Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for moving on-screen objects without using a cursor

• US 10,209,877 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US15/470,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20170262149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179, 345211, 345212, 345589, 345630, 345684, 715763-769, 715702, 715784, 715821, 463 16, 463 30, 463 31, 463 36, 463 43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 3/0486 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

Abstract

A technique for providing more intuitive user interfaces that use direct finger manipulation to interact with an object on a touch screen display. In particular, the technique displays, on the touch screen display, an object and detects a finger contact to interact with the object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the single finger contact is associated with a touch area, and wherein a size or shape of the touch area changes in accordance with changes in a size or shape of the single finger contact with the touch screen display;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the representative point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein moving the object includes updating display of the object to a location on the touch screen display that corresponds with the movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein moving the object includes moving the object independent of a cursor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

in response to ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display, disconnecting the touch area from the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a representative point within the touch area includes modeling the touch area as a geometric object.

8. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the single finger contact is associated with a touch area, and wherein a size or shape of the touch area changes in accordance with changes in a size or shape of the single finger contact with the touch screen display;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the representative point.

10. The device of claim 8, the one or more programs further including instruction for:

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein moving the object includes updating display of the object to a location on the touch screen display that corresponds with the movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein moving the object includes moving the object independent of a cursor.

13. The device of claim 8, the one or more programs further including instruction for:

subsequent to determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

in response to ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display, disconnecting the touch area from the object.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein determining a representative point within the touch area includes modeling the touch area as a geometric object.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, the one or more programs including instructions for:

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the single finger contact is associated with a touch area, and wherein a size or shape of the touch area changes in accordance with changes in a size or shape of the single finger contact with the touch screen display;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the representative point.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein moving the object includes updating display of the object to a location on the touch screen display that corresponds with the movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein moving the object includes moving the object independent of a cursor.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

subsequent to determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

in response to ceasing to detect the single finger contact on the touch screen display, disconnecting the touch area from the object.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein determining a representative point within the touch area includes modeling the touch area as a geometric object.