Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen where the data pertains to touch input with respect to the multipoint sensing device, and identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on the data from the multipoint sensing device.

Gestures for touch sensitive input devices

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.

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

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

Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface

A user interface method is disclosed. The method includes detecting a touch and then determining a user interface mode when a touch is detected. The method further includes activating one or more GUI elements based on the user interface mode and in response to the detected touch.

Mode-based graphical user interfaces for touch sensitive input devices

Proximity based systems and methods that are implemented on an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device. The method also includes performing an action in the electronic device when an object is sensed.

Proximity detector in handheld device

A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating operator interaction with a data processing system which includes a menu-formatted graphical user interface. The menu-formatted graphical user interface is provided on a display in the data processing system for interaction with the operator, and includes a plurality of menu fields whose identities and display positions are determined by an initial display configuration. Additionally, a menu field palette is provided in the graphical user interface which includes at least one additional possible menu field. Operator input is monitored, and at least one of the following tasks are performed in response to a predetermined operator input: (1) including a particular one of the additional possible menu fields from the menu field palette in the menu-formatted graphical user interface, (2) removing a particular menu field from the menu-formatted graphical user interface, and (3) automatically providing a visual representation in the menu field palette of particular menu fields which have been included or removed from the menu-formatted graphical user interface.

Method and apparatus for facilitating operator reconfiguration of a graphical user interface in a data processing system

The present invention is directed of a method for centralized storage of user and application information where user and application information can be added, deleted, modified, updated, and enhanced to customize user compute environments and to improve overall system administration and oversight. The information is stored in a database file which is interfaced with the user and/or system administrator through a customization user interface (CUI). The CUI includes windowing functionality and allows the user to invoke the method steps for adding, deleting, and updating user information and for adding, deleting, and updating application information.

Single access to common user/application information

A method to maintain all of the information that is 
originally displayed in a window on the display screen in an 
interactive information handling system, as the size of the 
window is decreased. By selecting from a plurality of 
different character sets that are stored in the system, a 
character set is obtained which has the appropriate width 
and height attributes that allow the original text 
characters to be substituted for the corresponding text 
characters originally displayed. Since the selected 
character set contains proportionally smaller characters no 
information is lost because the size of the window was 
decreased. The different character sets that are stored may be hardware 
implemented such as ROM character generators based on 
different sized character boxes or software generated 
character sets which are also based on different sized 
character sets. The type of font is important only in the 
context that some fonts are more readable as the size of the 
characters decrease than others. The method allows the 
operator to dynamically vary the window size after the 
initial window has been displayed in response to some 
predetermined action by the operator. Any of the techniques suggested in the art for changing the 
window size would be appropriate. In the preferred 
embodiment of the method, the system includes a "mouse". 
Movement of the mouse in a generally horizontal direction 
with the button in the held position causes the horizontal 
window size to increase or decrease. The amount of decrease 
is calculated in real time by monitoring the movement of the 
mouse and cursor position. A table is stored in memory which 
lists all of the displayable character sets that are 
available. Each character set has a width attribute and a 
height attribute. A percentage decrease in width and height 
is stored in the table representing changes from the 
corresponding attributes of standard character set that is 
normally used to display information in the system. A new 
character set is selected from the table in accordance with 
the calculated percentage of decrease and the new character 
substituted in the text. If the user sizes the window below 
limits of readability or system capability for resolution, 
the window components are replaced with a graphic 
representation of the data or with icons. If the user 
decides to restore the size of the original, a 1-step key or 
mouse button sequence is available.

Method to automatically vary displayed object size with variations in window size

The menu hierarchy of one or more computer programs on one or more computer systems is visually displayed in a graphical tree structure to facilitate the navigation by a user from one menu in a hierarchical structure of menus to another. Navigation from one menu to another is accomplished by selecting a menu in the graphical menu tree using a pointing device. The navigation may be from one menu to another in the hierarchy of one application program in a computer system or from one menu in the program to a specific menu in the hierarchy of another application program in the computer system or in another computer system. The benefits of the technique are expanded function for intra and interwindow navigation, enhanced learning of the computer system by visual presentation of capabilities and structure, and reduced learning requirements for the user to achieve navigation.

Method of navigating among program menus using a graphical menu tree

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system which includes a plurality of interactive terminals which are interconnected to permit an end user at each terminal to interchange information with each other and to maintain an electronic calendar. The method facilitates the reply process to an electronic invitation to attend a meeting that is issued by one of the end users by arranging for the system to advise the invitee that a meeting notice is available for review in the "In Box" of the terminal. The method causes a composite screen to be built which simultaneously displays the meeting details and the relevant section, i.e. a day of entries, of the owner's calendar in a side by side format so that calendar entries are correlated to the meeting date and time. The composite display permits an interactive selection by the calendar owner end user of at least one option which can be either to accept the invitation and calendar the meeting or to reject the invitation. In either event a reply is automatically sent to the end user that issued the invitation and the invitee is returned to the task that was being processed when the initial message was received.

Robert J. Torres

Papers

Method and apparatus for facilitating operator reconfiguration of a graphical user interface in a data processing system

Single access to common user/application information

Method to automatically vary displayed object size with variations in window size

Method of navigating among program menus using a graphical menu tree

Method to facilitate a reply to electronic meeting invitation in an interactive multi-terminal system employing electronic calendars