  518 ) and whether the second time falls within the time window started by a prior button activation. 
     In response to detecting the second input with the second button at the second time ( 610 ), when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is an unconditionally enabled button, the device activates ( 612 ) the second button. For example, in  FIG. 5D , contact  518  is detected at location  518 -A, which corresponds to unconditionally enabled button  510 -B. Button  510 -B is activated, and the effects of the activation include the insertion of a character “w”  520  into input text  506  and movement of cursor  508  to position  508 -C. As another example, in  FIG. 5E , contact  518  is instead detected at location  518 -B, which corresponds to unconditionally enabled button  510 -D. Button  510 -D is activated, and the effects of the activation include the deletion of the character “e”  516  from input text  506  and movement of the cursor  508  to position  508 -A. 
     In response to detecting the second input with the second button at the second time ( 610 ), when the first button is an unconditionally enabled button and the second button is a conditionally enabled button ( 614 ), whether the second button is activated depends on the period of time between the first time, when contact  514  is detected, and the second time, when contact  518  is detected. When the period of time between the first time and the second time is above a predefined threshold (which is a fixed value in some embodiments, and is a variable or context-dependent value in other embodiments), the device activates ( 616 ) the second button. When the period of time between the first time and the second time is equal to or below the predefined threshold (i.e., the second contact occurs within a mode change suppression time window), the device prevents ( 618 ) the second button from being activated. 
     For example, in  FIG. 5F , contact  518  is detected at location  518 -C, which corresponds to conditionally enabled button  512 -C. If contact  518  is detected at time  556 , then button  512 -C is activated in response to detection of the contact  518  because the period of time between time  552  and time  556  is above a threshold (the length of time window  560 -A); time  556  is outside of time window  560 -A. The effects of the activation include, for example, the hiding of the keyboard  504 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5G . If the contact  518  is detected at time  554 , then button  512 -C is prevented from being activated in response to detection of the contact  518  because the period of time between time  552  and time  554  is equal to or below the threshold; time  554  is on or inside of time window  560 -A. In this case, the keyboard  504  is not hidden, and UI  500 F continues to be displayed. 
     Some operations in method  600  may be combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed. While the above discussion of  FIGS. 6A-6B  (and the discussion below of  FIG. 7 ) uses the terms “buttons,” and “soft keyboards,” other embodiments of methods  600  and  700  are applicable to user-initiated activations of objects other than buttons, such as non-keyboard icons. Furthermore, while method  600  describes conditionally and temporarily disabling the activation of certain buttons, also called conditional deactivation, other embodiments of method  600  are applicable to conditionally and temporarily enabling various buttons or other objects in the user interface of a device or of an application being executed by a device, which may also be called conditional activation. For example, in embodiments of method  600  in which the roles of operations  616  and  618  are reversed, the method temporarily and conditionally enables a particular set of buttons (e.g., keyboard buttons or non-keyboard buttons) or objects in response to activation of another button or object. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method  700  of activating buttons in accordance with some embodiments. Method  700  is performed at a multifunction device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. 
     As described below, method  700  provides an intuitive way to activate buttons. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when activating buttons, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to activate buttons faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges. 
     The device displays ( 702 ) a soft keyboard having a plurality of buttons including a plurality of unconditionally enabled buttons and one or more conditionally enabled buttons. For example, in  FIG. 5A , keyboard  504  is displayed on touch screen  112 . Keyboard  504  includes buttons  510  and buttons  512 , one or more of which (e.g., button  512 -C) are conditionally enabled. As another example, in  FIG. 5H , keyboard  520  is displayed on touch screen  112 . Keyboard  520  includes unconditionally enabled buttons  522  and buttons  512 , one or more of which are conditionally enabled buttons. 
     The device detects ( 704 ) a first input with a respective unconditionally enabled button at a first time. For example, in  FIG. 5B , contact  514  (the first input) is detected at time  552  at location  514 -A, which corresponds to unconditionally enabled button  510 -C. 
     In response to detecting the first input at the first time ( 706 ), the device activates ( 708 ) the respective unconditionally enabled button and disables ( 710 ) at least one of the conditionally enabled buttons for a predefined period of time commencing from the first time. For example, in  FIG. 5B , the device responds to the detection of contact  514  at location  514 -A at time  552  by activating button  510 -C. The effects of the activation include insertion of the character “e”  516  into input text  506  and movement of the cursor  508  to position  508 -B. Further, in response to detection of contact  514 , button  512 -C is disabled during time window  560 -A commencing from time  552 . 
     The device detects ( 712 ) a second input with a conditionally enabled button disabled in response to the first input, the second input being detected at a second time that is within the predefined period of time. For example, in  FIG. 5F , contact  518  is detected at time  554 , which is within time window  560 -A, at location  518 -C, which corresponds to button  512 -C, which is disabled in response to detection of contact  514  at time  552 . 
     In response to detecting the second input at the second time, the device disregards ( 714 ) the second input. For example, the keyboard  504  is not hidden despite the contact  518  at location  518 -C (i.e., UI  500 F continues to be displayed); contact  518  at location  518 -C is disregarded. 
     The above described methods and apparatus for implementing conditionally enabled buttons can be utilized, in other embodiments, to implement conditionally enabled or conditionally disabled keys, button or other objects in user interfaces other than soft keyboards. 
     The operations in the information processing methods described above may be implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors or application specific chips. These modules, combinations of these modules, and/or their combination with general hardware (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3 ) are all included within the scope of protection of the invention. 
     For example, the operations depicted in  FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7  may be implemented by components depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1C . For example, “detect a first input with a first button at a first time” ( 604 ) may be implemented by event sorter  170 , event recognizer  180 , and event handler  190 . Event monitor  171  in event sorter  170  detects a contact on a touch-sensitive display  112 , and event dispatcher module  174  delivers the event information to application  136 - 1 . In this case, application  136 - 1  includes methods and graphical user-interfaces for manipulating a soft keyboard and text display region. A respective event recognizer  180  of application  136 - 1  compares the event information to respective event definitions  186 , and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of a particular button or key in a soft keyboard. When the predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer  180  activates an event handler  180  associated with the detection of a first contact. Event handler  180  may utilize or call data updater  176  or object updater  177  to update data or a text display region. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
     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.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20131202
Publication Date: 20160913
Grant Date: 20160913
Priority Date: 20100106
Inventors: KOCIENDA KENNETH L.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0236", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3203", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/3203", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0236", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 44225449