Systems, devices, and methods for dynamically providing user interface controls at a touch-sensitive secondary device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12399667-B2
Application number	US-202418759425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2024
Priority date	Jan 23, 2014
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

A computing system comprises one or more processors, memory, a first housing that includes a primary display, and a second housing at least partially containing a physical keyboard and a touch-sensitive secondary display that is distinct from the primary display. The computing system displays a first user interface on the primary display, the first user interface includes one or more user interface elements. The computing system identifies, from the one or more user interface elements, an active user interface element that is in focus on the primary display. The computer system, in accordance with a determination that the active user interface element that is in focus on the primary display is associated with the application executed by the computing system, displays, on the touch-sensitive secondary display, a second user interface that includes a first set of one or more affordances corresponding to the application.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a first display portion, a second display portion and a hinge connecting the first display portion to the second display portion:
displaying, on the first display portion, a first application icon that corresponds to a first application;
while displaying the first application icon on the first display portion, detecting a first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon;
in response to detecting the first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon on the first display portion, displaying an application user interface for the first application on the second display portion;
while displaying the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, detecting a second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion; and
in response to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, displaying content corresponding to the first application on the first display portion that was not displayed prior to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to detecting the first input:
concurrently displaying with the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, a user interface for the first application on the first display portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interface for the first application on the first display portion is different from the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application is a music application.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application is a media viewing application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input are touch gestures.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second display portion includes a power button.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second input includes selecting content.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second input includes navigating through content.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application icon is displayed in an arrangement of multiple application icons.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to detecting an event, displaying a notification on the second display portion without displaying the notification on the first display portion.

12. An electronic device, comprising:
a first display portion;
a second display portion;
a hinge connecting the first display portion to the second display portion;
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 one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying, on the first display portion, a first application icon that corresponds to a first application;
while displaying the first application icon on the first display portion, detecting a first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon;
in response to detecting the first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon on the first display portion, displaying an application user interface for the first application on the second display portion;
while displaying the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, detecting a second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion; and
in response to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, displaying content corresponding to the first application on the first display portion that was not displayed prior to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
in response to display the first input:
concurrently displaying with the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, a user interface for the first application on the first display portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the user interface for the first application on the first display portion is different from the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first application is a music application.

16. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first application is a media viewing application.

17. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first input and the second input are touch gestures.

18. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second display portion includes a power button.

19. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second input includes selecting content.

20. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second input includes navigating through content.

21. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first application icon is displayed in an arrangement of multiple application icons.

22. The electronic device of claim 12 , the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
in response to detecting an event, display a notification on the second display portion without displaying the notification on the first display portion.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by an electronic device that includes a first display portion, a second display portion and a hinge connecting the first display portion to the second display portion, cause the electronic device to:
display, on the first display portion, a first application icon that corresponds to a first application;
while displaying the first application icon on the first display portion, detect a first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon;
in response to detecting the first input corresponding to selection of the first application icon on the first display portion, display an application user interface for the first application on the second display portion;
while displaying the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, detect a second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion; and
in response to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion, display content corresponding to the first application on the first display portion that was not displayed prior to detecting the second input directed to the application user interface for the first application on the second display portion.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by th

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Bernstein Jeffrey Traer
• Kerr Duncan R
• Morrell John B
• Yang Lawrence Y
• Wilson Eric Lance
• Meyer Adam S

Classifications

• G06F2203/04808

  Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/0486

  Drag-and-drop · CPC title

• G06F2203/04803

  Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title