LAYER-BASED USER INTERFACE

• US 20090204928A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idean Enterprises Oy (Capgemini SE)
• Original Assignee: Idean Enterprises Oy (Capgemini SE)
• Inventors: Heiskanen, Petri, KALLIO, Markus, Vanska, Marko, Kaki, Mika, Lahdesmaki, Risto
• Granted Patent: US 9,436,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/799
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• 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 layer-based user interface for computing devices. In the layer-based user interface, the functionality of the device is distributed to layers and accessed via them. Each layer is composed of a number of components or features that are typically represented by icons. The components can present, for example, data or functions to the user. The components can be interactive or un-interactive. A subset of interactive components is navigational. Navigational components are a special case of the components because of their central role in the user interface concept.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface in a computing device, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers; and

choosing a desired feature by activating at least one of said components from at least one of the layers that are visible;

wherein said layers are movable in relation to each other, wherein moving said layers is configured to make further layers visible.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a scrollable menu.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a non-scrollable menu.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said components are active components arranged to retrieve the visualization of the component from a network service.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said layers further comprise sub-layers having at least one component.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering a component includes at least one of the following:

time-based trigger, application-based trigger, pressure-based trigger and orientation-based trigger.

7. The method according claim 1, wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group.

8. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program is arranged to execute the steps of any of the preceding method claims 16 method claim 1 when executed in a computing device.

9. An apparatus comprising means for executing the computer program product of claim 8.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises control means, wherein the control means is at least one of the following:

a touch sensitive display, an orientation sensor and a keypad.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises a network connection.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone.