Portable Multifunction Device with Interface Reconfiguration Mode

• US 20090178008A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Herz, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,619,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/04817 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: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• 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 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method at a computing device with a touch screen display includes: displaying a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display; displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area; detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display; in response to detecting the first finger gesture, initiating a user interface reconfiguration process, and varying positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons about respective average positions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display,

displaying a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area, replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of icons includes a plurality of application launch icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of an application icon in the plurality of application icons, an application that corresponds to the activated application icon is displayed.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of application launch icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of an application icon in the plurality of application icons, an application that corresponds to the activated application icon is displayed.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of icons includes one or more web-clip widget icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of a web-clip widget icon, a portion of a web page that corresponds to the activated web-clip widget icon is displayed.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first finger gesture is a swipe gesture.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display comprises an animation that moves the first set out of the first area and the second set into the first area.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including:

detecting a second finger gesture on an icon in the second set of the first plurality of icons; and

in response to detecting the second finger gesture, displaying an application that corresponds to the icon in the second set upon which the second finger gesture was detected.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including:

detecting a third finger gesture on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the third finger gesture, replacing display of the second set of the first plurality of icons with display of a third set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display;

detecting a fourth finger gesture on an icon in the third set of the first plurality of icons; and

in response to detecting the fourth finger gesture, displaying an application that corresponds to the icon in the third set upon which the fourth finger gesture was detected.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first finger gesture is a swipe gesture in a first direction;

and further including;

detecting a second finger swipe gesture on the touch screen display in a direction that is substantially opposite the first direction; and

in response to detecting the second finger swipe gesture, replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with a display of information, other than a set in the plurality of sets of icons, customized to a user of the device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of icons includes a number of sets of icons that are configured to be separately displayed as a sequence of sets of icons in the first area of the touch screen display;

and further including;

displaying two or more set-sequence-indicia icons, wherein the set-sequence-indicia icons provide information about the number of sets of icons in the plurality of sets of icons and a position of a displayed set of icons in the sequence of sets of icons; and

in response to detecting the first finger gesture, updating the information provided by the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set by the second set.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the first finger gesture is a swipe gesture in a first direction;

and further including;

detecting a second finger swipe gesture on the touch screen display in a direction that is substantially opposite the first direction; and

in response to detecting the second finger swipe gesture,

replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with a display of information, other than a set in the plurality of sets of icons, customized to a user of the device, and

updating the information provided by a customized-information indicia icon and the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set by the information customized to the user.

12. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

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 first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

instructions for displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

instructions for detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

instructions for replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display, in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area.

13. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

display a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

detect a first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

replace display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display, in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area.

14. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a first set of a first plurality of icons displayed in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display; and

a second plurality of icons displayed in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

wherein;

in response to detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area, display of the first set of the first plurality of icons is replaced with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display.

15. A computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

means for displaying a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

means for displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

means for detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area; and

means for replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display while maintaining the display of the second plurality of icons in the second area on the touch screen display, in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the touch screen display in the first area.

16. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display,

displaying a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the first finger gesture,

initiating a user interface reconfiguration process, and

varying positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons about respective average positions.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the second plurality of icons includes a plurality of application launch icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of an application icon in the plurality of application icons when the user interface reconfiguration process is not active, an application that corresponds to the activated application icon is displayed.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of application launch icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of an application icon in the plurality of application icons when the user interface reconfiguration process is not active, an application that corresponds to the activated application icon is displayed.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the first plurality of icons includes one or more web-clip widget icons, wherein in response to detecting activation of a web-clip widget icon when the user interface reconfiguration process is not active, a portion of a web page that corresponds to the activated web-clip widget icon is displayed.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the first finger gesture is a substantially stationary contact with an icon in the first set of the first plurality of icons for greater than a predetermined time.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the varying includes animating the one or more icons to simulate floating of the one or more icons on a surface corresponding to a surface of the touch screen display.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the varying position of a respective icon in the one or more icons corresponds to an equation of motion in a plane substantially coincident with the touch screen display, the equation of motion having a coefficient of friction less than a threshold.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the equation of motion for the respective icon has a non-zero initial velocity.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the equation of motion for the respective icon has a restoring force about a respective average position of the respective icon such that the position of the respective icon oscillates in a region substantially centered on the respective average position of the respective icon.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the equation of motion for the respective icon includes a non-zero angular velocity.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the respective icon rotates about the respective average position of the respective icon while maintaining a fixed orientation with respect to the touch screen display.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the varying includes randomly varying each icon in the first set of the first plurality of icons about a respective average position.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein icons displayed in at least one of the first area and the second area include icons that may be deleted by a user and icons that may not be deleted by the user, and further comprising:

visually distinguishing the icons that may be deleted by the user from the icons that may not be deleted by the user;

detecting one or more finger gestures corresponding to a request to delete an icon that may be deleted by the user; and

in response to detecting the one or more finger gestures corresponding to the request to delete the icon, deleting the icon.

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

detecting a user making a point of contact with the touch screen display at a first position corresponding to a first icon in the first set and detecting movement of the point of contact to a second position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the point of contact and detecting movement of the point of contact, displaying movement of the first icon to the second position on the touch screen display and displaying the first icon at the second position.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, wherein the second position is in the first area and further comprising rearranging icons in the first set other than the first icon to accommodate display of the first icon at the second position in the first area.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein rearranging icons in the first set other than the first icon includes compacting at least some of the icons in the first set other than the first icon to place an icon in the first position, which was previously occupied by the first icon.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein rearranging icons in the first set other than the first icon includes snaking at least some of the icons in the first set other than the first icon to place an icon in the first position, which was previously occupied by the first icon.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein rearranging icons in the first set other than the first icon includes moving an icon in the first set to the first position, which was previously occupied by the first icon, wherein the moved icon was at the second position prior to movement of the first icon.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising fixing a position of the first icon at the second position and ceasing to vary positions of the one or more icons in the first set in response to detecting a predefined user action for terminating the user interface reconfiguration process.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising moving a second icon from a respective initial position to a respective new position when the second position of the first icon at least partially overlaps with the respective initial position of the second icon.

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

detecting a user making a first point of contact with the touch screen display at a first position corresponding to a first icon in the first set and detecting movement of the first point of contact to a second position in the second area on the touch screen display; and

,

in response to detecting the first point of contact and detecting movement of the first point of contact, displaying movement of the first icon to the second position in the second area on the touch screen display and displaying the first icon at the second position.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 36, further comprising moving a third icon in the second plurality of icons from a respective initial position to a respective new position when the new position of the first icon at least partially overlaps with the respective initial position of the third icon.

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

detecting the user making a second point of contact with the touch screen display at a third position corresponding to a second icon in the second plurality of icons in the second region on the touch screen display and detecting movement of the second point of contact to a fourth position in the first region on the touch screen display; and

responding to detecting the second point of contact and detecting movement of the second point of contact by displaying movement of the second icon to the fourth position of the touch screen display and displaying the second icon at the fourth position.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, further comprising fixing a position of the second icon at the fourth position and ceasing to vary positions of the one or more icons in the first set in response to detecting a predefined user action for terminating the predefined user interface reconfiguration process.

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

detecting a second finger gesture on a first icon in the first set on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the second finger gesture,

replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and,

moving the first icon from the first set to the second set;

detecting a user making a second point of contact with the touch screen display at a second position corresponding to the first icon in the second set and detecting movement of the second point of contact to a third position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the second point of contact and detecting movement of the second point of contact, displaying movement of the first icon to the third position on the touch screen display and displaying the first icon at the third position.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein positions of one or more icons in the second set of the first plurality of icons vary about respective average positions.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein the third position is in the first area and further comprising rearranging icons in the second set other than the first icon to accommodate display of the first icon at the third position in the first area.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein rearranging icons in the second set other than the first icon includes compacting at least some of the icons in the first set and the second set other than the first icon.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 42, wherein rearranging icons in the second set other than the first icon includes snaking at least some of the icons in the second set other than the first icon.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, further comprising fixing a position of the first icon at the third position and ceasing to vary positions of the one or more icons in the second set in response to detecting a predefined user action for terminating the user interface reconfiguration process.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein detecting and the second finger gesture comprises:

detecting a user making a first point of contact with the touch screen display at a first position corresponding to the first icon in the first set and detecting movement of the first point of contact to an edge of the first area; and

in response to detecting the first point of contact and detecting movement of the first point of contact to the edge of the first area, displaying movement of the first icon to the edge of the first area.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, wherein detecting the second finger gesture comprises detecting the first point of contact at the edge of the first area for greater than a predetermined time.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, wherein detecting the second finger gesture comprises detecting movement of the first point of contact away from the edge of the first area and then detecting another movement of the first point of contact back to the edge of the first area within a predetermined time.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of sets of icons includes a number of sets of icons that are configured to be separately displayed as a sequence of sets of icons in the first area of the touch screen display, and further including:

displaying two or more set-sequence-indicia icons, wherein the set-sequence-indicia icons provide information about the number of sets of icons in the plurality of sets of icons and a position of a displayed set of icons in the sequence of sets of icons; and

in response to detecting the second finger gesture, updating the information provided by the set-sequence-indicia icons to reflect the replacement of the displayed first set by the second set.

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

detecting a second finger gesture on a first icon in the first set on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the second finger gesture,

replacing display of the first set of the first plurality of icons with display of a second set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and,

moving the first icon from the first set to the second set;

detecting a third finger gesture on the first icon in the second set on the touch screen display;

in response to detecting the third finger gesture,

replacing display of the second set of the first plurality of icons with display of a third set of the first plurality of icons in the first area on the touch screen display, and,

moving the first icon from the second set to the third set;

detecting a user making a second point of contact with the touch screen display at a second position corresponding to the first icon in the third set and detecting movement of the second point of contact to a third position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the second point of contact and detecting movement of the second point of contact, displaying movement of the first icon to the third position on the touch screen display and displaying the first icon at the third position.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 50, wherein positions of one or more icons in the third set of the first plurality of icons vary about respective average positions.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 51, further comprising fixing a position of the first icon at the third position and ceasing to vary positions of the one or more icons in the third set in response to detecting a predefined user action for terminating the user interface reconfiguration process.

53. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

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 first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

instructions for displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

instructions for detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display; and

instructions for initiating a user interface reconfiguration process and for varying positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons about respective average positions, in response to detecting the first finger gesture.

54. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

display a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

detect a first finger gesture on the touch screen display; and

initiate a user interface reconfiguration process and vary positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons about respective average positions, in response to detecting the first finger gesture.

55. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a first set of a first plurality of icons displayed in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display; and

a second plurality of icons displayed in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

wherein;

in response to detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display, a user interface reconfiguration process is initiated and positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons are varied about respective average positions, in response to detecting the first finger gesture.

56. A computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

means for displaying a first set of a first plurality of icons in a first area of the touch screen display, wherein the first plurality of icons includes a plurality of sets of icons that are separately displayed in the first area of the touch screen display;

means for displaying a second plurality of icons in a second area on the touch screen display, wherein the second area is different from the first area;

means for detecting a first finger gesture on the touch screen display; and

means for initiating a user interface reconfiguration process and for varying positions of one or more icons in the first set of the first plurality of icons about respective average positions, in response to detecting the first finger gesture.