ICON OPERATION METHOD AND ICON OPERATION MODULE

• US 20100058244A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Yi-Hua
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/838
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An icon operation method is provided. The method is suitable for a display displaying an operation option image having several icons. Each icon represents an operation. The method comprises steps of grouping some of the icons so that the icons in the same group are partially stacked with each other.

Claims

1. An icon operation method, suitable for a display, wherein the display displays an operation option image having a plurality of icons and each of the plurality of icons represents an operation, and the icon operation method comprises:

grouping a portion of the plurality of icons so that the plurality of icons in a same group is partially stacked with each other.

2. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of icons;

executing the operation represented by the selected icon and displaying a user interface window of the operation on the display; and

when the user interface window is switched to the operation option image on the display, modifying the selected icon into a screen capture thumbnail of the user interface window before switching to the operation option image.

3. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method of switching from the user interface window to the operation option image comprises terminating the operation represented by the selected icon.

4. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method of switching from the user interface window to the operation option image comprises minimizing the user interface window.

5. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method of displaying the user interface window of the operation on the display comprises expanding the icon to a full screen size of the display directly.

6. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method of grouping the plurality of icons comprises selecting a portion of the plurality of icons with a gesture figure mode on the display.

7. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gesture figure mode further comprises at least two input apparatuses respectively located on two terminals of the plurality of icons to be grouped on the display, and the plurality of input apparatuses simultaneously moves to a set point in opposing directions on the display to group the plurality of icons.

8. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising when one input apparatus points to one of the plurality of icons in the same group through the display, the pointed icon popping out from the plurality of stacked and grouped icons.

9. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising selecting the plurality of icons in the same group with one input apparatus through the display to expand the plurality of icons in the same group.

10. The icon operation method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising having at least two input apparatuses simultaneously located on a set point of the plurality of icons in the same group on the display, and the plurality of input apparatuses move away from the set point simultaneously in opposing directions on the display to expand the plurality of icons in the same group.

11. An icon operation module, suitable for a display, wherein the display displays an operation option image having a plurality of icons and each of the plurality of icons represents a functional operation, and the icon operation module comprises:

a grouping signal reception module, at least configured to receive a grouping signal, wherein the grouping signal comprises selecting a portion of the plurality of icons; and

a grouping operation module, grouping the plurality of selected icons according to the grouping signal so that the plurality of icons in the same group is partially stacked on each other.

12. The icon operation module as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

an operation selection signal reception module, configured to receive an operation selection signal so as to select one of the plurality of icons;

a functional operation execution module, for executing the functional operation represented by the selected icon;

an image display module, for displaying a user interface window of the functional operation on the display; and

a modifying icon display module, configured to modify the selected icon into a screen capture thumbnail of the user interface window before switching to the operation option image when the user interface window is switched to the operation option image on the display.

13. The icon operation module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the modifying icon display module is configured to terminate the operation represented by the selected icon.

14. The icon operation module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the modifying icon display module is configured to minimize the user interface window.

15. The icon operation module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the image display module is configured to expand the icon to a full screen size of the display.