Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying User Interface Objects Adaptively

• US 20080165147A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Lemay, Stephen O., Forstall, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,817,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A portable multifunction device identifies a plurality of user interface objects. If the user interface objects meet a first predefined condition, the device then displays at least two of the user interface objects on a touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a second predefined condition, the device then divides the user interface objects into at least first and second groups of user interface objects and then displays a first group icon corresponding to the first group and at least one user interface object from the second group on the touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a third predefined condition, the device divides the user interface objects into at least third and fourth groups of user interface objects. The device then displays a third group icon corresponding to the third group and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display,

identifying a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects;

displaying the first group of user interface objects and the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display if the two groups of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition;

displaying a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and displaying the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display if the two groups of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition; and

displaying the first group icon and a second group icon corresponding to the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display if the two groups of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the first predefined condition is that the total number of the first and second groups of user interface objects is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the first predefined condition is that the total number of the first and second groups of user interface objects is equal to or less than a maximum number of user interface objects that can be simultaneously displayed.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the second predefined condition is that the number of the first group of user interface objects is greater than a predetermined threshold and the number of the second group of user interface objects is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the third predefined condition is that the number of the first group of user interface objects is greater than a predetermined threshold and the number of the second group of user interface objects is greater than the predetermined threshold.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects,

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition,

displaying at least two of the plurality of user interface objects on the touch screen display;

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition,

dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects;

displaying a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and displaying at least one of the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display; and

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition,

dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a third group of user interface objects and a fourth group of user interface objects;

displaying a third group icon corresponding to the third group of user interface objects and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group of user interface objects on the touch screen display.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first predefined condition is that the number of the plurality of user interface objects is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first predefined condition is that the number of the plurality of user interface objects is equal to or less than a maximum number of user interface objects that can be simultaneously displayed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the second predefined condition is that the number of the first group of user interface objects is greater than a predetermined threshold and the number of the second group of user interface objects is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the third predefined condition is that the number of the third group of user interface objects is greater than a predetermined threshold and the number of the fourth group of user interface objects is greater than the predetermined threshold.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first group of user interface objects corresponds to a first information type and the second group of user interface objects corresponds to a second information type that is different from the first information type.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first group of user interface objects is associated with a first information source and the second group of user interface objects is associated with a second information source that is different from the first information source.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the first and second groups of user interface objects share the same information type.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, including displaying a user-scrollable list of the user interface objects if the plurality of user interface objects meet the first predefined condition.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the plurality of user interface objects meet the first predefined condition, displaying each of the plurality of user interface objects on the touch screen display.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the plurality of user interface objects meet the second predefined condition,

displaying the first group icon and each one of the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the plurality of user interface objects meet the first predefined condition,

dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a fifth group of user interface objects and a sixth group of user interface objects, each group having an associated identifier;

displaying the fifth group'"'"'s identifier and at least one of the fifth group of user interface objects below the fifth group'"'"'s identifier;

detecting a substantially upward finger-swiping gesture on the touch screen display;

removing one or more user interface objects in the fifth group from the touch screen display in accordance with the finger-swiping gesture;

if the last user interface object in the fifth group is removed,

replacing the fifth group'"'"'s identifier with the sixth group'"'"'s identifier and displaying at least one of the sixth group of user interface objects below the sixth group'"'"'s identifier.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a user selection of a respective group icon of the first, third and fourth group icons, wherein the user selected group icon has an associated group of user interface objects;

if the associated group of user interface objects meet a first predefined sub-condition,

displaying at least two of the associated group of user interface objects on the touch screen display;

if the associated group of user interface objects meet a second predefined sub-condition,

dividing the associated group of user interface objects into at least a first sub-group of user interface objects and a second sub-group of user interface objects;

displaying a first sub-group icon corresponding to the first sub-group of user interface objects and at least one of the second sub-group of user interface objects on the touch screen display; and

if the associated group of user interface objects meet a third predefined sub-condition,

dividing the associated group of user interface objects into at least a third sub-group of user interface objects and a fourth sub-group of user interface objects; and

displaying a third sub-group icon corresponding to the third sub-group of user interface objects and a fourth sub-group icon corresponding to the fourth sub-group of user interface objects on the touch screen display.

19. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of user interface objects;

wherein;

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition,

at least two of the plurality of user interface objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition,

the plurality of user interface objects are divided into at least a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects; and

a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and at least one of the second group of user interface objects are displayed on the touch screen display; and

if the plurality of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition,

the plurality of user interface objects are divided into at least a third group of user interface objects and a fourth group of user interface objects; and

a third group icon corresponding to the third group of user interface objects and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group of user interface objects are displayed on the touch screen display.

20. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects;

one or more processors;

memory; and

a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including;

instructions for displaying at least two of the plurality of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition;

instructions for dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition;

instructions for displaying a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and for displaying at least one of the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the second predefined condition;

instructions for dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a third group of user interface objects and a fourth group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition; and

instructions for displaying a third group icon corresponding to the third group of user interface objects and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the third predefined condition.

21. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, cause the device to:

display at least two of the plurality of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition;

divide the plurality of user interface objects into at least a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition;

display a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and display at least one of the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the second predefined condition;

divide the plurality of user interface objects into at least a third group of user interface objects and a fourth group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition; and

display a third group icon corresponding to the third group of user interface objects and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the third predefined condition.

22. A portable electronic device with a touch screen display with a plurality of user interface objects, comprising:

means for displaying at least two of the plurality of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a first predefined condition;

means for dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a second predefined condition;

means for displaying a first group icon corresponding to the first group of user interface objects and for displaying at least one of the second group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the second predefined condition;

means for dividing the plurality of user interface objects into at least a third group of user interface objects and a fourth group of user interface objects, if the plurality of user interface objects meet a third predefined condition; and

means for displaying a third group icon corresponding to the third group of user interface objects and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group of user interface objects on the touch screen display, if the plurality of user interface objects meet the third predefined condition.