Layer-based user interface

• US 10,102,010 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idean Enterprises Oy (Capgemini SE)
• Original Assignee: Idean Enterprises Oy (Capgemini SE)
• Inventors: Kallio, Markus, Lahdesmaki, Risto, Vanska, Marko, Heiskanen, Petri, Kaki, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Hien L
• Application Number:
  US15/227,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20160342430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A layer-based user interface for computing devices. In the layer-based user interface, the functionality of the device is distributed to layers and accessed via them. Each layer is composed of a number of components or features that are typically represented by icons. The components can present, for example, data or functions to the user. The components can be interactive or uninteractive. A subset of interactive components is navigational. Navigational components are a special case of the components because of their central role in the user interface concept.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface in a computing device, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being at least partially invisible;

choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components;

said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component;

launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating the second layer that was previously invisible and has become visible; and

wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a scrollable menu.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a non-scrollable menu.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are active components arranged to retrieve the visualization of the component from a network service.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said layers further comprise sub-layers having at least one component.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering a component includes at least one of the following:

time-based trigger, application-based trigger, pressure-based trigger and orientation-based trigger.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions.

7. A computer program comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising:

arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being at least partially invisible;

choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components;

said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component;

launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating the second layer that was previously invisible and has become visible; and

wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.

13. The computer program according to claim 7, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions.

8. An apparatus comprising means for executing a computer program embodied on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising:

arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being at least partially invisible;

choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components;

said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component;

launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating the second layer that was previously invisible and has become visible; and

wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises control means, wherein the control means is at least one of the following:

a touch sensitive display, an orientation sensor and a keypad.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a network connection.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions.