THUMBNAIL-IMAGE SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS

• US 20130219343A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nan, Jennifer, Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Miner, Patrice L., Worley, Matthew I., Anderson, Bret P., Jarrett, Robert J., Sundelin, Nils A., Sareen, Chaitanya Dev, Wong, Tsz Yan, LeVee, Brian S., Seibert, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling thumbnail-image selection of applications. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user interface having selectable thumbnail images for applications not currently exposed on a display. The techniques and apparatuses may enable selection of this user interface through a simple gesture that is both easy-to-use and remember. Further, selection of applications not currently exposed on the display may be selected through thumbnail images representing each application'"'"'s application interface as it will appear on selection.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to receiving a first gesture or a gesture portion, presenting a user interface on a display, the user interface having thumbnail images for applications, each of the thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the applications;

receiving a selection of one of the thumbnail images and through a second gesture or a later gesture portion, the second gesture or later gesture portion dragging the selected thumbnail image from the user interface to a region of the display; and

responsive to receiving the selection and based on the region of the display to which the selected thumbnail image is dragged, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected thumbnail image.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface will appear responsive to selection of the thumbnail.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface last appeared.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein one of the thumbnails includes a smaller or lower-resolution video of a video that will appear responsive to the selection of the one of the thumbnails.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the region is an edge of the display and wherein presenting the application interface snaps the application interface to the edge.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 5, wherein the presenting presents the application interface within an immersive environment and having a previously set size.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the region is not at an edge of the display and wherein presenting the application interface presents the application on all or substantially all of the display.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting the user interface progressively displays the user interface starting at an edge of the display.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein the first gesture or the gesture portion is an edge gesture received at the edge of the display from which the user interface is progressively displayed.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the gesture portion is part of an ongoing gesture, the ongoing gesture having a prior portion, the prior portion selecting one of the applications arranged in a queue, responsive to which a queued thumbnail image associated with the application in the queue is presented, and where the gesture portion selects to cease presentation of the thumbnail image associated with the application.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the gesture portion is part of an ongoing gesture, the ongoing gesture having a first prior portion, the first prior portion having a start point at an edge of the display, a second prior portion having a later point not at the edge of the display, and the gesture portion following the second prior portion and having a successive point at the edge of the display.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the first gesture and the second gesture or the gesture portion and the later gesture portion are received through a mouse or a touchpad.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising, prior to presenting the user interface, maintaining the thumbnail images for the applications based on the applications being previously interacted with, or commonly used or previously selected by a user associated with a device with which the display is associated.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting the application interface replaces a previously-presented application interface associated with a prior application, and responsive to receiving a third gesture or another gesture portion, presenting a second user interface, the second user interface having a thumbnail image associated with the previously-presented application and the thumbnail images other than the selected thumbnail image.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to receiving a first mouse-based gesture, presenting a user interface on a display, the user interface having thumbnail images for applications, each of the thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the applications;

receiving selection of a selected thumbnail image of the thumbnail images and through a second mouse-based gesture;

responsive to selection of the selected thumbnail image, presenting a menu within, over, or adjacent to the user interface, the menu enabling selection to present the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image at a first display size or location or a second display size or location; and

responsive to selection of the first or second display size or location, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image and at the selected first or second display size or location within the display, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected thumbnail image.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface will appear responsive to selection of the thumbnail.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the menu further enables selection to close the selected application or remove the selected thumbnail image from the user interface.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, further comprising, prior to receiving the first mouse-based gesture, presenting an indication that the user interface is selectable, the indication showing indicia for each of the thumbnail images at an edge of the display.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the selected first or second display size or location is a size that is smaller than full size and presenting the application interface snaps the application interface to an edge of the display and within an immersive environment.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

receiving a gesture having a first portion starting at an edge of a display, moving away from the edge, and made over a current application interface associated with a current application without presenting a visible, selectable control over the current application interface or on the display presenting the current application interface;

responsive to receiving the first portion of the gesture, presenting a thumbnail image of the previous application interface progressively with the first portion of the gesture as the gesture is received;

receiving a second portion of the gesture that moves toward the edge;

responsive to receiving the second portion of the gesture, presenting a user interface on the display, the user interface having other thumbnail images for other applications, each of the other thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the other applications;

receiving selection of one of the thumbnail images and through a third portion of the gesture or another gesture, the third portion of the gesture or the other gesture dragging the selected thumbnail image from the user interface to a region of the display; and

responsive to receiving the selection and based on the region of the display to which the selected thumbnail image is dragged, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected other thumbnail image.