Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigating Through a User Interface Using a Dynamic Object Selection Indicator

• US 20110302532A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Missig, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 9,542,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

A device that is in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface sends instructions to the display for displaying at least a portion of a user interface, the user interface having one or more selectable objects. The device receives an input that corresponds to a first gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface; and sends instructions to the display for displaying an object selection indicator. In response to receiving the input that corresponds to the first gesture: the device searches for a target selectable object; and sends instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator. When a target selectable object is identified, the device moves the object selection towards the target selectable object. When a target selectable object is not identified, the device moves the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture.

Claims

1. A computing device that is in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, comprising:

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;

sending instructions to the display for displaying at least a portion of a user interface, the user interface having one or more selectable objects;

receiving an input that corresponds to a first gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface;

sending instructions to the display for displaying an object selection indicator; and

in response to receiving the input that corresponds to the first gesture;

searching for a target selectable object; and

sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator, wherein;

when a target selectable object is identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator towards the target selectable object; and

when a target selectable object is not identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein searching for the target selectable object includes searching for the target selectable object in accordance with the first gesture.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture includes calculating a trajectory of the object selection indicator based on the first gesture and sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator to a termination point of the trajectory.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein searching for the target selectable object includes:

calculating a trajectory of the object selection indicator based on the first gesture;

searching for one or more candidate selectable objects that meet predefined candidate criteria; and

when one or more candidate selectable objects are found, identifying a respective candidate selectable object as the target selectable object.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the respective candidate selectable object is identified as the target selectable object based on proximity of the respective candidate selectable object to a termination point of the trajectory.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein, when no candidate selectable objects are found, sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture includes sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator to a termination point of the trajectory.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the trajectory is calculated based on simulated physical properties of the object selection indicator.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the candidate criteria are met for a respective selectable object if the respective selectable object is within a predefined distance of a termination point of the trajectory.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein identifying one of the candidate selectable objects as the target selectable object includes selecting a respective candidate selectable object that is closest to a termination point of the trajectory as the target selectable object.

10. A method comprising:

at a computing device with one or more processors and memory, wherein the device is in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface;

sending instructions to the display for displaying at least a portion of a user interface, the user interface having one or more selectable objects;

receiving an input that corresponds to a first gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface;

sending instructions to the display for displaying an object selection indicator; and

in response to receiving the input that corresponds to the first gesture;

searching for a target selectable object; and

sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator, wherein;

when a target selectable object is identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator towards the target selectable object; and

when a target selectable object is not identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein searching for the target selectable object includes:

calculating a trajectory of the object selection indicator based on the first gesture;

searching for one or more candidate selectable objects that meet predefined candidate criteria; and

when one or more candidate selectable objects are found, identifying a respective candidate selectable object as the target selectable object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the respective candidate selectable object is identified as the target selectable object based on proximity of the respective candidate selectable object to a termination point of the trajectory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, when no candidate selectable objects are found, sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture includes sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator to a termination point of the trajectory.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the trajectory is calculated based on simulated physical properties of the object selection indicator.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing device that is in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to:

send instructions to the display for displaying at least a portion of a user interface, the user interface having one or more selectable objects;

receive an input that corresponds to a first gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface;

send instructions to the display for displaying an object selection indicator; and

in response to receiving the input that corresponds to the first gesture;

search for a target selectable object; and

send instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator, wherein;

when a target selectable object is identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator towards the target selectable object; and

when a target selectable object is not identified, moving the object selection indicator includes moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein searching for the target selectable object includes:

calculating a trajectory of the object selection indicator based on the first gesture;

searching for one or more candidate selectable objects that meet predefined candidate criteria; and

when one or more candidate selectable objects are found, identifying a respective candidate selectable object as the target selectable object.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the respective candidate selectable object is identified as the target selectable object based on proximity of the respective candidate selectable object to a termination point of the trajectory.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein, when no candidate selectable objects are found, sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator in accordance with the first gesture includes sending instructions to the display for moving the object selection indicator to a termination point of the trajectory.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the trajectory is calculated based on simulated physical properties of the object selection indicator.

20. A graphical user interface on a display that is in communication with a computing device comprising a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, wherein the computing device is in communication with a touch-sensitive surface, the graphical user interface comprising:

an object selection indicator; and

a portion of a user interface having one or more selectable objects;

wherein;

an input is received that corresponds to a first gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface;

the object selection indicator is displayed; and

in response to receiving the input that corresponds to the first gesture;

a target selectable object is searched for; and

the object selection indicator is moved, wherein;

when a target selectable object is identified, the object selection indicator is moved towards the target selectable object; and

when a target selectable object is not identified, the object selection indicator is moved in accordance with the first gesture.