# US 2014/0195943 A1 · User interface controls for portable devices

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0195943 A1
- Document ID: US20140195943A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/734,149
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: Patent Category Corp.
- Applicants: Patent Category Corp.
- Inventors: Yu Zheng; Felix Sui; Hank Hang Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195943A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 2203/04804: Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
- G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method of controlling an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display that has a graphical user interface (GUI) with a primary display and a translucent layer. The method includes displaying the primary display which contains the graphical objects for normal operation, while the primary display is being displayed, activating the translucent layer to display a control arrow arrangement, manipulating the control arrow arrangement to adjust a parameter associated with the GUI or the electronic device, and de-activating the translucent layer to cause the primary display to be displayed again.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display that has a graphical user interface (GUI) with a primary display and a translucent layer, the method comprising:
displaying the primary display which contains the graphical objects for normal operation;
while the primary display is being displayed, activating the translucent layer to display a control arrow arrangement;
manipulating the control arrow arrangement to adjust a parameter associated with the GUI or the electronic device; and
de-activating the translucent layer to cause the primary display to be displayed again.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein step of activating the translucent layer comprises double-tapping an unused area of the primary display.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein step of activating the translucent layer comprises pressing on an activation icon positioned on the primary display.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the control arrow arrangement comprises an up arrow, a down arrow and an empty space between the up arrow and the down arrow.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the step of manipulating the control arrow arrangement comprises pressing on either the up arrow or the down arrow.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the step of manipulating the control arrow arrangement comprises sliding a finger along either the up arrow or the down arrow.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of sound volume, brightness, and size of image, icon or text.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein step of de-activating the translucent layer comprises double-tapping an unused area of the primary display.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein step of de-activating the translucent layer comprises pressing on an activation icon positioned on the translucent layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further including the step of:
changing the parameter to be adjusted.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of changing the parameter to be adjusted comprises:
pressing and holding on the empty space between the up arrow and the down arrow until a mode box appears with the parameters to be selected; and
selecting the parameter to be adjusted.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further including the step of:
moving the location of the control arrow arrangement.

### Claim 13

A portable electronic device, comprising: a touch-sensitive display that has a graphical user interface (GUI) with a primary display and a translucent layer; a memory; one or more processors; and one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules including instructions:
to display the primary display which contains the graphical objects for normal operation;
while the primary display is being displayed, to activate the translucent layer to display a control arrow arrangement;
to manipulate the control arrow arrangement to adjust a parameter associated with the GUI or the electronic device; and
to de-activate the translucent layer to cause the primary display to be displayed again.