Three-Dimensional Animation for Providing Access to Applications

• US 20120297345A1
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Baumann, Laurent
• Application Number:
  US13/111,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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

Abstract

A three-dimensional animation for providing access to applications is described. In some implementations, a three-dimensional multi-level dock is displayed. The multi-level dock can be animated to appear to slide into view on a graphical user interface in response to user input. The levels of the multi-level dock can be configured to display selectable graphical objects representing applications available on a computing device. A user can select a graphical object to invoke a corresponding application. The three-dimensional multi-level dock can be animated to slide out of view on the graphical user interface in response to the selection of an application object or in response to other user input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a graphical object to display on a user interface of a computing device;

receiving a selection of the graphical object;

in response to the selection, causing a three-dimensional multi-level dock having one or more levels to display on the user interface; and

causing one or more graphical objects to display on the levels of the three-dimensional multi-level dock.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

animating the three-dimensional multi-level dock to slide into the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing one or more dock graphical objects to display on the user interface before receiving the selection of the graphical object; and

causing the one or more dock graphical objects to display on a top level of the three-dimensional multi-level dock after receiving the selection of the graphical object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more applications of the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more files accessible to the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted alphabetically by a name associated with the icon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted by how often each icon is selected.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more levels is associated with a respective category, wherein each of the one or more graphical objects is associated with a respective category, and further comprising:

causing a particular icon to be displayed on a particular level based on the category associated with the icon and the category associated with the level.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input specifying sorting criteria for the one or more graphical objects displayed on the three-dimensional multi-level dock.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes:

displaying a graphical object on a user interface of a computing device;

receiving a selection of the graphical object;

in response to the selection, causing a three-dimensional multi-level dock having one or more levels to display on the user interface; and

displaying one or more graphical objects on the levels of the three-dimensional multi-level dock.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

animating the three-dimensional multi-level dock to slide into the user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

displaying one or more dock graphical objects on the user interface before receiving the selection of the graphical object; and

displaying the one or more dock graphical objects on a top level of the three-dimensional multi-level dock after receiving the selection of the graphical object.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more applications of the computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more files accessible to the computing device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted alphabetically by a name associated with the icon.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted by how often each icon is selected.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more levels is associated with a respective category, wherein each of the one or more graphical objects is associated with the respective category, and wherein the instructions cause:

displaying a particular icon on a particular level based on the category associated with the icon and the category associated with the level.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

receiving input specifying sorting criteria for the one or more graphical objects displayed on the three-dimensional multi-level dock.

19. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes;

displaying a graphical object on a user interface of a computing device;

receiving a selection of the graphical object;

in response to the selection, causing a three-dimensional multi-level dock having one or more levels to display on the user interface; and

displaying one or more graphical objects on the levels of the three-dimensional multi-level dock.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

animating the three-dimensional multi-level dock to slide into the user interface.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

displaying one or more dock graphical objects on the user interface before receiving the selection of the graphical object; and

displaying the one or more dock graphical objects on a top level of the three-dimensional multi-level dock after receiving the selection of the graphical object.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more applications of the computing device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more graphical objects represent one or more files accessible to the computing device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted alphabetically by a name associated with the icon.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more graphical objects are sorted by how often each icon is selected.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein each of the one or more levels is associated with a respective category, wherein each of the one or more graphical objects is associated with the respective category, and wherein the instructions cause:

displaying a particular icon on a particular level based on the category associated with the icon and the category associated with the level.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that cause:

receiving input specifying sorting criteria for the one or more graphical objects displayed on the three-dimensional multi-level dock.