ARRANGING TILES

• US 20130057588A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,631 B2
• 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, through a single continuous gesture, 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 during reception of the single continuous gesture, 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, the selection received through the single continuous gesture;

zooming into the new location during reception of the single continuous gesture, 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 the region is a top edge of the user interface, a bottom edge of the user interface, a marked area within the user interface, or an area not including one of the multiple tiles.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving selection moving the selected tile to the region receives a first dragging portion of the single continuous gesture that drags the selected tile to the region and receiving selection moving the selected tile to the new location receives a second dragging portion of the single continuous gestures that drags the selected tile from the region to the new location.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 3, wherein the second dragging portion of the single continuous gesture is received through the user interface when presenting the second view.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 3, further comprising receiving a third portion of the single continuous gesture, the third portion a dwell or hover of the single continuous gesture received:

over the region of the user interface;

after the first dragging portion of the single continuous gesture; and

before the second dragging portion of the single continuous gesture.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the selection moving the selected tile to the new location in the second view moves the selected tile between, or adjacent to, one or more of the multiple other tiles.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising indicating, prior to receiving the selection moving the selected tile to the new location in the second view, valid locations between, or adjacent to, one or more of the multiple other tiles at which the selected tile can be placed, the valid locations including the new location.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 7, wherein indicating the valid locations includes altering an appearance of a first tile above the new location and a second tile below the new location prior to placing the selected tile at the new location.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein altering the appearance of the first tile and the second tile tilts the first tile and the second tile.

10. 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.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the user interface, when in the first view, enables selection to launch an application on selection of another of the multiple tiles and, when in the third view and after placing the selected tile at the new location, enables selection to launch another application on selection of one of the multiple other tiles in the third view.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple tiles displayed in the first view are grouped into an array having multiple columns and rows.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting multiple tiles within an array, two or more of the multiple tiles displaying content associated with respective applications;

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

placing the selected tile 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.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein the selected tile is moved from a different array and wherein presenting the multiple tiles within the array auto-scrolls through the different array to the array.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, 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, and 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.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 13, wherein receiving selection includes dwelling or hovering the selected tile over or adjacent to the location and further comprising indicating, responsive to the dwelling or hovering and prior to placing the selected tile, the location at which the selected tile 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 13, 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 13, wherein:

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

the selected tile is 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. One or more computer-readable storage media storing instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

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

responsive to the first selection, zooming out from the first view to a second view during reception of the single continuous gesture, the second view including multiple other tiles not displayed in the first view;

receiving a second selection moving the selected tile to a second region in the second view, the second selection received through the single continuous gesture;

responsive to the second selection, zooming into the second region during reception of the single continuous gesture, the zooming presenting a third view, the third view including an array having at least two of the multiple other tiles;

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

responsive to the third selection, automatically reflowing one or more of the at least two 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.