Device, method, and graphical user interface for controlling display of application windows

• US 10,394,441 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US13/340,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,798 Days
• Field of Search: 715769, 715773, 715790, 715794-797
• 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 3/0488 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

Abstract

An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface displays a plurality of windows on the display. The plurality of windows includes a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display and a second window displayed in a lower position than the frontmost position. The device detects a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display; and, in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface: moves the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display; and displays the second window in the frontmost position on the display.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows including a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display and a second window displayed in a lower position than the frontmost position, and the plurality of windows having a layer order;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display; and

,

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a horizontal direction on the display.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a vertical direction on the display.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a diagonal direction on the display.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first window is moved partially off the display in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first window is moved fully off the display in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second window is for a second application, distinct from the first application.

8. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

after responding to the first gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a second gesture moving in a direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface; and

,

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the first window in the frontmost position on the display.

9. The device of claim 8, including instructions for:

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

maintaining a layer order of the plurality of windows.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows including a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display and a second window displayed in a lower position than the frontmost position, and the plurality of windows having a layer order;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, wherein the first gesture is a multifinger swipe gesture, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display; and

,

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows including a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display and a second window displayed in a lower position than the frontmost position, wherein the first window is one of multiple windows for the first application and the plurality of windows have a layer order;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display; and

,

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the first application across the display in the first direction on the display until the multiple windows for the first application are moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows.

12. The device of claim 11, the device including instructions for:

after responding to the first gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a second gesture moving in a direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface; and

,

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the first application across the display in the direction opposite the first direction on the display.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows having a layer order, the plurality of windows including;

a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display;

a second window for a second application, distinct from the first application, displayed in a second position lower than the frontmost position; and

a third window for a third application, distinct from the first application and the second application, displayed in a third position lower than the second position;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display;

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows;

after responding to the first gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in the first direction on the display until the second window is moved partially or fully off the display; and

displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the second gesture, while displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a third gesture moving in a direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the third gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the third gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface; and

,

in response to detecting the fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the first window in the frontmost position on the display.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a horizontal direction on the display.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a vertical direction on the display.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponds to a diagonal direction on the display.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the first window is moved partially off the display in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface and the second window is moved partially off the display in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the first window is moved fully off the display in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface and the second window is moved fully off the display in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the second window is one of multiple windows for the second application, the device including instructions for:

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the second application across the display in the first direction on the display until the multiple windows for the second application are moved partially or fully off the display.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the second window is one of multiple windows for the second application, the device including instructions for:

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the second application across the display in the first direction on the display until the multiple windows for the second application are moved partially or fully off the display;

in response to detecting the third gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the second application across the display in the direction opposite the first direction on the display.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the first window is one of multiple windows for the first application, the device including instructions for:

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the first application across the display in the first direction on the display until the multiple windows for the first application are moved partially or fully off the display;

in response to detecting the fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the first application across the display in the direction opposite the first direction on the display.

22. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows having a layer order, the plurality of windows including;

a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display;

a second window for a second application, distinct from the first application, displayed in a second position lower than the frontmost position; and

a third window for a third application, distinct from the first application and the second application, displayed in a third position lower than the second position;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display;

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows;

after responding to the first gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in the first direction on the display until the second window is moved partially or fully off the display; and

displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the second gesture, while displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a third gesture moving in a direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the third gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the third gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface; and

,

in response to detecting the fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the first window in the frontmost position on the display,

wherein the first gesture, the second gesture, the third gesture, and the fourth gesture are multifinger swipe gestures.

23. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a 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 plurality of windows on the display, the plurality of windows having a layer order, the plurality of windows including;

a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display, wherein the first window is one of multiple windows for the first application;

a second window for a second application, distinct from the first application, displayed in a second position lower than the frontmost position; and

a third window for a third application, distinct from the first application and the second application, displayed in a third position lower than the second position;

detecting a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display;

in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the multiple windows for the first application across the display in the first direction on the display until the multiple windows for the first application are moved partially or fully off the display;

displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display; and

maintaining the layer order of the plurality of windows;

after responding to the first gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the second gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in the first direction on the display until the second window is moved partially or fully off the display; and

displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the second gesture, while displaying the third window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a third gesture moving in a direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

in response to detecting the third gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the second window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display;

after responding to the third gesture, while displaying the second window in the frontmost position on the display, detecting a fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface; and

,

in response to detecting the fourth gesture moving in the direction opposite the first direction on the touch sensitive surface;

moving the first window across the display in a direction opposite the first direction on the display; and

redisplaying the first window in the frontmost position on the display.