Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for interacting with a control object while dragging another object

• US 10,402,073 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kudurshian, Aram D., Foss, Christopher P., Butcher, Gary I., Coffman, Patrick L., Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer, Wells, Nicole M., Westerman, Wayne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Di
• Application Number:
  US14/869,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• 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

An electronic device displays a user interface of a first software application that includes one or more draggable objects and one or more control objects; and, detects a contact on a touch-sensitive surface at a first location while a focus selector is displayed over a first draggable object and a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a second location that corresponds to a first control object. In accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location satisfies object selection criteria, the device moves the first draggable object to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the first control object. In accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies first intensity criteria, the device performs a first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

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

displaying, on the display, a user interface of a first software application that includes multiple distinct portions, wherein a second portion of the multiple distinct portions includes one or more draggable objects and a first portion, distinct from the second portion, of the multiple distinct portions includes a first control object of a plurality of control objects distinct from the one or more draggable objects, wherein the one or more draggable objects, but not the plurality of control objects, are configured to be moved independently of other user interface objects in the user interface; and

,

while displaying the user interface of the first software application;

detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface at a first location while a focus selector is displayed over a first draggable object of the one or more draggable objects displayed on the display;

after detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface at the first location, detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a second location that corresponds to the first control object of the plurality of control objects displayed on the display; and

,

in response to detecting movement of the contact from the first location to the second location, in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location satisfies object selection criteria;

moving the first draggable object to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies first intensity criteria, performing a first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object, including changing the second portion of the multiple distinct portions of the user interface;

subsequent to moving the first draggable object to the first control object and changing the second portion;

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a third location that corresponds to the changed second portion on the display;

moving the first draggable object to a location in the changed second portion in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the third location; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the third location does not satisfy the object selection criteria, dropping the first draggable object at the location in the changed second portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object selection criteria include second intensity criteria.

3. The method of claim 2, including:

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location does not satisfy the object selection criteria;

moving the focus selector to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the second intensity criteria, performing the first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first software application is a calendar application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple time-period user interface elements in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more calendar entry objects;

a respective time-period user interface element of the multiple time-period user interface elements corresponds to a predefined unit of time;

the second portion of the user interface of the first software application, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time with a calendar view that corresponds to a second unit of time that is distinct from the first unit of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first software application is a file system navigation application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple file view control objects in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more of file icons and/or folder icons;

a respective file view control object of the multiple file view control objects corresponds to a distinct file view type;

the second portion of the user interface, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a file view of a first file view type; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the file view of the first file view type with a file view of a second file view type that is distinct from the file view of the first file view type.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to moving the first draggable object to the first control object;

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is configured to perform the first predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the second location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, visually distinguishing the first control object prior to determining that the contact satisfies the first intensity criteria.

7. The method of claim 6, including:

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fourth location that corresponds to a second control object of the plurality of control objects; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is not configured to perform a predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the fourth location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, forgoing visually distinguishing the second control object.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

concurrently displaying an entirety of the user interface of the first software application with a portion of a user interface of a second software application adjacent to the user interface of the first software application;

in accordance with the determination that the contact at the first location satisfies the object selection criteria;

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fifth location that corresponds to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application on the display;

moving the first draggable object to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the fifth location; and

,

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location satisfies the first intensity criteria, replacing a concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with a concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and a portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.

9. The method of claim 8, including:

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location does not satisfy the first intensity criteria;

determining a time period during which the contact remains at the fifth location; and

in response to a determination that the time period satisfies time-based activation criteria, replacing the concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with the concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and the portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a touch-sensitive surface;

one or more sensors to detect intensity 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, on the display, a user interface of a first software application that includes multiple distinct portions, wherein a second portion of the multiple distinct portions includes one or more draggable objects and a first portion, distinct from the second portion, of the multiple distinct portions includes a first control object of a plurality of control objects distinct from the one or more draggable objects, wherein the one or more draggable objects, but not the plurality of control objects, are configured to be moved independently of other user interface objects in the user interface; and

,

while displaying the user interface of the first software application;

detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface at a first location while a focus selector is displayed over a first draggable object of the one or more draggable objects displayed on the display;

after detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface at the first location, detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a second location that corresponds to the first control object of the plurality of control objects displayed on the display; and

,

in response to detecting movement of the contact from the first location to the second location, in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location satisfies object selection criteria;

moving the first draggable object to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies first intensity criteria, performing a first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object, including changing the second portion of the multiple distinct portions of the user interface;

subsequent to moving the first draggable object to the first control object and changing the second portion;

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a third location that corresponds to the changed second portion on the display;

moving the first draggable object to a location in the changed second portion in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the third location; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the third location does not satisfy the object selection criteria, dropping the first draggable object at the location in the changed second portion.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the object selection criteria include second intensity criteria.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location does not satisfy the object selection criteria;

moving the focus selector to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the second intensity criteria, performing the first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein:

the first software application is a calendar application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple time-period user interface elements in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more calendar entry objects;

a respective time-period user interface element of the multiple time-period user interface elements corresponds to a predefined unit of time;

the second portion of the user interface of the first software application, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time with a calendar view that corresponds to a second unit of time that is distinct from the first unit of time.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein:

the first software application is a file system navigation application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple file view control objects in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more of file icons and/or folder icons;

a respective file view control object of the multiple file view control objects corresponds to a distinct file view type;

the second portion of the user interface, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a file view of a first file view type; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the file view of the first file view type with a file view of a second file view type that is distinct from the file view of the first file view type.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to moving the first draggable object to the first control object;

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is configured to perform the first predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the second location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, visually distinguishing the first control object prior to determining that the contact satisfies the first intensity criteria.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fourth location that corresponds to a second control object of the plurality of control objects; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is not configured to perform a predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the fourth location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, forgoing visually distinguishing the second control object.

17. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

concurrently displaying an entirety of the user interface of the first software application with a portion of a user interface of a second software application adjacent to the user interface of the first software application;

in accordance with the determination that the contact at the first location satisfies the object selection criteria;

detecting a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fifth location that corresponds to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application on the display;

moving the first draggable object to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the fifth location; and

,

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location satisfies the first intensity criteria, replacing a concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with a concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and a portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location does not satisfy the first intensity criteria;

determining a time period during which the contact remains at the fifth location; and

in response to a determination that the time period satisfies time-based activation criteria, replacing the concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with the concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and the portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.

19. 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 intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to:

display, on the display, a user interface of a first software application that includes multiple distinct portions, wherein a second portion of the multiple distinct portions includes one or more draggable objects and a first portion, distinct from the second portion, of the multiple distinct portions includes a first control object of a plurality of control objects distinct from the one or more draggable objects, wherein the one or more draggable objects, but not the plurality of control objects, are configured to be moved independently of other user interface objects in the user interface; and

,

while displaying the user interface of the first software application;

detect a contact on the touch-sensitive surface at a first location while a focus selector is displayed over a first draggable object of the one or more draggable objects displayed on the display;

after detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface at the first location, detect a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a second location that corresponds to the first control object of the plurality of control objects displayed on the display; and

,

in response to detecting movement of the contact from the first location to the second location, in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location satisfies object selection criteria;

move the first draggable object to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies first intensity criteria, perform a first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object, including changing the second portion of the multiple distinct portions of the user interface;

subsequent to moving the first draggable object to the first control object and changing the second portion;

detect a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a third location that corresponds to the changed second portion on the display;

move the first draggable object to a location in the changed second portion in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the third location; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the third location does not satisfy the object selection criteria, drop the first draggable object at the location in the changed second portion.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the object selection criteria include second intensity criteria.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location does not satisfy the object selection criteria;

move the focus selector to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the second location that corresponds to the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the second intensity criteria, perform the first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object without moving the first draggable object to the first control object.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein:

the first software application is a calendar application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple time-period user interface elements in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more calendar entry objects;

a respective time-period user interface element of the multiple time-period user interface elements corresponds to a predefined unit of time;

the second portion of the user interface of the first software application, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the calendar view that corresponds to a first unit of time with a calendar view that corresponds to a second unit of time that is distinct from the first unit of time.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein:

the first software application is a file system navigation application;

the user interface of the first software application includes multiple file view control objects in the first portion;

the one or more draggable objects are one or more of file icons and/or folder icons;

a respective file view control object of the multiple file view control objects corresponds to a distinct file view type;

the second portion of the user interface, prior to the determination that the contact at the second location satisfies the first intensity criteria, includes a file view of a first file view type; and

changing the second portion includes replacing the file view of the first file view type with a file view of a second file view type that is distinct from the file view of the first file view type.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

in response to moving the first draggable object to the first control object;

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is configured to perform the first predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the second location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, visually distinguish the first control object prior to determining that the contact satisfies the first intensity criteria.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fourth location that corresponds to a second control object of the plurality of control objects; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the first software application is not configured to perform a predetermined operation in response to detecting a contact at the fourth location that satisfies the first intensity criteria, forgo visually distinguishing the second control object.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

concurrently display an entirety of the user interface of the first software application with a portion of a user interface of a second software application adjacent to the user interface of the first software application;

in accordance with the determination that the contact at the first location satisfies the object selection criteria;

detect a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a fifth location that corresponds to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application on the display;

move the first draggable object to the displayed portion of the user interface of the second software application in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the fifth location; and

,

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location satisfies the first intensity criteria, replace a concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with a concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and a portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

in response to a determination that the contact at the fifth location does not satisfy the first intensity criteria;

determine a time period during which the contact remains at the fifth location; and

in response to a determination that the time period satisfies time-based activation criteria, replace the concurrent display of the entirety of the user interface of the first software application and the portion of the user interface of the second software application with the concurrent display of an entirety of the user interface of the second software application and the portion of the user interface of the first software application adjacent to the user interface of the second software application.