SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING ICONS FOR APPLICATIONS ON A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20080184112A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rojas Ealo, Jose Jose, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine, Paas, Julian, Mujkic, Alen, Chiang, Hui Yu
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A method for moving icons on a display of a mobile device, either on the display or into a folder is provided. When an icon has been selected to be moved, its appearance is altered with respect to the other icons so as to provide a visual cue to the user regarding the move and the altered icon is overlaid on the other icons as it moves thereover. The icon may be displayed with a move cursor indicating where the icon will be placed if the current position is selected. A method is also provided for creating new folders on the display using a dialog box that is configured to enable a name and icon for the folder to be chosen and/or selected. Default names and folder icons may be used and alternative icons may also be presented in the dialog box to enable a preview of the choices.

Claims

1. A method for moving an icon on a display of a mobile device between a plurality of folder views comprising:

providing a plurality of icons on said display, wherein at least one of said plurality of icons is either a folder icon configured to enable movement into a corresponding folder view or an escape icon configured to enable movement out of a current folder view,

enabling a focus to be placed on a first icon being one of said plurality of icons using a positioning device;

upon receiving a first input for selecting said first icon, enabling selection of a move option;

upon receiving a second input selecting said move option, enabling movement of said first icon on said display using said positioning device;

enabling a focus to be placed on a second icon being one of said at least one of said plurality of icons; and

upon receiving a third input, if said second icon is said folder icon, moving said first icon into said corresponding folder view, or if said second icon is said escape icon, moving said first icon out of said current folder view.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said folder icon and said method further comprises updating said display to show the contents of said corresponding folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said corresponding folder view to a desired location.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said method further comprises updating said display to show the contents of another folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said another folder view to a desired location.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said folder icon and said method further comprises placing focus on said folder icon upon receiving said third input.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said method further comprises placing said focus on said escape icon upon receiving said third input.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein upon receiving said second input for selecting said move option, altering the appearance of said first icon with respect to the others of said plurality of icons.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein upon receiving said second input, said method comprises locking the position of said others of said plurality of icons.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein upon receiving said second input, said method comprises lowering the hue of said others of said icons with respect to said first icon.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein said altering the appearance of said first icon comprises displaying an altered icon configured to be smaller in size than said first icon and configured to be overlaid on said others of said plurality of icons during movement thereof.

10. A method according to claim 6 wherein said altering the appearance of said one of said plurality of icons comprises displaying a move cursor therewith, said move cursor configured to indicate a predefined position for placing said first icon.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said move cursor is positioned to the left of said first icon on said display and said predefined position is before said second icon.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of icons is arranged in a grid on said display and said predefined position is to the left of said second icon.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein if said second icon is said folder icon, said method comprises displaying a bounding box surrounding said first icon and said folder icon.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein if said second icon is said folder icon, overlaying an addition symbol on said folder icon.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of icons is all arranged in a column along one direction on said display and upon receiving said second input, displaying a pair of move arrows with said first icon indicating permissible movement directions.

16. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions for causing a computing system to perform the method of claim 1.

25. A mobile device comprising a display configured to display a plurality of folder views, one or more input mechanisms, a positioning device and a processor configured for causing said mobile device to perform the method of claim 1.

17. A method for creating a folder on a display of a mobile device configured to display a plurality of folder views comprising:

enabling selection of a new folder option on said display;

upon receiving a first input for selecting said new folder option, displaying a dialog box on said display, said dialog box configured to enable a folder name to be entered and an icon representing said folder to be selected;

upon receiving a second input, associating said folder name and said icon with said folder; and

displaying a folder icon for said folder on said display in a current folder view.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said dialog box provides a default string of characters for said folder name.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein said dialog, box provides a default graphic for said icon.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein said dialog box is configured to enable a plurality of choices for said icon to be previewed within said dialog box.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said dialog box is configured to place focus on a selected one of said plurality of choices and enable said focus to be placed on the others of said plurality of choices using a positioning device.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said dialog box comprises a pair of movement arrows associated with the others of said plurality of choices to indicate a direction to be applied to said positioning device to control said focus.

23. A method according to claim 17 wherein upon adding said folder to said display, focus is placed on said icon representing said folder and said folder is added at a predetermined position relative to the previous focus on said display.

24. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions for causing a computing system to perform the method of claim 17.

26. A mobile device comprising a display configured to display a plurality of folder views, one or more input mechanisms, a positioning device and a processor configured for causing said mobile device to perform the method of claim 17.