Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Managing Concurrently Open Software Applications

• US 20110252380A1
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Granted Patent: US 9,052,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/836
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

displaying in a predefined area images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

detecting a gesture on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the images of open applications in the three-dimensional stack are ordered based at least in part on recency of use of corresponding open applications.

3. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive 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 application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

displaying in a predefined area images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

detecting a gesture on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

4. A graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

wherein;

a first input is detected;

in response to detecting the first input;

an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view is entered; and

images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications are displayed in a predefined area, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

a gesture is detected on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application;

a respective application view is displayed on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications ceases to be displayed; and

the application view selection mode is exited.

5. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

enter an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

display in a predefined area images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

detect a gesture on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications; and

exit the application view selection mode.

6. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

means for displaying a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for detecting a first input;

means, responsive to detecting the first input, including;

means for entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

means for displaying in a predefined area images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

means for detecting a gesture on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

means, responsive to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application, including;

means for displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.

7. An information processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

means for displaying a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for detecting a first input;

means, responsive to detecting the first input, including;

means for entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

means for displaying in a predefined area images of open applications that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a three-dimensional stack extending backwards on the display;

means for detecting a gesture on a respective image of an open application in the three-dimensional stack; and

,

means, responsive to detecting the gesture on the respective image of the open application, including;

means for displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for ceasing to display the three-dimensional stack of images of open applications; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.