Method and apparatus for managing user interface elements on a touch-screen device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for managing user interface (UI) elements on a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying, via a display portion of the touch screen, a plurality of UI elements in original docking positions;
detecting a plurality of simultaneous contact points on the touch screen different from the original docking positions, the number of contact points is less than the number of UI elements in the original docking positions;
re-arranging the plurality of UI elements from respective original docking positions to place one of the plurality of UI elements under each contact point on the touch screen and to place multiple layers of the plurality of UI elements under on or more of each of the finger contact points in response to the detected plurality of simultaneous contact points, further activation of any one re-arranged UI element of which causes a particular corresponding function, application, or program to be executed;
detecting that all contact points on the touch screen moved simultaneously a predetermined amount; and
swapping a background layer of the layers of UI elements to foreground layer of the layers of UI elements under the respective finger contact points in response to the detected simultaneously move;
wherein a detected direction of simultaneous movement indicates how layers are switched such that a movement in a first direction causes the layers to switch in a first manner while a movement in a second direction causes the layers to switch in a second manner different from the first manner.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing a touch-screen device is provided herein. During operation UI elements are arranged and re-arrange dynamically and based on user'"'"'s current contact locations on the touch screen. Preferably, the contact positions correspond to a user'"'"'s finger positions so that the UI elements are automatically placed where a person'"'"'s fingers make contact with the touch screen. Because the UI elements on the touch screen always “look for” the user'"'"'s fingers, instead of the user looking for them, it becomes much easier and more time-efficient for a user to find a particular UI element.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for managing user interface (UI) elements on a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying, via a display portion of the touch screen, a plurality of UI elements in original docking positions; detecting a plurality of simultaneous contact points on the touch screen different from the original docking positions, the number of contact points is less than the number of UI elements in the original docking positions; re-arranging the plurality of UI elements from respective original docking positions to place one of the plurality of UI elements under each contact point on the touch screen and to place multiple layers of the plurality of UI elements under on or more of each of the finger contact points in response to the detected plurality of simultaneous contact points, further activation of any one re-arranged UI element of which causes a particular corresponding function, application, or program to be executed; detecting that all contact points on the touch screen moved simultaneously a predetermined amount; and swapping a background layer of the layers of UI elements to foreground layer of the layers of UI elements under the respective finger contact points in response to the detected simultaneously move; wherein a detected direction of simultaneous movement indicates how layers are switched such that a movement in a first direction causes the layers to switch in a first manner while a movement in a second direction causes the layers to switch in a second manner different from the first manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device comprising:
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a graphics module configured to display, via a display portion of a touch screen integrated with the device, a plurality of UI elements in original docking positions; an electronic contact module configured to detect a plurality of simultaneous contact points on the touch screen different from the original docking positions, the number of contact points is less than the number of UI elements in the original docking positions; the graphics module further configured to, responsive to the electronic contact module detecting the plurality of simultaneous contact points on the touch screen different from the original docking positions, re-arrange the plurality of UI elements from respective original docking positions to place one of the plurality of UI elements under each contact point on the touch screen and to place multiple layers of the plurality of U elements under on or more of each of the finger contact points, further activation of any one re-arranged UI element of which causes a particular corresponding function, application, or program to be executed; the electronic contact module further configured to detect that all contact points on the touch screen moved simultaneously a predetermined amount; and the graphics module further configured to swap a background layer of the layers of UI elements to foreground layer of the layers of UI elements under the respective finger contact points in response to the detected simultaneously move; wherein a detected direction of simultaneous movement indicates how layers are switched such that a movement in a first direction causes the layers to switch in a first manner while a movement in a second direction causes the layers to switch in a second manner different from the first manner. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification