PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

1 . A method of controlling a portable electronic device having a touch screen display, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface having user-selectable features on the touch screen display;

detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display;

rendering a navigation indicator at a first feature of the user-selectable features in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location;

determining if a confirmation of selection is received from release of a switch actuated by the touch screen display; and

selecting the first feature in response to determination that the confirmation of selection is received with the touch event at the first location on the touch screen display.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing an associated function upon selection of the first feature.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising unrendering the navigation indicator absent receipt of the confirmation of selection with the touch event at the first location on the touch screen display, and avoiding performing the associated function.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising rendering the navigation indicator at a second feature of the user-selectable features in response to detecting movement of the touch event to a second location on the touch screen display.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising determining if the confirmation of selection is received from release of the switch and selecting the second feature in response to determination that the confirmation of selection is received with the touch event at the second location on the touch screen display.

6 . A portable electronic device comprising:

a base;

a touch screen display moveable relative to the base;

a switch disposed between the touch screen display and the base and actuatable as a result of movement of the touch screen display relative to the base; and

functional components including a processor connected to the touch screen display and the switch, and a memory device for storage of computer-readable program code executable by the processor for providing a graphical user interface having user-selectable features on the touch screen display, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, rendering a navigation indicator at a first feature of the user-selectable features in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, determining if a confirmation of selection is received from release of the switch actuated as a result of movement of the touch screen display with respect to the base, and selecting said the first feature in response to determination that the confirmation of selection is received with the touch event at the first location.

7 . The portable electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the switch comprises a dome-type mechanical switch.

8 . The portable electronic device according to claim 6 , further comprising a housing in which the base, the touch screen display, the switch and the functional components are housed, the housing including a frame around a periphery of the touch screen display and exposing the touch screen display for user interaction therewith.

9 . The portable electronic device according to claim 8 , further comprising compliant pads disposed between the touch screen display and the frame of the housing.

10 . The portable electronic device according to claim 9 , further comprising compliant members between the touch screen display and the base for biasing the touch screen display away from the base.

11 . The portable electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the compliant members and the compliant pads comprise gel pads.

12 . The portable electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the touch screen display is moved toward the base to actuate the switch when a threshold force is exceeded for compressing the compliant members and depressing the switch.

13 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for execution by a processor of a portable electronic device for providing a graphical user interface having user-selectable features on a touch screen display of the portable electronic device, detecting a touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, rendering a navigation indicator at a first feature the user-selectable features in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location, determining if a confirmation of selection is received from release of a switch actuated as a result of movement of the touch screen display with respect to a base of the portable electronic device, and selecting said the first feature in response to determination that the confirmation of selection is received with the touch event at the first location.

14 . A method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface having a plurality of user-selectable features on a touch screen display of a portable electronic device;

detecting a touch event at a first location associated with a first user-selectable feature on the touch screen display;

rendering a first navigation indicator at the first user-selectable feature in the graphical user interface in response to detecting the touch event at the first location;

prior to detecting confirmation of selection of the first user-selectable feature, detecting a touch event at a second location associated with a second user-selectable feature on the touch screen display;

rendering a second navigation indicator at the second user-selectable feature in response to detecting movement of the touch event to a second location on the touch screen display;

determining if a confirmation of selection is received from release of a switch actuated by the touch screen display with the touch event at the second location; and

selecting the second feature in response to determination of confirmation of selection.