Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC

Barnesandnoble.com LLC

Gerald B Cueto

Kourtny Minh Hicks

Amir Mesguich Havilio

Dale J Brewer

Michael Wilson

Techniques are disclosed for providing a thumbnail scrubber mode in electronic devices, such as a touch screen device. In an embodiment, a thumbnail scrubber may be displayed to the user in response to a distinguishable touch screen gesture, or in response to a toolbar command. A toolbar may be displayed on the device including a scrubber bar, and the thumbnail scrubber mode may be invoked when a user interacts with the scrubber bar. The thumbnail scrubber displays multiple thumbnail images of pages of digital content and allows the user to preview and scroll through the digital content while continuing to display the current page in the main viewer of the device. After scrubbing through the digital content pages, the user may select one of the thumbnail images in the scrubber in order to access that page of the digital content.

Visual thumbnail, scrubber for digital content

Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content.

Editing annotations of paginated digital content

Multi-purpose tool for interacting with paginated digital content

Visual thumbnail scrubber for digital content

Merging annotations of paginated digital content

Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a pressure-sensitive control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The pressure control feature function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based pressure-sensitive control feature is configured to allow for squeeze actions, tapping actions, and various combinations of such pressure-types on the pressure-sensitive control feature to uniquely identify a corresponding function to be carried out on the computing device.

Stylus-based pressure-sensitive area for UI control of computing device

A stylus-based notification system is disclosed. In some embodiments, a stylus configured as described herein is capable of one-way or two-way wireless communication with an electronic device that is paired with the stylus and includes one or more visual features for providing a user with visual notifications and/or feedback. In some cases, for example, a given visual indicator such as an LED ring or other indicator on the stylus that emits light that is visible at any stylus orientation may alert a user that data has been received by the stylus from an associated device and/or sent from the stylus to such device.

Stylus-based notification system

Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a slider control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or is otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The slider function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based slider is biased to return to a middle, or home, position thereby allowing for both forward and backward sliding actions. An appropriate animation or sound or haptic response can also be provided that may be indicative of or otherwise related to the action being taken.

Stylus-based slider functionality for UI control of computing device

Techniques are disclosed for performing stylus-based actions in electronic devices without the stylus having to touch the stylus detection surface. A stylus action may include manipulating one or more control features of the stylus, and each control feature action or combination of actions may be associated with distinct functions. The device may detect, for example, whether the stylus is pointing to specific content or one or more UI control features or icons on the device, for which a corresponding function can be performed. In other cases, functions can be performed without reference to specific content. The device may track stylus location over the detection surface and the non-touch stylus action may be location sensitive. The various functions assigned to non-touch stylus actions may be performed on an application specific level, or a global device level. An animation can be displayed as non-touch stylus actions are executed.

Stylus sensitive device with hover over stylus control functionality

Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in electronic devices by placing a device stylus in an idle position. The function may be, for example, activating a device idle mode, activating power saver or power-down mode, activating sleep mode, activating a screensaver, and/or locking the device. In some embodiments, an idle position may include setting the stylus in a horizontal position next to but not touching the device, setting the stylus in a stationary position relative to the computing device, or latching the stylus to the device or to a protective device case. In some embodiments, the stylus and/or device can detect the stylus' angle of inclination with respect to the device, thus detecting the nature of the stylus' resting. In other embodiments, when a magnetic stylus is latched to the device or device case, a magnetic sensor within the device may detect the stylus, thus activating a stylus idle mode.

Stylus sensitive device with stylus idle functionality

Techniques are disclosed for a swipe based file manager navigation mode in electronic computing devices, such as a touch screen device. Digital files may be organized in a hierarchical or treelike file manager capable of having multiple directory or folder levels. Folders (or directories) may allow a user to group files into separate collections, and folders may be organized within other folders. In some embodiments, the navigation mode may allow a user to navigate through or access the directory levels of the file manager using vertical swipe gestures. In some such embodiments, a vertical gesture performed to access a child (lower) directory level may have to be performed over the directory or folder to be accessed. As the user navigates through the directory levels, the navigation mode may be configured, in some embodiments, to provide animations.

UI techniques for navigating a file manager of an electronic computing device

Techniques are disclosed for expanding and collapsing content in electronic touch sensitive devices. The expand/collapse function can be used to navigate through content that may be displayed on a screen. The user can engage the function with a pinch-based gesture. In some cases, the UI feature includes a reading pane that displays a sample of the previously hidden detailed data relating to the content currently displayed on the screen. Background content outside the reading pane can be faded or otherwise softened. In some cases, the UI feature also includes, or alternatively includes, tap-expand feature that allows the user to select one or more items that are intended to be expanded or collapsed. Such a feature can include an initial single contact, followed by an inward or outward pinch with at least one additional contact point, in some example case.

Touch sensitive device with pinch-based expand/collapse function

Annotation mode including multiple note types for paginated digital content

A stylus-based data storage and access system is disclosed. In some example embodiments, a stylus configured as described herein includes storage for storing a user's access data, profile (e.g., device settings and preferences), and/or content and can wirelessly communicate with an electronic device that is paired therewith. Upon pairing, the user of the stylus can access his or her user data (stored locally on the stylus) and/or other data on the paired device or in the cloud. If desired, additional users having styluses of their own can use the same device in like fashion. Once a new user is logged into the device, any previous user can be logged out. A given user can utilize the user interface provided by the device to setup stylus-based access to the device by providing access information, which can be saved to the stylus. Subsequently, the user may review/alter that stylus-based information, as desired.

Stylus-based user data storage and access

Techniques are disclosed for providing a color pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The color pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create a specific color pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable color pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of colors. Example color patterns include a combination of colors arranged in a certain order, a combination of colors combined with a password, a combination of colors combined with one or more words written out in one or more colors, or a combination of colors each matched with a specific image. When the user has arranged the proper color pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct color pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Gerald B Cueto