GROUPING SELECTABLE TILES

• US 20130067412A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• 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:
  US13/229,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20130067412A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

This document describes techniques for grouping selectable tiles. These techniques enable a user to create and manage flexibly-sized groups rather than constrain the user to groups of a particular size. Further, these techniques enable users to view selectable tiles in multiple groups simultaneously, which can help user quickly and easily find and select a desired tile.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting multiple, selectable tiles within multiple groups, the groups separated by a visual element and presented simultaneously in a single user interface; and

responsive to selection of a selected tile, launching or presenting an application associated with the selected tile.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising enabling selection to zoom into a selected group of the multiple groups, and, responsive to selection of the selected group, zooming into the selected group.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 2, wherein zooming into the selected group presents the selectable tiles of the selected group at an increased size that do not fill a viewable region in which the selectable tiles of the selected group are presented, and further comprising simultaneously presenting, at the increased size, tiles of another, unselected group of the multiple groups.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising receiving selection moving a selected group between two of the groups or in front of one of the groups, and responsive to the selection, moving the selected group between the two groups or in front of the one group.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 4, wherein receiving selection moving the selected group drags the selected group from an original location in the single user interface and drops the selected group to blank space of a selected visual element, the blank space residing between the two groups or in front of the one group.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 5, further comprising presenting the selectable tiles of the selected group during movement of the selected group.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising receiving selection moving a second selected tile from one of the multiple groups to blank space of a selected visual element between two of the groups or in front of another one of the groups and, responsive to selection, automatically creating a new group in the blank space.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising receiving selection moving a selected, last tile of one of the multiple groups, and responsive to selection, automatically deleting the one of the multiple groups.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising enabling selection to name one of the groups and, responsive to receiving the name, presenting the name geographically proximate to the one of the groups in the single user interface.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more selections moving two or more selected tiles of the selectable tiles to a region of the single user interface;

receiving a single selection of the two or more selected tiles moving, from the region, the two or more tiles to an existing group of the groups or a selected blank space; and

responsive to the single selection, adding the two or more selected tiles to the existing group or to a new group created at the selected blank space.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting multiple tiles associated with multiple applications;

receiving a selection grouping a first group of tiles;

presenting, in a single user interface, the first group of tiles;

receiving a selection grouping a second group of tiles;

presenting, in the single user interface, the second group of tiles simultaneously with the first group of tiles and separated by a visual element;

enabling selection, through a selected tile of the first group of tiles or the second group of tiles, of an operation associated with the selected tile; and

responsive to selection of the selected tile, causing the operation to be performed.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the operation is launching an application associated with the selected tile.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein receiving selection grouping the first group of tiles receives the first group of tiles, one-at-a-time, to a region of the single user interface.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, further comprising enabling selection to move the first group or the second group with a single selection and, responsive to the single selection, altering an order of the first group and the second group in the single user interface.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, wherein the single selection is a drag-and-drop of the first group or the second group from an original location in the order to a new location, the drop at a blank space at the new location.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the visual element is a blank space that does not include chrome or a visual divider.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 11, wherein the groups are not identified within the single user interface with a name or title.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting, simultaneously in a single user interface, tiles associated with applications, the tiles arranged in groups separated by visual elements;

receiving selection to move a selected group of the groups from an original location to a new location in the single user interface;

responsive to selection, presenting movement of the selected group from the original location to the new location, the movement showing tiles within the selected group; and

presenting the selected group at the new location.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 18, wherein the visual elements are blank space and receiving selection to move the selected group to the new location receives a drop of the selected group at a selected blank space within the single user interface and at the new location.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 18, further comprising receiving selection of a selected one of the tiles and, responsive to the selection, launching an application associated with the selected one of the tiles.