ARRANGING TILES

• US 20130057587A1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Leonard, Chantal M., Kuehnle, Holger, Whytock, John C., Deutsch, Rebecca, Miner, Patrice L.
• Application Number:
  US13/224,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for arranging tiles. These techniques and apparatuses enable users to quickly and easily arrange tiles within an interface, such as an application-launching interface. In some cases, users may arrange tiles in an interface with as little as one continuous gesture.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving selection of a selected tile of multiple tiles displayed in a first view in a user interface, the selection moving the selected tile from a current location among the multiple tiles to a region of the user interface;

responsive to selection, zooming out from the first view to a second view, the second view including multiple other tiles not displayed in the first view;

receiving selection moving the selected tile to a new location in the second view;

zooming into the new location, the zooming in presenting a third view, the third view including the new location and one or more of the multiple other tiles; and

placing the selected tile at the new location.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving selection moving the selected tile to the region receives a first gesture dragging the selected tile to the region and receiving selection moving the selected tile to the new location receives a second gesture dragging the selected tile from the region to the new location, the second gesture received through the user interface when presenting the second view.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving selection moving the selected tile also receives one or more other selected tiles, and wherein placing the selected tile at the new location places the one or more other selected tiles adjacent the new location.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving selection moving the selected tile to the region and receiving selection moving the selected tile to the new location are received through a single, continuous gesture and wherein zooming out from the first view to the second view and zooming in from the second view to the third view are performed during the single, continuous gesture.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising receiving a third selection, the third selection placing the selected tile between or adjacent to one or more of the multiple tiles, and wherein placing the selected tile at the new location is responsive to the third selection.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 5, further comprising indicating, prior to receiving the third selection, valid locations between or adjacent to the one or more of the multiple tiles at which the selected tile can be placed.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the selection moving the selected tile to the new location includes a dwell or hover over the new location, and wherein zooming into the new location is responsive to the dwell or the hover.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the user interface is an application-launching interface.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the region is a top edge of the user interface, a bottom edge of the user interface, or a marked area within the user interface, or an area not including one of the multiple tiles.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting multiple tiles within an array;

receiving selection to place one or more selected tiles at a location within the array and at which a current tile of the multiple tiles resides;

placing the selected tiles at the location; and

automatically reflowing one or more of the multiple tiles within the array, the reflowing moving at least the current tile to a subordinate location in the array.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein one of the one or more selected tiles, when selected, is one of the multiple tiles within the array and is at an original location within the array, and wherein automatically reflowing moves a subordinate tile of the multiple tiles to the original location.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein one of the one or more selected tiles is moved from a different array and wherein presenting the multiple tiles within the array auto-scrolls through the different array to the array.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein the array includes columns and rows having superior and subordinate locations, a left-most column having locations superior to locations within columns arranged right of the left-most column, and a top-most row of each column having locations superior to locations within each column arranged below the top-most row.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein automatically reflowing one or more of the multiple tiles within the array moves the current tile and any tiles subordinate to the current tile down their respective columns unless no lower location exists in their respective columns, if no lower location exists in their respective columns, the automatically reflowing moves over from their respective columns to a column arranged to the right of their respective columns.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein receiving selection includes dwelling or hovering the selected tiles over or adjacent to the location and further comprising indicating, responsive to the dwelling or hovering and prior to placing the selected tile, a preview of the array if the selected tiles are placed at the location.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein receiving selection includes dwelling or hovering the selected tiles over or adjacent to the location and further comprising indicating, responsive to the dwelling or hovering and prior to placing the selected tiles, the location at which one the selected tiles will be placed by altering an appearance of the current tile or a tile immediately superior to the current tile.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection dwelling or hovering a second selected tile at a second location within the array;

previewing a result of placing the second selected tile at the second location, the previewing showing a result of automatically reflowing one or more of the multiple tiles within the array;

receiving selection to place the second selected tile outside the array; and

indicating that the second selected tile has not been placed at the second location within the array.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 17, wherein indicating that the second selected tile has not been placed at the second location in the array presents a different array having an original location of the second selected tile.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein:

the array includes a sub-array, the sub-array having two or more small tiles of the multiple tiles;

the selected tiles are small and the location is within the sub-array having one of the one or more small tiles;

the current tile is small and at the location; and

automatically reflowing reflows the current tile within the sub-array.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving selection of a selected tile of multiple tiles displayed in a first view in a user interface, the selection moving the selected tile from an original location within the multiple tiles to a first region of the user interface;

responsive to selection, zooming out from the first view to a second view, the second view including multiple other tiles not displayed in the first view;

receiving selection moving the selected tile to a second region in the second view;

responsive to selection, zooming into the second region, the zooming presenting a third view, the third view including an array having multiple other tiles;

receiving selection placing the selected tile at a location within the array and at which a current tile of the multiple other tiles resides;

responsive to selection, automatically reflowing one or more of the multiple other tiles within the array, the reflowing moving at least the current tile to a subordinate location in the array; and

placing the selected tile at the location.