Patrick L. Coffman

Bio: Patrick L. Coffman is an academic researcher from Apple Inc.. The author has contributed to research in topics: User interface & Graphical user interface. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 141 publications receiving 6496 citations.

Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one- dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.

Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating user interfaces based on fingerprint sensor inputs

Abstract: An electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor displays a fingerprint enrollment interface and detects, on the fingerprint sensor, a plurality of finger gestures performed with a finger. The device collects fingerprint information from the plurality of finger gestures performed with the finger. After collecting the fingerprint information, the device determines whether the collected fingerprint information is sufficient to enroll a fingerprint of the finger. When the collected fingerprint information for the finger is sufficient to enroll the fingerprint of the finger, the device enrolls the fingerprint of the finger with the device. When the collected fingerprint information for the finger is not sufficient to enroll the fingerprint of the finger, the device displays a message in the fingerprint enrollment interface prompting a user to perform one or more additional finger gestures on the fingerprint sensor with the finger.

Voicemail manager for portable multifunction device

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for management of voicemail messages, performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, includes: displaying a list of voicemail messages; detecting selection by a user of a respective voicemail message in the list; responding to the user selection of the respective voicemail message by initiating playback of the user-selected voicemail message; displaying a progress bar for the user-selected voicemail message, wherein the progress bar indicates the portion of the user-selected voicemail message that has been played; detecting movement of a finger of the user from a first position on the progress bar to a second position on the progress bar; and responding to the detection of the finger movement by restarting playback of the user-selected voicemail message at a position within the user-selected voicemail message corresponding substantially to the second position on the progress bar.

Systems and methods for proactively identifying and surfacing relevant content on a touch-sensitive device

Abstract: Systems and methods for proactively identifying and surfacing relevant content on an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the method includes executing, on the electronic device, an application in response to an instruction from a user of the electronic device. While executing the application, the method further includes collecting usage data. The usage data at least includes one or more actions performed by the user within the application. The method also includes: automatically, without human intervention, obtaining at least one trigger condition based on the collected usage data and associating the at least one trigger condition with a particular action of the one or more actions performed by the user within the application. Upon determining that the at least one trigger condition has been satisfied, the method includes providing an indication to the user that the particular action associated with the trigger condition is available.

Data-Driven Media Management Within An Electronic Device

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.

Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface

Abstract: Newness and distinctiveness is claimed in the features of ornamentation as shown inside the broken line circle in the accompanying representation.

Intelligent Automated Assistant

Abstract: An intelligent automated assistant system engages with the user in an integrated, conversational manner using natural language dialog, and invokes external services when appropriate to obtain information or perform various actions. The system can be implemented using any of a number of different platforms, such as the web, email, smartphone, and the like, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system is based on sets of interrelated domains and tasks, and employs additional functionally powered by external services with which the system can interact.

Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a body; a touchscreen provided to a front and extending to side of the body and configured to display content; and a controller configured to detect one side of the body comes into contact with one side of an external terminal, display a first area on the touchscreen corresponding to a contact area of the body and the external terminal and a second area including the content, receive an input of moving the content displayed in the second area to the first area, display the content in the first area, and share the content in the first area with the external terminal.

Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

Abstract: A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.

Intuitive computing methods and systems

Abstract: A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.