# US 12,182,146 B2 · Highlighting icons for search results > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,182,146 B2 - Document ID: US12182146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/962,112 - Filed: 2022-10-07 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-10 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Maxym I. Runov; Bas Ording; Steve Ko; Gregory N. Christie; Kevin Tiene - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12182146B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 16/10: File systems; File servers - G06F 16/245: Query processing - G06F 16/9038: Presentation of query results - G06F 16/907: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In some embodiments, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field associated with one or more resource types that may be searched. The user may be presented with a pop-up menu containing a list of likely matches. The user selects the desired preference control from the pop-up menu, and the corresponding preference pane, or other container, containing the selected data item, control, or other resource is displayed. In one aspect, as the user enters the search term (or portion thereof), certain icons are highlighted. Specifically, those icons that represent containers containing matching data items (such as preference panes having controls that match the search term) are highlighted. Different types of highlighting can be used depending on the degree of certainty as to which container is likely to contain the correct match. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices: displaying, on the display, a user interface including a plurality of icons respectively representing a plurality of system preference panes; and while displaying the user interface including the plurality of icons: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a user input representing at least a portion of a search term; identifying a first icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term, and identifying a second icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term; spotlighting the first icon, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes visually distinguishing a first area surrounding the first icon from the remainder of the user interface; and spotlighting the second icon, wherein spotlighting the second icon includes visually distinguishing a second area surrounding the second icon from the remainder of the user interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes maintaining a brightness level of the first area, while reducing a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes displaying a gradual transition of brightness levels between the first area and the region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the gradual transition includes: displaying a first sub-region of the region at a first brightness level different from a brightness level of the first area; and displaying a second sub-region of the region at a second brightness level different from the brightness level of the first area and different from the first brightness level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes increasing a brightness level of the first area, while maintaining a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is substantially circular. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a size or shape of the first area based on a degree of confidence of the matching. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining respective sizes of the first area and the second area in order to reduce overlap between spotlighting the first icon and spotlighting the second icon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of system preference panes corresponds to a respective operating system (OS) preference. ### Claim 10 An electronic device comprising: a display; one or more input devices; one or more processors; and non-transitory memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising: displaying, on the display, a user interface including a plurality of icons respectively representing a plurality of system preference panes; and while displaying the user interface including the plurality of icons: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a user input representing at least a portion of a search term; identifying a first icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term, and identifying a second icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term; spotlighting the first icon, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes visually distinguishing a first area surrounding the first icon from the remainder of the user interface; and spotlighting the second icon, wherein spotlighting the second icon includes visually distinguishing a second area surrounding the second icon from the remainder of the user interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes maintaining a brightness level of the first area, while reducing a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes displaying a gradual transition of brightness levels between the first area and the region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, wherein displaying the gradual transition includes: displaying a first sub-region of the region at a first brightness level different from a brightness level of the first area; and displaying a second sub-region of the region at a second brightness level different from the brightness level of the first area and different from the first brightness level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising determining a size or shape of the first area based on a degree of confidence of the matching. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising determining respective sizes of the first area and the second area in order to reduce overlap between spotlighting the first icon and spotlighting the second icon. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device including a display and one or more input devices, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising: displaying, on the display, a user interface including a plurality of icons respectively representing a plurality of system preference panes; and while displaying the user interface including the plurality of icons: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a user input representing at least a portion of a search term; identifying a first icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term, and identifying a second icon of the plurality of icons that matches at least the portion of the search term; spotlighting the first icon, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes visually distinguishing a first area surrounding the first icon from the remainder of the user interface; and spotlighting the second icon, wherein spotlighting the second icon includes visually distinguishing a second area surrounding the second icon from the remainder of the user interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes maintaining a brightness level of the first area, while reducing a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes displaying a gradual transition of brightness levels between the first area and the region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein displaying the gradual transition includes: displaying a first sub-region of the region at a first brightness level different from a brightness level of the first area; and displaying a second sub-region of the region at a second brightness level different from the brightness level of the first area and different from the first brightness level. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes increasing a brightness level of the first area, while maintaining a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein spotlighting the first icon includes increasing a brightness level of the first area, while maintaining a brightness level of a region that is outside of the first area. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first area is circular. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of system preference panes corresponds to a respective operating system (OS) preference. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first area is circular. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising: determining a size or shape of the first area based on a degree of confidence of the matching. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising: determining respective sizes of the first area and the second area in order to reduce overlap between spotlighting the first icon and spotlighting the second icon. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of system preference panes corresponds to a respective operating system (OS) preference.