Multi-functional hand-held device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorSteven P. HOTELLING
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a multi-functional hand-held device capable of configuring user inputs based on how the device is to be used. Preferably, the multi-functional hand-held device has at most only a few physical buttons, keys, or switches so that its display size can be substantially increased. The multi-functional hand-held device also incorporates a variety of input mechanisms, including touch sensitive screens, touch sensitive housings, display actuators, audio input, etc. The device also incorporates a user-configurable GUI for each of the multiple functions of the devices.
Claims20
A handheld computing device, comprising:
- a display;
- a plurality of touch sensors co-located with the display and configured for making at least a portion of the display touch-sensitive;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled to the display and the plurality of touch sensors, the processor configured for
- in response to receiving one or more first touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors, causing a control region to appear on a side of the display, and
- in response to receiving one or more second touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors located in the control region, initiating an operation in the handheld computing device.
A method comprising:
- at a handheld computing device in communication with a display and a plurality of touch sensors co-located with the display and configured for making at least a portion of the display touch-sensitive:
- in response to receiving one or more first touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors, causing a control region to appear on a side of the display, and
- in response to receiving one or more second touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors located in the control region, initiating an operation in the handheld computing device.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program code for providing a touch-sensitive user interface on a handheld computing device in communication with a display co-located with a plurality of touch sensors, the program code for performing a method comprising:
- in response to receiving one or more first touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors, causing a control region to appear on a side of the display, and
- in response to receiving one or more second touch signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensors located in the control region, initiating an operation in the handheld computing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.