Device, method, and graphical user interface for selecting user interface objects

• US 10,095,391 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer, Missig, Julian, Cieplinski, Avi E., Brown, Matthew I., Khoe, May-Li, Victor, B. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pillai, Namitha
• Application Number:
  US14/536,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20150067602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An electronic device with a display, touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a first user interface object and detects first movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of a focus selector toward the first user interface object. In response to detecting the first movement, the device moves the focus selector to the first user interface object; and determines an intensity of the contact. After detecting the first movement, the device detects second movement of the contact. In response to detecting the second movement of the contact, when the contact meets selection criteria based on an intensity of the contact, the device moves the focus selector and the first user interface object; and when the contact does not meet the selection criteria, the device moves the focus selector without moving the first user interface object.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the electronic device to:

display a first user interface object at a first location on the display;

detect a contact with the touch-sensitive surface;

detect first movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of a focus selector toward the first location;

in response to detecting the first movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the first user interface object to the first location, determine an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the first location;

after detecting the first movement of the contact, detect second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the first location; and

in response to detecting the second movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the first user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the first user interface object include that the contact meets a predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the first location, move the focus selector and the first user interface object away from the first location in accordance with the second movement of the contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the first user interface object, move the focus selector in accordance with the second movement of the contact without moving the first user interface object,

wherein a second user interface object is displayed at a second location on the display while the first user interface object is displayed on the display, and the one or more programs include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to;

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

after detecting the second movement of the contact, detect third movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector to the second location;

in response to detecting the third movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the second user interface object to the second location, determine an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the second location;

after detecting the third movement of the contact, detect fourth movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the second location;

in response to detecting the fourth movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the second user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the second user interface object include that the contact meets the predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the second location, move the focus selector, the first user interface object, and the second user interface object away from the second location in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the second user interface object, move the focus selector and the first user interface object in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact without moving the second user interface object; and

,

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object, or the first and second user interface objects, in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

detect lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, wherein lift off breaks contact with the touch sensitive surface, and,

in response to detecting lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, deselect the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects and drop the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects in the user interface.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

movement of the first user interface object is constrained to a predefined path in the user interface; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object along the predefined path in accordance with a component of motion of the focus selector that corresponds to an allowed direction of motion along the predefined path.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first user interface object has a two-dimensional range of motion; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object to a location at or adjacent to the focus selector on the display.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on an amount of change in intensity of the contact.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on a magnitude of intensity of the contact.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, including instructions which cause the device to, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, display a representation of the first user interface object and a representation of the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, including instructions which cause the device to, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, display a representation of a group of objects corresponding to the first user interface object and the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, including instructions which cause the device to, after detecting the first movement and before detecting the fourth movement:

detect a decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold; and

after detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold, continue to move the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a touch-sensitive surface;

one or more sensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface;

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 a first user interface object at a first location on the display;

detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive surface;

detecting first movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of a focus selector toward the first location;

in response to detecting the first movement of the contact

that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the first user interface object to the first location,

determining an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the first location;

after detecting the first movement of the contact, detecting second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the first location; and

in response to detecting the second movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the first user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the first user interface object include that the contact meets a predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the first location, moving the focus selector and the first user interface object away from the first location in accordance with the second movement of the contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the first user interface object, moving the focus selector in accordance with the second movement of the contact without moving the first user interface object,

wherein a second user interface object is displayed at a second location on the display while the first user interface object is displayed on the display, and the device includes instructions for;

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

after detecting the second movement of the contact, detecting third movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector to the second location;

in response to detecting the third movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the second user interface object to the second location determine an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the second location;

after detecting the third movement of the contact, detecting fourth movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the second location;

in response to detecting the fourth movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the second user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the second user interface object include that the contact meets the predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the second location, moving the focus selector, the first user interface object, and the second user interface object away from the second location in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the second user interface object, moving the focus selector and the first user interface object in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact without moving the second user interface object; and

,

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object, or the first and second user interface objects, in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

detecting lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, wherein lift off breaks contact with the touch sensitive surface, and,

in response to detecting lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, deselecting the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects and dropping the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects in the user interface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein:

movement of the first user interface object is constrained to a predefined path in the user interface; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object along the predefined path in accordance with a component of motion of the focus selector that corresponds to an allowed direction of motion along the predefined path.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein:

the first user interface object has a two-dimensional range of motion; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object to a location at or adjacent to the focus selector on the display.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on an amount of change in intensity of the contact.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on a magnitude of intensity of the contact.

14. The device of claim 9, including instructions for, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, displaying a representation of the first user interface object and a representation of the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

15. The device of claim 9, including instructions for, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, displaying a representation of a group of objects corresponding to the first user interface object and the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

16. The device of claim 9, including instructions for, after detecting the first movement and before detecting the fourth movement:

detecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold; and

after detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold, continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

17. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, wherein the device includes one or more sensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface;

displaying a first user interface object at a first location on the display;

detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive surface;

detecting first movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of a focus selector toward the first location;

in response to detecting the first movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the first user interface object to the first location, determining an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the first location;

after detecting the first movement of the contact, detecting second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the first location; and

in response to detecting the second movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the first user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the first user interface object include that the contact meets a predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the first location, moving the focus selector and the first user interface object away from the first location in accordance with the second movement of the contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the first user interface object, moving the focus selector in accordance with the second movement of the contact without moving the first user interface object,

wherein a second user interface object is displayed at a second location on the display while the first user interface object is displayed on the display, and the method includes;

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

after detecting the second movement of the contact, detecting third movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector to the second location;

in response to detecting the third movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector from a location remote from the second user interface object to the second location, determine an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the second location;

after detecting the third movement of the contact, detecting fourth movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the second location;

in response to detecting the fourth movement of the contact;

in accordance with a determination that the contact meets selection criteria for the second user interface object, wherein the selection criteria for the second user interface object include that the contact meets the predefined intensity threshold while the focus selector is at the second location, moving the focus selector, the first user interface object, and the second user interface object away from the second location in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the selection criteria for the second user interface object, moving the focus selector and the first user interface object in accordance with the fourth movement of the contact without moving the second user interface object; and

,

while continuing to detect the contact and moving the first user interface object, or the first and second user interface objects, in accordance with movement of the focus selector;

detecting lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, wherein lift off breaks contact with the touch sensitive surface, and,

in response to detecting lift off of the contact from the touch sensitive surface, deselecting the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects and dropping the first user interface object or the first and second user interface objects in the user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

movement of the first user interface object is constrained to a predefined path in the user interface; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object along the predefined path in accordance with a component of motion of the focus selector that corresponds to an allowed direction of motion along the predefined path.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the first user interface object has a two-dimensional range of motion; and

moving the first user interface object includes moving the first user interface object to a location at or adjacent to the focus selector on the display.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on an amount of change in intensity of the contact.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the predefined intensity threshold is based at least in part on a magnitude of intensity of the contact.

22. The method of claim 17, including, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, displaying a representation of the first user interface object and a representation of the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

23. The method of claim 17, including, after detecting the fourth movement of the contact, displaying a representation of a group of objects corresponding to the first user interface object and the second user interface object moving on the display in accordance with movement of the focus selector.

24. The method of claim 17, including, after detecting the first movement and before detecting the fourth movement:

detecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold; and

after detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact below the predefined intensity threshold, continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with movement of the focus selector.