Multiple-application mobile device methods, systems, and computer program products

• US 10,437,443 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US15/594,650
• Time in Patent Office: 877 Days
• Field of Search: 715702, 715766, 715769, 715779, 715799, 715838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods, computer software, apparatuses, and systems are described comprising at least one processor operatively coupled with a display, memory, and at least one input device and further configured to: store a first application, a second application, and a third application, utilizing the memory; detect a first user input, utilizing the at least one input device; in response to the first user input, present, utilizing the display, a plurality of reduced windows including a second application reduced window associated with the second application and a third application reduced window associated with the third application both exterior to a first window associated with the first application that is presented without overlap between the first window and the plurality of reduced windows; detect a second user input in connection with the second application reduced window associated with the second application, utilizing the at least one input device; in response to the second user input in connection with the second application reduced window associated with the second application, present, utilizing the display, a second window associated with the second application for presenting second information associated with the second application, adjacent to the first window associated with the first application; detect a third user input, utilizing the at least one input device; and in response to the third user input, change, utilizing the display, the presentation of the first window and the second window, such that a first size of the first window and a second size of the second window are both changed.

Claims

1. A mobile apparatus, comprising:

a touchscreen;

circuitry;

memory; and

one or more programs, a first software program, a second software program, and a third software program, that are stored utilizing the memory;

wherein the mobile apparatus is configured to;

detect a first user touch input, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the first user touch input, display, utilizing the touchscreen, a plurality of reduced user interface elements in a menu including a second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and a third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program which are non-overlapping and at least one of which is displayed simultaneously with and exterior to a first user interface element associated with the first software program that is displayed without overlap between the first user interface element and the plurality of reduced user interface elements, where the second software program reduced user interface element includes a first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes a second order;

detect a second user touch input on the menu, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the second user touch input on the menu, change, utilizing the touchscreen, the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that a first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is decreased and a second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased;

detect a third user touch input on the menu, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the third user touch input on the menu, utilizing the touchscreen, the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that the first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased and the second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is decreased;

detect a fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, utilizing the touchscreen; and

based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, display, utilizing the touchscreen, a second user interface element associated with the second software program adjacent to the first user interface element associated with the first software program that is already displayed, with at least one border therebetween, and without the menu being displayed.

2. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user touch input includes a hot key input that is detected while the first user interface element associated with the first software program is displayed.

3. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user touch input includes a drag touch input on the first user interface element associated with the first software program.

4. The mobile apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user interface element is displayed at a first location in the event that the drag touch input includes a first particular input, and the first user interface element is displayed at a second location in the event that the drag touch input includes a second particular input.

5. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user interface element is displayed at a first location based on a first drag touch input, and the first user interface element is displayed at a second location based on a second drag touch input.

6. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user touch input is capable of including a hot key input that is detected while the first user interface element associated with the first software program is displayed, and is further capable of including a drag touch input on the first user interface element associated with the first software program, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user interface element is displayed at a first location in the event that the drag touch input includes a first particular input, and the first user interface element is displayed at a second location in the event that the drag touch input includes a second particular input.

7. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first software program reduced user interface element and the second software program reduced user interface element are capable of sliding.

8. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first software program reduced user interface element and the second software program reduced user interface element slide at least in part.

9. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user touch input includes at least one of a hot key input or a drag input, as well as a particular input on a top of a first software program reduced user interface element associated with the first software program.

10. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that, based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, the second user interface element associated with the second software program and the first user interface element associated with the first software program are both displayed to substantially fill the touchscreen.

11. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that, based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, the second user interface element associated with the second software program and the first user interface element associated with the first software program are both displayed to fill an entirety of the touchscreen.

12. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured to:

detect a fifth user touch input after the fourth user touch input, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the fifth user touch input, display, utilizing the touchscreen, the plurality of reduced user interface elements in the menu including the second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and the third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program which are non-overlapping and at least one of which is displayed simultaneously with and exterior to the first user interface element associated with the first software program that is displayed without overlap between the first user interface element and the plurality of reduced user interface elements, where the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order.

13. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the second degree is increased, for making the fourth user touch input more convenient for a user.

14. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the second degree is capable of being increased and decreased, for perusal of at least one of the second software program reduced user interface element or the third software program reduced user interface element that is more convenient for a user.

15. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that at least one of:

said circuitry includes at least one of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a graphics processing unit, an application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), or a field programmable gate arrays (FPGA);

at least one of said detecting includes receiving for detection purposes;

at least one of said detecting is performed utilizing at least one of a graphical user interface subsystem, or a graphics subsystem user interface monitor;

at least one of said detecting is performed utilizing the circuitry in connection with at least one of a graphical user interface subsystem, or a graphics subsystem user interface monitor;

at least one of said detecting includes at least one of receiving a request to change a visual component, receiving a request for a resource for changing a visual attribute, detecting a change in at least a portion of a presentation space including a visual component, intercepting a communication identifying a change to an attribute, receiving an input corresponding to a visual component for changing an attribute, receiving a notification identifying an attribute, or sending presentation information to present at least a portion of a visual component;

at least one of said detecting includes at least one of receiving an indication to present a visual component, detecting an access to a resource for presenting a visual component, intercepting a communication for presenting a visual component, or receiving a message via a network identifying a visual component;

said first user touch input is detected prior to the second user touch input, and the second user touch input is detected prior to the third user touch input;

said first user touch input, the second user touch input, and the third user touch input each includes a single user touch input;

no other user inputs are detected between the first user touch input and the second user touch input;

no other user touch inputs are detected between the second user touch input and the third user touch input;

said second and third user touch inputs on the menu are opposite inputs;

said second and third user touch inputs are on only one of the reduced user interface elements of the menu;

said second and third user touch inputs are on a portion of the touchscreen between the reduced user interface elements of the menu;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements includes symmetrically-sized software program user interface element representations;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements includes the reduced user interface elements presented in an organized fashion;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements includes visually-perceptible representations each corresponding to an associated user interface element;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements includes at least one of user interface element icons or user interface element boxes;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements each include a reduced version of a corresponding user interface element;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements each show all elements of a corresponding user interface element;

said plurality of reduced user interface elements each show at least some elements of a corresponding user interface element;

said at least one border includes a single border;

said at least one border includes a first border of the first user interface element that corresponds to a second border of the second user interface element;

said at least one border includes a first border of the first user interface element that corresponds to a second border of the second user interface element, by being presented adjacent thereto;

said at least one border includes a first border of the first user interface element that corresponds to a second border of the second user interface element, by being bound thereto;

said at least one border includes a first border of the first user interface element that corresponds to a second border of the second user interface element, by the first border and the second border being presented at a same location;

the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order, based on a z-value thereof;

the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order, such that the second software program reduced user interface element is displayed first and the third software program reduced user interface element is displayed second;

the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order, such that the second software program reduced user interface element is displayed first simultaneously with the third software program reduced user interface element being displayed second;

the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order, such that the second software program reduced user interface element is displayed first simultaneously with the third software program reduced user interface element being at least partially displayed second;

the second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and the third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program are both displayed simultaneously with and exterior to the first user interface element associated with the first software program;

the second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and the third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program are both capable of being at least partially displayed simultaneously with and exterior to the first user interface element associated with the first software program;

said display of the second software program reduced user interface element and the third software program reduced user interface element including a display of an entirety thereof;

said display of the second software program reduced user interface element and the third software program reduced user interface element including a display of only a portion thereof;

said software programs are applications;

said user interface elements are windows;

said degrees to which the representations are capable of being seen include different visibilities;

said degrees are different degrees;

said display of the menu is changed by reducing a particular size of the second software program reduced user interface element and increasing a particular size of the third software program reduced user interface element;

or

said display of the first user interface element and the menu is changed by reducing a particular size of the first user interface element and increasing a particular size of the menu.

16. A mobile apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a first user touch input, a second user touch input, a third user touch input, and a fourth user touch input;

means for;

based on the first user touch input, displaying a plurality of reduced user interface elements in a menu including a second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and a third software program reduced user interface element associated with a third software program which are non-overlapping and at least one of which is displayed simultaneously with and exterior to a first user interface element associated with a first software program that is displayed without overlap between the first user interface element and the plurality of reduced user interface elements, where the second software program reduced user interface element includes a first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes a second order;

based on the second user touch input on the menu, changing the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that a first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is decreased and a second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased;

based on the third user touch input on the menu, changing the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that the first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased and the second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is decreased; and

based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, displaying a second user interface element associated with the second software program adjacent to the first user interface element associated with the first software program that is already displayed, with at least one border therebetween, without any other user interface elements being displayed, and without the menu being displayed.

17. A method, comprising:

at a mobile apparatus including a touchscreen, circuitry, memory, and one or more programs;

detecting a first user touch input, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the first user touch input, displaying, utilizing the touchscreen, a plurality of reduced user interface elements in a menu including a second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and a third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program which are non-overlapping and at least one of which is displayed simultaneously with and exterior to a first user interface element associated with a first software program that is displayed without overlap between the first user interface element and the plurality of reduced user interface elements, where the second software program reduced user interface element includes a first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes a second order;

detecting a second user touch input on the menu, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the second user touch input on the menu, changing, utilizing the touchscreen, the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that a first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is decreased and a second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased;

detecting a third user touch input on the menu, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the third user touch input on the menu, changing, utilizing the touchscreen, the display of the menu without changing the display of the first user interface element associated with the first software program, such that the first degree to which the second software program reduced user interface element is capable of being seen is increased and the second degree to which the third software program reduced user interface element is decreased;

detecting a fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, utilizing the touchscreen; and

based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, displaying, utilizing the touchscreen, a second user interface element associated with the second software program adjacent to the first user interface element associated with the first software program that is already displayed, with at least one border therebetween, without any other user interface elements being displayed, and without the menu being displayed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first user touch input is configured for including a hot key input that is detected while the first user interface element associated with the first software program is displayed, and is further configured for including a drag touch input on a first software program reduced user interface element associated with the first software program, wherein the mobile apparatus is configured such that the first user interface element is displayed at a first location based on the drag touch input including a first particular input, and the first user interface element is displayed at a second location based on the drag touch input including a second particular input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, based on the fourth user touch input on the second software program reduced user interface element, the second user interface element associated with the second software program and the first user interface element associated with the first software program are both displayed to fill the touchscreen.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first software program reduced user interface element and the second software program reduced user interface element are capable of sliding.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first software program reduced user interface element and the second software program reduced user interface element slide at least in part.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first user touch input includes at least one of a hot key input or a drag input, as well as a particular input on a top of a first software program reduced user interface element associated with the first software program.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the second degree is increased, for making the fourth user touch input more convenient for a user.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the second degree is decreased and increased, for perusal of at least one of the second software program reduced user interface element or the third software program reduced user interface element that is more convenient for a user.

25. The method of claim 19, and further comprising:

detecting a fifth user touch input after the fourth user touch input, utilizing the touchscreen;

based on the fifth user touch input, displaying, utilizing the touchscreen, the plurality of reduced user interface elements in the menu including the second software program reduced user interface element associated with the second software program and the third software program reduced user interface element associated with the third software program which are non-overlapping and at least one of which is displayed simultaneously with and exterior to the first user interface element associated with the first software program that is displayed without overlap between the first user interface element and the plurality of reduced user interface elements, where the second software program reduced user interface element includes the first order and the third software program reduced user interface element includes the second order.