CONTROLLING RESPONSIVENESS TO USER INPUTS ON A TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY

1 . Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one processor:

to cause display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

to receive signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display;

to respond to detection of the software application being woken from an idle state by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions of the touch-sensitive display are rejected, and

whilst in the first mode, to respond to detection of a touch-based interaction without the one or more predetermined sub-regions by exiting the first mode and thereafter to respond to touch-based interactions in said one or more predetermined sub-region of the touch-sensitive display.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to subsequently accept user interactions in the or each predetermined sub-region in response to receiving user interactions outside of said sub-region(s).

3 . Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to subsequently accept user interactions in the or each predetermined sub-region(s) in response to receiving user interactions made through the touch-sensitive display outside of said sub-region(s).

4 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a communications device, the computer code when executed controls the processor to be unresponsive to interactions in said sub-region(s) in response to said software application being woken from an idle state by a received telephone call.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a communications device, the computer code when executed controls the processor to be unresponsive to interactions in said sub-region(s) in response to said software application being woken from an idle state by means of a received data message.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to be unresponsive to interactions in said sub-region(s) in response to said software application being woken from an idle state by means of an internal timer function.

7 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the or each said sub-region is at the perimeter of the touch-sensitive display.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the sub-regions comprise first and second separate sub-regions located on opposite perimeters of the touch-sensitive display.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile communications terminal.

10 . A method comprising:

causing display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

receiving signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display;

responding to detection of the software application being woken from an idle state by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions of the touch-sensitive display are rejected, and

whilst in the first mode, responding to detection of a touch-based interaction without the one or more predetermined sub-regions by exiting the first mode and thereafter to respond to touch-based interactions in said one or more predetermined sub-region of the touch-sensitive display.

11 . (canceled)

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method comprising:

causing display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

receiving signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display;

responding to detection of the software application being woken from an idle state by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions of the touch-sensitive display are rejected, and

whilst in the first mode, responding to detection of a touch-based interaction without the one or more predetermined sub-regions by exiting the first mode and thereafter to respond to touch-based interactions in said one or more predetermined sub-region of the touch-sensitive display.

13 . (canceled)

14 . Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one processor:

to cause display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

to receive signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display; and

to respond to detection of a content window provided by the software application being enlarged by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions at a perimeter of the touch-sensitive display are rejected.

15 . Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to reject interactions in said one or more perimeter sub-regions in response to a user interface window associated with the application being enlarged in accordance with a maximise command.

16 . Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the software application is configured to control the processor to enlarge the window in response to one or more received touch inputs.

17 . Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to be responsive to interactions in said one or more perimeter sub-regions in response to a predetermined event.

18 . Apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to be responsive to interactions in said perimeter sub-region(s) in response to user interactions made outside of said one or more perimeter sub-regions, and optionally wherein the computer code when executed controls the processor to be responsive to interactions are subsequently accepted in response to user interactions made through the touch-sensitive display outside of said one or more perimeter sub-regions.

19 . (canceled)

20 . Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the display is elongate having opposed lengthwise edges and widthways edges, and the one or more perimeter sub-regions comprise first and second separate sub-regions located on lengthwise, opposite perimeters of the touch-sensitive display.

21 . Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile communications terminal.

22 . A method comprising:

causing display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

receiving signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display; and

responding to detection of a content window provided by the software application being enlarged by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions at a perimeter of the touch-sensitive display are rejected.

23 . (canceled)

24 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method comprising:

causing display of content generated by a software application associated with the processor;

receiving signals indicative of touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display; and

responding to detection of a content window provided by the software application being enlarged by entering a first mode in which touch-based interactions in one or more predetermined sub-regions at a perimeter of the touch-sensitive display are rejected.

25 . (canceled)