Method for Manipulating a Plurality of Non-Selected Graphical User Elements

• US 20130215064A1
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Cholewin, Erik A, Gorsica, John J, Lombardi, Michael J, Prochnow, Natalie J, Snyder, Ian M
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for manipulating graphical user interface elements includes displaying a plurality of elements on a touch screen of an electronic device. Based on a first touch screen contact detected on a first side of the electronic device and a slide contact detected on a second side of the electronic device, a first touch screen element is selected and the non-selected touch screen element(s) are manipulated relative to the first element. The slide contact can be interpreted by the electronic device as a drag, push, or rotate relative to the first element. Various features of the slide movement, such as the speed, the length, the pressure, the direction, and/or the pattern may affect the manipulation of the non-selected elements.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating graphical user interface elements comprising:

displaying at least two elements on a touch screen of an electronic device;

selecting a first element based on a first touch screen contact detected on a first side of the electronic device;

manipulating a non-selected second element, relative to the first element, in a direction of a slide contact detected on a second side of the electronic device;

ceasing the manipulation of the second element based on detecting a cessation of the slide contact; and

moving the first element based on a movement of a second touch screen contact detected on the first side of the electronic device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the manipulating comprises:

dragging the second element laterally, within the virtual plane of the touch screen, relative to the first element in the direction of the slide contact.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the manipulating comprises:

pushing, virtually, the second element above or below the first element and outside the virtual plane of the touch screen.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the manipulating comprises:

rotating the second element, within the plane of the touch screen, relative to the first element.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises:

selecting a two-part first element based on a dual-touch contact.

6. A method for manipulating graphical user interface elements comprising:

displaying a plurality of elements on a touch screen of an electronic device;

selecting a first element from the plurality of elements based on a first touch screen contact detected on a first side of the electronic device;

manipulating any non-selected element from the plurality of elements, relative to the first element, in a direction of a slide contact detected on a second side of the electronic device;

ceasing the manipulation of the non-selected element based on detecting a cessation of the slide contact; and

in response to ceasing the manipulation of the non-selected element, moving the first element based on a movement of a second touch screen contact detected on the first side of the electronic device.