IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,086,775
Granted Patent B1
US 9,086,775 · App. 12/501,079 · Granted Jul 21, 2015

Minimizing software based keyboard

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,086,775
App. No.
12/501,079
Granted
Jul 21, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented user interface method including displaying on a touchscreen display a representation of a keyboard defining a top edge and a bottom edge, and a content area adjacent to the keyboard. The method further includes receiving a user dragging input having motion directed to the bottom edge of the keyboard. The method further includes removing the keyboard from the touchscreen display and expanding the content area to an area previously occupied by the keyboard.

Claims (43)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

outputting, on a touchscreen display, a virtual keyboard area and a content area that is adjacent to the virtual keyboard area, wherein the virtual keyboard area displays a virtual keyboard, and wherein the content area displays one or more query suggestions that match one or more characters that are entered using the virtual keyboard;

detecting a user dragging input that begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a length that is greater than a reference length; and

hiding the virtual keyboard in response to the user dragging input;

detecting an additional user dragging input that begins at another location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the additional user dragging input corresponds to a command to scroll the one or more query suggestions in response to determining that the additional user dragging input has a length that is less than or equal to the reference length; and

scrolling the one or more query suggestions in response to the additional user dragging input.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hiding of the virtual keyboard expands the content area.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, after hiding the virtual keyboard, receiving a user selection associated with a text entry area and automatically re-displaying the virtual keyboard in response to the user selection.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform actions comprising:

outputting, on a touchscreen display, a virtual keyboard area and a content area that is adjacent to the virtual keyboard area, wherein the virtual keyboard area displays a virtual keyboard, and wherein the content area displays one or more query suggestions that match one or more characters that are entered using the virtual keyboard;

detecting a user dragging input that begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a length that is greater than a reference length; and

hiding the virtual keyboard in response to the user dragging input;

detecting an additional user dragging input that begins at another location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the additional user dragging input corresponds to a command to scroll the one or more query suggestions in response to determining that the additional user dragging input has a length that is less than or equal to the reference length; and

scrolling the one or more query suggestions in response to the additional user dragging input.

5. The data storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the hiding of the virtual keyboard expands the content area.

6. The data storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the actions further comprise, after hiding the virtual keyboard, receiving a user selection associated with a text entry area and automatically re-displaying the virtual keyboard in response to the user selection.

7. A system, comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

outputting, on a touchscreen display, a virtual keyboard area and a content area that is adjacent to the virtual keyboard area, wherein the virtual keyboard area displays a virtual keyboard, and wherein the content area displays one or more query suggestions that match one or more characters that are entered using the virtual keyboard;

detecting a user dragging input that begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a length that is greater than a reference length; and

hiding the virtual keyboard in response to the user dragging input;

detecting an additional user dragging input that begins at another location within the content area on the touchscreen display;

determining that the additional user dragging input corresponds to a command to scroll the one or more query suggestions in response to determining that the additional user dragging input has a length that is less than or equal to the reference length; and

scrolling the one or more query suggestions in response to the additional user dragging input.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the hiding of the virtual keyboard expands the content area.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise, after hiding the virtual keyboard, receiving a user selection associated with a text entry area and automatically re-displaying the virtual keyboard in response to the user selection.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a speed that is faster than a reference speed.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a time duration that is shorter than a reference time.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has scrolled past an end of the content area.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display and terminates at a location within the virtual keyboard area on the touchscreen display.

14. The data storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the actions further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a speed that is faster than a reference speed.

15. The data storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the actions further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a time duration that is shorter than a reference time.

16. The data storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the actions further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has scrolled past an end of the content area.

17. The data storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the actions further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display and terminates at a location within the virtual keyboard area on the touchscreen display.

18. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a speed that is faster than a reference speed.

19. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has a time duration that is shorter than a reference time.

20. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input has scrolled past an end of the content area.

21. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the user dragging input corresponds to a command to hide the virtual keyboard in response to determining that the user dragging input begins at a location within the content area on the touchscreen display and terminates at a location within the virtual keyboard area on the touchscreen display.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044334/0466 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2009
From: TSE, ALASTAIR; JITKOFF, JOHN NICHOLAS
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 023096/0036 →