# US 8,570,279 B2 · Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for inserting a character from an alternate keyboard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,279 B2 - Document ID: US8570279B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/163,886 - Filed: 2008-06-27 - Published: 2009-12-31 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-27 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Bas Ording; Kenneth Kocienda - Inventors: Bas Ording; Kenneth Kocienda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570279B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/04897: {Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises displaying a first soft keyboard. While displaying the first soft keyboard, a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is displayed. A first contact is detected on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard. In response to detecting the first contact, the second soft keyboard is displayed. Movement of the first contact is detected to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard. Lift off of the first contact is detected at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved. In response to detecting the lift off, a character is inserted that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the first contact moved and the display of the second soft keyboard is ceased. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display: displaying a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; while displaying the first soft keyboard, displaying a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard; in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, displaying the second soft keyboard; while maintaining the single contact, detecting the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display, to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard; detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved: inserting a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; ceasing to display the second soft keyboard; and displaying the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the single contact is a finger contact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including: in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, ceasing to display the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 9 A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising: a first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; a text input area; a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard; and the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; wherein: the key for selecting the second soft keyboard is displayed while displaying the first soft keyboard; in response to detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard is displayed; the single contact, while being maintained, is detected moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard; lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display is detected at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved: a character is inserted in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; display of the second soft keyboard is ceased; and the first soft keyboard is displayed. ### Claim 10 A portable electronic device, comprising: a touch screen display; 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 programs including instructions for: displaying a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; while displaying the first soft keyboard, displaying a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; detecting a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard; in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, displaying the second soft keyboard; while maintaining the single contact, detecting the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard; detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved: inserting a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; ceasing to display the second soft keyboard; and displaying the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the single contact is a finger contact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, including instructions for: in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, ceasing to display the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to: display a first soft keyboard and a text input area, the first soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; while displaying the first soft keyboard, display a key for selecting a second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard, the second soft keyboard containing a plurality of character-insertion keys; detect a single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard; in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, display the second soft keyboard; while maintaining the single contact, detect the single contact moving on the touch screen display without breaking contact with the touch screen display to a character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard; detect lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; and in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved: insert a character in the text input area that corresponds to the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved; cease to display the second soft keyboard; and display the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the single contact is a finger contact. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the single contact is a stylus contact. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein displaying the second soft keyboard in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard includes ceasing to display the first soft keyboard, and ceasing to display the second soft keyboard in response to detecting lift off of the single contact from the touch screen display at the character-insertion key in the second soft keyboard to which the single contact moved includes redisplaying the first soft keyboard. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein display of the second keyboard is maintained if lift off of the single contact is detected at a location on the touch screen display other than the location of a character-insertion key in the second keyboard. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein character-insertion keys in the second keyboard are visually distinguished from keys in the second keyboard that do not insert characters. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the key for selecting the second soft keyboard different from the first soft keyboard is a dedicated keyboard selection key. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, including instructions which cause the device to: in response to detecting the single contact on the key for selecting the second soft keyboard, cease to display the first soft keyboard.