Touch screen electronic device and associated user interface

Abstract

An electronic device including a display, sensors detecting contact above the display, a processor receiving information from the sensors, and a user interface accessing a plurality of applications, each application running on the electronic device in an activated state and in a non-activated state whereby, in its activated state, the application presents a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display and runs interactively via the GUI, and, in its non-activated state, the application presents a gadget on the display and runs non-interactively to present, within the gadget, dynamically generated information related to the application, wherein the user interface initializes each application in its non-activated state when the electronic device is turned on, and alters the layout when an application transitions to its activated state, by displacing some gadgets from in the display to out of the display, and replacing the displaced gadgets with a window for the activated application's GUI.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A portable wireless computer system, comprising:
 a top surface comprising a touch sensitive display, the top surface containing no movable button;   a processor;   a transceiver for sending and receiving wireless signals over a communications network;   a solid-state memory storing computer instructions configured to:
 enable the portable wireless computer system to run a plurality of applications, the applications comprising a telephone, chat or SMS, a calculator, a camera, an alarm, a clock, a music player, and email; and 
 cause the portable wireless computer system (a) to highlight a first item corresponding to a current position of an object gliding over a linear list of items on said display and to select a second item from the list at least partially based on where the object stops gliding and is lifted from said display, and (b) to present a plurality of communication options on said display for a given contact, wherein the communication options comprise call, email, and chat or SMS; and 
   a housing surrounding said display and enclosing said processor, said transceiver, and said solid-state memory.   
     
     
         22 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of applications comprise: (a) a first application providing options on said display for editing, deleting and sending a picture, (b) a second application and a third application capable of running simultaneously, the second application capable of being presented on top of the third application on said display, and (c) a fourth application and a fifth application capable of running simultaneously, the fourth application being a music player, and the fifth application being email, chat or SMS. 
     
     
         23 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the portable wireless computer system is a mobile phone, and the computer instructions are configured to enable the portable wireless computer system to present a user interface, the user interface comprising at least two states, namely: (a) a tap-present state, wherein a plurality of tap-activatable icons for activating a plurality of corresponding pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks are present, each of the plurality of pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks being activated in response to a tap on its corresponding icon, and (b) a tap-absent state, wherein the plurality of tap-activatable icons are absent, the tap-absent state configured to be transitioned to the tap-present state in response to a multi-step user gesture comprising the object: (i) touching an edge area of said display, and then (ii) gliding on said display away from the edge area. 
     
     
         24 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of tap-activatable icons represent applications comprising a telephone, chat or SMS, a camera, a music player and email. 
     
     
         25 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to activate a function in response to a multi-step user gesture comprising the object touching said display at a location corresponding to a demarcated representation of the function followed by the object gliding away from the location along said display, wherein the maximum diagonal dimension of the representation is less than a thumb's width, the representation represents only the function, and is not relocated during the multi-step user gesture, and the function is not activated differently based on a direction of the gliding. 
     
     
         26 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the function is a member of the group consisting of an application, and a menu for configuring services or settings for an operations system or an application, and wherein the maximum diagonal dimension of the representation is less than one inch. 
     
     
         27 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 26 , wherein the computer instructions are configured (a) to enable the portable wireless computer system to scroll content on said display in response to the object touching a first location on said display and gliding up or down on said display from the first location, and (b) to enable the portable wireless computer system to move an application, a function, a service or a setting one step forward or backward or to close or remove an application, a function, a service or a setting on said display in response to the object touching a second location on said display and gliding to the right or to the left from the second location. 
     
     
         28 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the function activated in response to the multi-step user gesture presents one or more alphanumeric characters in a keyboard user interface on said display. 
     
     
         29 . The portable wireless computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to enable the portable wireless computer system:
 (a) to enable a graphical user interface for accessing a plurality of gadgets, each gadget comprising an area containing at least a portion of dynamically generated data related to that gadget, wherein the user interface:
 (i) arranges the plurality of gadgets in a layout that is larger than said display, whereby some of the gadgets are in said display and others of the gadgets are out of said display; 
 (ii) expands one of the gadgets in said display beyond an edge of said display to show more data therein by shifting other gadgets; and 
 (iii) pans the layout within said display to bring some of the gadgets into said display and/or to move some of the gadgets out of said display, in response to the object touching one of the gadgets on said display, and then the object gliding along said display away from the touched location; and 
   (b) to detect an object touching with hard pressure an on-screen element selected from the group consisting of a gadget, a letter, a key, a button or an icon and then to activate the on-screen element, thereby resulting in: (i) enlarging the on-screen element, (ii) displaying a callout balloon with a copy of the on-screen element inside, or (iii) a combination thereof.   
     
     
         30 . A mobile phone system, comprising:
 a top surface comprising a touch sensitive display, the top surface having no movable button;   a processor coupled to said display;   a transceiver for sending and receiving wireless signals over a communications network;   a solid-state memory storing computer instructions configured to enable the mobile phone system: (a) to activate a function in response to a first multi-step user gesture comprising an object touching an area corresponding to a demarcated representation of the function followed by gliding away from the area on said display, wherein the demarcated representation represents only the function and does not relocate during the first multi-step user gesture, and the function is not activated differently based on a direction of the gliding, (b) to present a plurality of functions, applications, services or settings in response to a second multi-step user gesture comprising the object touching an edge area of said display followed by gliding within said display away from the edge area, (c) to highlight a first item corresponding to a current position of the object gliding over a linear list of items on said display and to select a second item from the list at least partially based on where the object stops gliding and is lifted from said display, (d) to run a first application wherein a touch keyboard presented on said display enables a user to edit or save text in the first application, (e) to run a second application configured to provide options for editing, deleting and sending a picture on said display, (f) to present a plurality of communication options for a given contact, the communication options comprising call, email, and chat or SMS, (g) to scroll content on said display in response to the object touching a first location on said display and gliding up or down on said display from the first location, and (h) to move an application, a function, a service or a setting one step forward or backward or to close or remove an application, a function, a service or a setting on said display in response to the object touching a second location on said display and gliding to the right or to the left from the second location; and   a housing surrounding said display and enclosing said processor, said transceiver, and said solid-state memory.   
     
     
         31 . The mobile phone system of  claim 30 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to enable the mobile phone system to present a user interface, the user interface comprising at least two states, namely, (a) a tap-present state, wherein a plurality of tap-activatable icons for activating a plurality of corresponding pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks are present, each of the plurality of pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks being activated in response to a tap on its corresponding icon, and (b) a tap-absent state, wherein the plurality of tap-activatable icons are absent, the tap-absent state configured to be transitioned to the tap-present state in response to a third multi-step user gesture comprising: the object (i) touching an edge area of said display, and then (ii) gliding on said display away from the edge area. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile phone system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of tap-activatable icons represent applications comprising a telephone, chat or SMS, a camera, a music player and email. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile phone system of  claim 30 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to enable the mobile phone system to run a plurality of applications, the applications comprising: (a) a telephone, chat or SMS, a calculator, a camera, an alarm, a clock, a music player, and email; (b) a third application and a fourth application capable of running simultaneously, the third application capable of being presented on top of the fourth application on said display; and (c) a fifth application and a sixth application capable of running simultaneously, the fifth application being a music player and the sixth application being email, chat or SMS. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile phone system of  claim 30 , wherein the text saved in the first application is configured for use as an address, a telephone number, or a message in phone call, email, chat or SMS. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile phone system of  claim 30 , wherein the function activated in response to the first multi-step user gesture enables an alphanumeric character to be entered using a keyboard presented on said display. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile phone system of  claim 30 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to enable the mobile phone system:
 (1) to enable a graphical user interface for accessing a plurality of gadgets, each gadget comprising an area containing at least a portion of dynamically generated data related to that gadget, wherein the user interface:
 (a) arranges the plurality of gadgets in a layout that is larger than said display, whereby some of the gadgets are in said display and others of the gadgets are out of said display; 
 (b) expands one of the gadgets in said display to show more data therein by shifting other gadgets; and 
 (c) pans the layout within said display to bring some of the gadgets into said display and/or to move some of the gadgets out of said display, in response to (i) the object touching one of the gadgets on said display, and then (ii) the object gliding along said display away from the touched location; and 
   (2) to detect an object touching with hard pressure an on-screen element from the group consisting of a gadget, a letter, a key, a button or an icon and then to activate the on-screen element, thereby resulting in (a) enlarging the on-screen element, (b) displaying a callout balloon with a copy of the on-screen element inside, or (c) a combination thereof.   
     
     
         37 . A mobile phone system, comprising:
 a top surface comprising a touch sensitive display, the top surface containing no movable button;   a processor;   a transceiver for sending and receiving wireless signals over a communications network;   a solid-state memory storing computer instructions configured to enable the mobile phone system: (1) to highlight a first item corresponding to a current position of an object gliding over a linear list of items on said display and to select a second item from the list at least partially based on where the object stops gliding and thereafter is lifted from said display, and (2) to provide a user interface, the user interface comprising at least two states, namely: (a) a tap-present state, wherein a plurality of tap-activatable icons for activating a plurality of corresponding pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks are present, each of the plurality of pre-designated applications, functions, services, settings or tasks being activated in response to a tap on its corresponding icon, and (b) a tap-absent state, wherein the plurality of tap-activatable icons are absent, the tap-absent state configured to be transitioned to the tap-present state in response to a first multi-step user gesture comprising: the object (i) touching an edge area of said display, and then (ii) gliding on said display away from the edge area; and   a housing surrounding said display and enclosing said processor, said transceiver, and said solid-state memory.   
     
     
         38 . The mobile phone system of  claim 37 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured to enable the mobile phone system to run a plurality of applications, the applications comprising a phone, chat or SMS, a calculator, a camera, an alarm, a clock, a music player, and email, the plurality of applications comprising: (a) a first application wherein a touch keyboard presented on said display enables a user to edit or save text in the first application, (b) a second application providing options for editing, deleting and sending a picture on said display, (c) a third application and a fourth application capable of running simultaneously, the third application capable of being presented on top of the fourth application on said display, and (d) a fifth application and a sixth application capable of running simultaneously, the fifth application being a music player, and the sixth application being email, chat or SMS, and (e) a seventh application providing a plurality of communication options for a given contact, the communication options comprising call, email, and chat or SMS. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile phone system of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions are configured to enable the mobile phone system: (a) to scroll content on said display in response to the object touching a first location on said display and gliding up or down on said display from the first location, (b) to move an application, a function, a service or a setting one step forward or backward or to close or remove an application, a function, a service or a setting on said display in response to the object touching a second location on said display and gliding to the right or to the left from the second location, and (c) to activate a function in response to a second multi-step user gesture comprising the object touching an area corresponding to a demarcated representation of the function followed by gliding away from the area on said display, wherein the demarcated representation represents only the function and does not relocate during the second multi-step user gesture, and the function is not activated differently based on a direction of the gliding. 
     
     
         40 . The mobile phone system of  claim 39 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to enable the mobile phone system:
 (a) to enable a graphical user interface for accessing a plurality of gadgets, each gadget comprising an area containing at least a portion of dynamically generated data related to that gadget, wherein the user interface:
 (i) arranges the plurality of gadgets in a layout that is larger than said display, whereby some of the gadgets are in said display and others of the gadgets are out of said display; 
 (ii) expands one of the gadgets in said display to show more data therein by shifting other gadgets; and 
 (iii) pans the layout within said display to bring some of the gadgets into said display and/or to move some of the gadgets out of said display, in response to the object touching one of the gadgets on said display, and then the object gliding along said display away from the touched location; and 
   (b) to detect an object hard-pressing an on-screen element from the group consisting of a gadget, a letter, a key, a button or an icon, and then to activate the on-screen element, thereby resulting in (i) enlarging the on-screen element, (ii) displaying a callout balloon with a copy of the on-screen element inside, or (iii) a combination thereof.