Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications using a three-dimensional stack of images of open applications

• US 10,101,879 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Molina, Hugo
• Application Number:
  US14/814,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A first application view is displayed that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications. A first input is detected. In response, an application view selection mode is entered and images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display. A gesture is detected on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack. In response, a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed, the three-dimensional stack of images ceases to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:

display a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes the first application, a second application that is different from the first application, and a third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

enter an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view;

concurrently display, in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display in a predefined area, images of open applications and icons that correspond to the images of open applications, including an image and icon of the first application, an image and icon of the second application that is different from the first application, and an image and icon of the third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein;

sizes of the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack are based at least in part on recency of use of corresponding open applications;

the first application is more recently used than the second application;

a size of the image of the first application is larger than a size of the image of the second application;

the second application is more recently used than the third application; and

the size of the image of the second application is larger than a size of the image of the third application;

a first portion of the image of the second application is visible and a second portion of the image of the second application is hidden behind the image of the first application;

the icon of the second application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

a first portion of the image of the third application is visible and a second portion of the image of the third application is hidden behind the first portion of the image of the second application; and

the icon of the third application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application; and

the icon of the first application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the image of the first application;

detect a gesture on a respective image of a respective open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the respective open application;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the first application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the first application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the second application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the second application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the second application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the third application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the third application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the third application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein a front image in the images of open application corresponds to a most recently used open application.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein a second image in the images of open application corresponds to a second recently used open application, a portion of the second image is directly behind the first image, and the first image occludes the portion of the second image.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:

while in the application view selection mode;

detect a swipe gesture on the predefined area; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture, scroll the images of open applications of the three-dimensional stack in the predefined area in accordance with the swipe gesture.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes a mail application and an image in the images of open applications corresponds to the mail application.

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

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the third application; and

the upper corner of the image of the first application is an upper left corner of the image of the first application.

7. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes the first application, a second application that is different from the first application, and a third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

concurrently displaying, in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display in a predefined area, images of open applications and icons that correspond to the images of open applications, including an image and icon of the first application, an image and icon of the second application that is different from the first application, and an image and icon of the third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein;

sizes of the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack are based at least in part on recency of use of corresponding open applications;

the first application is more recently used than the second application;

a size of the image of the first application is larger than a size of the image of the second application;

the second application is more recently used than the third application; and

the size of the image of the second application is larger than a size of the image of the third application;

a first portion of the image of the second application is visible and a second portion of the image of the second application is hidden behind the image of the first application;

the icon of the second application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

a first portion of the image of the third application is visible and a second portion of the image of the third application is hidden behind the first portion of the image of the second application; and

the icon of the third application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application;

the icon of the first application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the image of the first application;

detecting a gesture on a respective image of a respective open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the respective open application;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the first application;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the first application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exiting the application view selection mode;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the second application;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the second application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the second application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exiting the application view selection mode; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the third application;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the third application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the third application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a front image in the images of open application corresponds to a most recently used open application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a second image in the images of open application corresponds to a second recently used open application, a portion of the second image is directly behind the first image, and the first image occludes the portion of the second image.

10. The method of claim 7, including:

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a swipe gesture on the predefined area; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture, scrolling the images of open applications of the three-dimensional stack in the predefined area in accordance with the swipe gesture.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes a mail application and an image in the images of open applications corresponds to the mail application.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the third application; and

the upper corner of the image of the first application is an upper left corner of the image of the first application.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in memory, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

display a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes the first application, a second application that is different from the first application, and a third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

enter an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

concurrently display, in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display in a predefined area, images of open applications and icons that correspond to the images of open applications, including an image and icon of the first application, an image and icon of the second application that is different from the first application, and an image and icon of the third application that is different from the first application and the second application, wherein;

sizes of the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack are based at least in part on recency of use of corresponding open applications;

the first application is more recently used than the second application;

a size of the image of the first application is larger than a size of the image of the second application;

the second application is more recently used than the third application; and

the size of the image of the second application is larger than a size of the image of the third application;

a first portion of the image of the second application is visible and a second portion of the image of the second application is hidden behind the image of the first application;

the icon of the second application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

a first portion of the image of the third application is visible and a second portion of the image of the third application is hidden behind the first portion of the image of the second application; and

the icon of the third application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application; and

the icon of the first application is displayed at a location corresponding to an upper corner of the image of the first application;

detect a gesture on a respective image of a respective open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the respective open application;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the first application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the first application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode;

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the second application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the second application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the second application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the respective open application is the third application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for the third application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view for the third application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack that includes;

the images of open applications; and

the icons that correspond to the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack; and

exit the application view selection mode.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein a front image in the images of open application corresponds to a most recently used open application.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein a second image in the images of open application corresponds to a second recently used open application, a portion of the second image is directly behind the first image, and the first image occludes the portion of the second image.

16. The device of claim 13, including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:

while in the application view selection mode;

detect a swipe gesture on the predefined area; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture, scroll the images of open applications of the three-dimensional stack in the predefined area in accordance with the swipe gesture.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of concurrently open applications includes a mail application and an image in the images of open applications corresponds to the mail application.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein:

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the second application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the second application;

the upper corner of the first portion of the image of the third application is an upper left corner of the first portion of the image of the third application; and

the upper corner of the image of the first application is an upper left corner of the image of the first application.