Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for interpreting a finger gesture

1. A method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects:

detecting a finger-in-contact event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-in-contact event indicates that a vertical displacement parameter for a respective finger satisfies a first threshold parameter value, the vertical displacement parameter indicating a degree of closeness between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

identifying among the plurality of user interface objects a user interface object associated with the first position;

determining whether the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display;

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display:

detecting, in sequence, one or more first finger-dragging events, a first finger-out-of-contact event, one or more second finger-dragging events, and a first finger-out-of-range event; and

in response to detecting the one or more first and second finger-dragging events on or near the touch screen display after determining the identified user interface object is moveable, performing a first operation associated with the identified moveable user interface object at least in part in accordance with the one or more first and second finger-dragging events until the first finger-out-of-range event is detected at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger does not satisfy a second threshold parameter value distinct from the first threshold parameter value; and

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is not moveable across the touch screen display:

detecting a second finger-out-of-contact event; and

in response to detecting the second finger-out-of-contact event after determining the identified user interface object is not moveable, performing a second operation, different from the first operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified moveable user interface object includes a slide object that is moveable along a slide bar, wherein said step of performing the first operation further comprises:

moving the slide object along the slide bar from its current position to a transit position determined at least in part by a projection of each of the one or more first and second finger-dragging events' associated positions on the touch screen display onto the slide bar.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the associated positions is off the slide bar and the slide object is moved along the slide bar to the transit position that is at least in part determined by a projection of the associated position onto the slide bar.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

for the identified user interface object that is determined to be not moveable across the touch screen display:

detecting a second finger-out-of-range event after the second finger-out-of-contact event is detected; and

performing the second operation in response to detecting the second finger-out-of-contact event without regard to the detection of the second finger-out-of-range event.

5. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of user interface objects;

wherein:

a finger-in-contact event at a first position on the touch screen display is detected, wherein the finger-in-contact event indicates that a vertical displacement parameter for a respective finger satisfies a first threshold parameter value, the vertical displacement parameter indicating a degree of closeness between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a user interface object associated with the first position is identified;

a determination is made whether the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display;

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display:

a sequence of finger-related events, including one or more first finger-dragging events, a first finger-out-of-contact event, one or more second finger-dragging events, and a first finger-out-of-range event, are detected; and

in response to detecting the one or more first and second finger-dragging events on or near the touch screen display after determining the identified user interface object is moveable, a first operation associated with the identified moveable user interface object is performed at least in part in accordance with the one or more first and second finger-dragging events until the first finger-out-of-range event is detected at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger does not satisfy a second threshold parameter value distinct from the first threshold parameter value; and

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is not moveable across the touch screen display:

a second finger-out-of-contact event is detected; and

in response to detecting the second finger-out-of-contact event after determining the identified user interface object is not moveable, a second operation, different from the first operation, is performed.

6. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects;

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:

detecting a finger-in-contact event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-in-contact event indicates that a vertical displacement parameter for a respective finger satisfies a first threshold parameter value, the vertical displacement parameter indicating a degree of closeness between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

identifying among the plurality of user interface objects a user interface object associated with the first position;

determining whether the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display;

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display:

detecting, in sequence, one or more first finger-dragging events, a first finger-out-of-contact event, one or more second finger-dragging events, and a first finger-out-of-range event; and

performing a first operation associated with the identified moveable user interface object at least in part in accordance with the orie or more first and second finger-dragging events until the first finger-out-of-range event is detected at a second position on the touch screen display in response to detecting the one or more first and second finger-dragging events on or near the touch screen display after determining the identified user interface object is moveable, wherein the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger does not satisfy a second threshold parameter value distinct from the first threshold parameter value; and

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is not moveable across the touch screen display:

detecting a second finger-out-of-contact event; and

performing a second operation, different from the first operation in response to detecting the second finger-out-of-contact event after determining the identified user interface object is not moveable.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by a portable electronic device having a touch screen display, cause the device to:

detect a finger-in-contact event at a first position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-in-contact event indicates that a vertical displacement parameter for a respective finger satisfies a first threshold parameter value, the vertical displacement parameter indicating a degree of closeness between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

identify among the plurality of user interface objects a user interface object associated with the first position;

determine whether the identified user interface object is moveable across the touch screen display;

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is-moveable across the touch screen display:

detect, in sequence, one or more first finger-dragging events, a first finger-out-of-contact event, one or more second finger-dragging events, and a first finger-out-of-range event; and

in response to detecting the one or more first and second finger-dragging events on or near the touch screen display after determining the identified user interface object is moveable, perform a first operation associated with the identified moveable user interface object at least in part in accordance with the one or more first and second finger-dragging events until the first finger-out-of-range event is detected at a second position on the touch screen display, wherein the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger does not satisfy a second threshold parameter value distinct from the first threshold parameter value; and

in accordance with a determination that the identified user interface object is not moveable across the touch screen display:

detect a second finger-out-of-contact event; and

in response to detecting the second finger-out-of-contact event after determining the identified user interface object is not moveable, perform a second operation, different from the first operation.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is based on at least one of:

a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display; and

a capacitance between the finger and the touch screen display.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first distance threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second distance threshold value that is greater than the first distance threshold value.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is greater than a first pressure threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is less than a second pressure threshold value that is less than the first pressure threshold value.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second contact area threshold value that is greater than the first contact area threshold value.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second voltage threshold value that is greater than the first voltage threshold value.

13. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen is greater than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is less than a second contact area threshold value that is less than the first contact area threshold value.

14. The device of claim 6 , wherein the identified moveable user interface object includes a slide object that is moveable along a slide bar, wherein said step of performing the first operation further comprises:

moving the slide object along the slide bar from its current position to a transit position determined at least in part by a projection of each of the one or more first and second finger-dragging events' associated positions on the touch screen display onto the slide bar.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the associated positions is off the slide bar and the slide object is moved along the slide bar to the transit position that is at least in part determined by a projection of the associated position onto the slide bar.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is based on at least one of:

a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display; and

a capacitance between the finger and the touch screen display.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first distance threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second distance threshold value that is greater than the first distance threshold value.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is greater than a first pressure threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is less than a second pressure threshold value that is less than the first pressure threshold value.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second contact area threshold value that is greater than the first contact area threshold value.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second voltage threshold value that is greater than the first voltage threshold value.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen is greater than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is less than a second contact area threshold value that is less than the first contact area threshold value.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the identified moveable user interface object includes a slide object that is moveable along a slide bar, wherein said step of performing the first operation further comprises:

moving the slide object along the slide bar from its current position to a transit position determined at least in part by a projection of each of the one or more first and second finger-dragging events' associated positions on the touch screen display onto the slide bar.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the associated positions is off the slide bar and the slide object is moved along the slide bar to the transit position that is at least in part determined by a projection of the associated position onto the slide bar.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is based on at least one of:

a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display; and

a capacitance between the finger and the touch screen display.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first distance threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the distance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second distance threshold value that is greater than the first distance threshold value.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is greater than a first pressure threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the pressure the respective finger has on the touch screen is less than a second pressure threshold value that is less than the first pressure threshold value.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the contact area between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second contact area threshold value that is greater than the first contact area threshold value.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the voltage between the respective finger and the touch screen display is greater than a second voltage threshold value that is greater than the first voltage threshold value.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vertical displacement parameter for the respective finger is a capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display;

the finger-in-contact event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen is greater than a first contact area threshold value; and

the finger-out-of-range event indicates that the capacitance between the respective finger and the touch screen display is less than a second contact area threshold value that is less than the first contact area threshold value.