IP Library Granted Patent US 7,649,526
Granted Patent B2
US 7,649,526 · App. 11/322,548 · Granted Jan 19, 2010

Soft key interaction indicator

Assignee: Apple Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,649,526
App. No.
11/322,548
Granted
Jan 19, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An indication of interaction with a touch-sensitive display is provided. A soft key is displayed on the touch-sensitive display. Contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key is detected. The periphery of the soft key smoothly changes in optical intensity in response to detecting the contact.

Claims (84)

1. A method of indicating interaction on a device comprising a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function;

in response to detecting a release of the contact, determining whether the optical intensity of the periphery is at a minimum optical intensity; and

when the optical intensity of the periphery is not at the minimum optical intensity, returning the optical intensity of the periphery to the minimum optical intensity according to the predefined mathematical function.

2. A method of indicating interaction on a device comprising a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key; and

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein:

the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function, and

controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery of the soft key includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, with a fundamental frequency of the periodic function between 0.25 hertz -2.5 hertz.

3. A method of indicating interaction on a device comprising a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, and a minimum time to change between the minimum optical intensity and the maximum optical intensity is greater than 0.2 seconds and less than 2 seconds.

4. A method of indicating interaction on a device comprising a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function;

in response to detecting the contact, displaying a progress indicator, wherein the progress indicator is indicative of a predetermined time period until a soft key activation event; and

activating the soft key if contact is maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period, and not activating the soft key if contact is not maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period.

5. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules comprising instructions for:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function;

in response to detecting a release of the contact, determining whether the optical intensity of the periphery is at a minimum optical intensity; and,

when the optical intensity of the periphery is not at the minimum optical intensity, returning the optical intensity of the periphery to the minimum optical intensity according to the predefined mathematical function.

6. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact, control a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function;

in response to detecting a release of the contact, determine whether the optical intensity of the periphery is at a minimum optical intensity; and,

when the optical intensity of the periphery is not at the minimum optical intensity, return the optical intensity of the periphery to the minimum optical intensity according to the predefined mathematical function.

7. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules comprising instructions for:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key; and

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function in response to detection of the contact, wherein:

the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function, and

controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery of the soft key includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, with a fundamental frequency of the periodic function between 0.25 hertz-2.5 hertz.

8. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key; and

in response to detecting the contact, control a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein:

the predefined mathematical function is a periodic function, and

controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery of the soft key includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, with a fundamental frequency of the periodic function between 0.25 hertz-2.5 hertz.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules comprising instructions for:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key; and

in response to detecting the contact, controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function in response to detection of the contact, wherein controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, and a minimum time to change between the minimum optical intensity and the maximum optical intensity is greater than 0.2 seconds and less than 2 seconds.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key; and

in response to detecting the contact, control a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function, wherein controlling the change in optical intensity of the periphery includes changing the optical intensity between a minimum optical intensity and a maximum optical intensity, and a minimum time to change between the minimum optical intensity and the maximum optical intensity is greater than 0.2 seconds and less than 2 seconds.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules comprising instructions for:

displaying a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact:

controlling a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function; and

displaying a progress indicator, wherein the progress indicator is indicative of a predetermined time period until a soft key activation event; and

activating the soft key if contact is maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period, and not activating the soft key if contact is not maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period.

12. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a soft key on the touch-sensitive display;

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display corresponding to interaction with the soft key;

in response to detecting the contact:

control a change in optical intensity of a periphery of the soft key in accordance with a predefined mathematical function; and

display a progress indicator, wherein the progress indicator is indicative of a predetermined time period until a soft key activation event; and

activate the soft key if contact is maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period, and not activate the soft key if contact is not maintained on the soft key for the predetermined time period.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 30, 2008
From: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 021020/0802 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2006
From: ORDING, BAS; CHAUDHRI, IMRAN; VAN OS, MARCEL; LEMAY, STEPHEN O.; ANZURES, FREDDY ALLEN; CHRISTIE, GREG; FORSTALL, SCOTT
To: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 017813/0914 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070146336A1 · Jun 28, 2007