Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulation of User Interface Objects with Activation Regions

• US 20110074697A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leffert, Akiva Dov, Weeldreyer, Christopher Douglas, Rapp, Peter William, Capela, Jay Christopher, Marr, Jason Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computing device with a display simultaneously displays a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects with one or more activation regions. The device receives a first input from the user. Based at least in part on the first input, the device determines a first plurality of candidate actions for manipulating a user interface object. The device performs a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering. After performing the first candidate action, the device undoes the first candidate action, receives a third input that is a repetition of the first input, and determines a second plurality of candidate. The second plurality of candidate actions is ordered such that second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering. The device performs the second candidate action.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

simultaneously displaying a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects, wherein each user interface object includes one or more activation regions;

receiving a first input from the user at a position on the touch screen that corresponds to at least one of the activation regions;

based at least in part on the first input, determining a first plurality of candidate actions, wherein each candidate action is associated with one of the user interface objects and the candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a first ordering;

performing a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering;

after performing the first candidate action, receiving a second input that corresponds to a request to undo the first candidate action;

in response to the second input, undoing the first candidate action;

receiving a third input that is a repetition of the first input;

determining, based at least in part on the third input, a second plurality of candidate actions associated with one or more of the plurality of user interface objects, wherein the second plurality of candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a second ordering that is different from the first ordering;

wherein a second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions is distinct from the first candidate action and has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering; and

performing the second candidate action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first candidate action and the second candidate action are both selected from the set consisting of moving a user interface object, resizing a user interface object, rotating a user interface object, and formatting a user interface object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first candidate action is selecting a first resizing handle that corresponds to the first activation region;

the second candidate action is selecting a second resizing handle that corresponds to a second activation region; and

at least a portion of the first activation region overlaps at least a portion of the second activation region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first input is at a position on the display that corresponds to a first activation region associated with a resizing handle and is proximate to a second activation region associated with a center portion of a respective user-repositionable user interface object;

the position of the first input is closer to the resizing handle than the center portion;

the first candidate action includes selecting the resizing handle;

the third input is at a position on the display that corresponds to the first activation region associated with the resizing handle and is proximate to the second activation region associated with the center portion;

the position of the third input is closer to the resizing handle than the center portion; and

the second candidate action includes selecting the respective user-repositionable user interface object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first input is at a position on the display that corresponds to a first activation region associated with a first resizing handle and is proximate to a second activation region associated with a second resizing handle;

the position of the first input is closer to the first resizing handle than the second resizing handle;

the first candidate action includes selecting the first resizing handle;

the third input is at a position on the display that corresponds to the first activation region associated with the first resizing handle and is proximate to the second activation region associated with the second resizing handle;

the position of the third input is closer to the first resizing handle than the second resizing handle; and

the second candidate action includes selecting the second resizing handle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first input corresponds to a command to move a respective one of the plurality of user interface objects to a respective position on the display that is proximate to a first guide and a second guide;

the respective position of the user interface object is closer to the first guide than the second guide;

the first candidate action includes snapping the user interface object to the first guide;

the third input corresponds to a command to move the respective user interface object to the respective position on the display;

the respective position of the user interface object is closer to the first guide than the second guide; and

the second candidate action includes snapping the user interface object to the second guide.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, while performing the first candidate action, displaying a visual confirmation that the first candidate action is being performed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a fourth input;

in response to the fourth input, undoing the second action;

receiving a fifth input that is a repetition of the first input and the third input

determining, based at least in part on the fifth input, a third plurality of candidate actions associated with one or more of the plurality of user interface objects, wherein the third plurality of candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a third ordering that is different from the first ordering and the second ordering;

wherein a third candidate action in the third plurality of candidate actions is distinct from the first candidate action and the second candidate action and has a higher position than both the first candidate action and the second candidate action in the third ordering; and

performing the third candidate action.

9. 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;

simultaneously displaying a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects, wherein each user interface object includes one or more activation regions;

receiving a first input from the user at a position on the touch screen that corresponds to at least one of the activation regions;

based at least in part on the first input, determining a first plurality of candidate actions, wherein each candidate action is associated with one of the user interface objects and the candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a first ordering;

performing a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering;

after performing the first candidate action, receiving a second input that corresponds to a request to undo the first candidate action;

in response to the second input, undoing the first candidate action;

receiving a third input that is a repetition of the first input;

determining, based at least in part on the third input, a second plurality of candidate actions associated with one or more of the plurality of user interface objects, wherein the second plurality of candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a second ordering that is different from the first ordering;

wherein a second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions is distinct from the first candidate action and has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering; and

performing the second candidate action.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

simultaneously display a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects, wherein each user interface object includes one or more activation regions;

receive a first input from the user at a position on the touch screen that corresponds to at least one of the activation regions;

based at least in part on the first input, determine a first plurality of candidate actions, wherein each candidate action is associated with one of the user interface objects and the candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a first ordering;

perform a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering;

after performing the first candidate action, receive a second input that corresponds to a request to undo the first candidate action;

in response to the second input, undo the first candidate action;

receive a third input that is a repetition of the first input

determine, based at least in part on the third input, a second plurality of candidate actions associated with one or more of the plurality of user interface objects, wherein the second plurality of candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a second ordering that is different from the first ordering;

wherein a second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions is distinct from the first candidate action and has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering; and

perform the second candidate action.

11. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

simultaneously displaying a plurality of user-repositionable user interface objects, wherein each user interface object includes one or more activation regions;

receiving a first input from the user at a position on the touch screen that corresponds to at least one of the activation regions;

based at least in part on the first input, determining a first plurality of candidate actions, wherein each candidate action is associated with one of the user interface objects and the candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a first ordering;

performing a first candidate action of the first plurality of candidate actions as determined in accordance with the first ordering;

after performing the first candidate action, receiving a second input that is a repetition of the first input; and

in response to the second input;

undoing the first candidate action;

determining, based at least in part on the second input, a second plurality of candidate actions associated with one or more of the plurality of user interface objects, wherein the second plurality of candidate actions are ordered in accordance with a second ordering that is different from the first ordering;

wherein a second candidate action in the second plurality of candidate actions is distinct from the first candidate action and has a higher position than the first candidate action in the second ordering; and

performing the second candidate action.