Displaying Side-Tabbed Panels for an Application Operating on a Computing Device

• US 20140075369A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mowatt, Anthony C., Joshi, Binal L., Kesablyan, Armen
• Granted Patent: US 9,052,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/777
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A method for displaying panels in a user interface of a computing device includes displaying, via the computing device, tabs vertically along sides of the panels on the user interface. The tabs correspond to the panels, and the panels provide control options for an application operating on the computing device. The method further includes displaying, via the computing device, a first one of the panels for a first one of the tabs selected for display on the user interface, and suppressing, via the computing device, display of a portion of the panels on the user interface. The portion of the panels does not include the first one of the panels.

Claims

1. A method for displaying panels in a user interface of a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying, via the computing device, tabs vertically along sides of the panels on the user interface, wherein the tabs correspond to the panels, and the panels provide control options for an application operating on the computing device;

displaying, via the computing device, a first one of the panels for a first one of the tabs selected for display on the user interface; and

suppressing, via the computing device, display of a portion of the panels on the user interface, wherein the portion of the panels does not include the first one of the panels.

2. The method of claim 1, displaying, via the computing device, icons in the tabs on the user interface, wherein the icons respectively identify functions of the panels.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, via the computing device, a collapse button on the user interface;

receiving, via the computing device, a selection of the collapse button;

displaying, via the computing device, the tabs horizontally on the user interface based on the selection; and

suppressing, via the computing device, display of the panels based on the selection.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, via the computing device, a selection of one of the tabs being displayed horizontally;

displaying, via the computing device, the tabs vertically along the sides of the panels on the user interface based on the selection of the one of the tabs; and

displaying, via the computing device, one of the panels corresponding to the one of the tabs on the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a section of one of the tabs; and

displaying, via the computing device, a name of one of the panels corresponding to the one of the tabs on the user interface based on the selection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the one of the tabs includes positioning a cursor over the one of the tabs.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising

displaying, via the computing device, an additional panel on the user interface;

receiving, via the computing device, a command for dragging the additional panel over the first one of the panels on the user interface; and

displaying, via the computing device, an additional tab for the additional panel vertically with the tabs on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the additional panel in the user interface; and

suppressing display of the panels on the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the computing device, a selection of a second one of the tabs, which corresponds to a second one of the panels;

displaying, via the computing device, the second one of the panels on the user interface based on the selection of the second one of the tabs; and

suppressing, via the computing device, display of a second portion of the panels on the user interface, wherein the second portion of the panels does not include the second one of the panels based on the selection of the second one of the tabs.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for displaying panels in a user interface of a computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed, are for controlling the computing device to be configured for:

displaying tabs vertically along sides of the panels on the user interface, wherein the tabs correspond to the panels, and the panels provide control options for an application operating on the computing device;

displaying a first one of the panels for a first one of the tabs selected for display on the user interface; and

suppressing display of a portion of the panels on the user interface, wherein the portion of the panels does not include the first one of the panels.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for displaying icons in the tabs on the user interface, wherein the icons respectively identify functions of the panels.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

displaying a collapse button on the user interface;

receiving a selection of the collapse button;

displaying the tabs horizontally on the user interface based on the selection; and

suppressing display of the panels based on the selection.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

receiving a selection of one of the tabs being displayed horizontally;

displaying the tabs vertically along the sides of the panels on the user interface based on the selection of the one of the tabs; and

displaying one of the panels corresponding to the one of the tabs on the user interface.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

receiving a section of one of the tabs; and

displaying a name of one of the panels corresponding to the one of the tabs on the user interface based on the selection.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein selecting the one of the tabs includes positioning a cursor over the one of the tabs.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

displaying an additional panel on the user interface;

receiving a command for dragging the additional panel over the first one of the panels; and

displaying an additional tab for the additional panel vertically with the tabs on the user interface.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

displaying the additional panel in the user interface; and

suppressing display of the panels on the user interface.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are for further controlling the computing device to be configured for:

receiving a selection of a second one of the tabs, which corresponds to a second one of the panels;

displaying the second one of the panels on the user interface based on the selection of the second one of the tabs; and

suppressing display of a second portion of the panels on the user interface, wherein the second portion of the panels does not include the second one of the panels based on the selection of the second one of the tabs.

19. A computing device for displaying panels in a user interface of the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions for controlling the processor to be configured for;

displaying tabs vertically along sides of the panels on the user interface, wherein the tabs correspond to the panels, and the panels provide control options for an application operating on the computing device;

displaying a first one of the panels for a first one of the tabs selected for display on the user interface; and

suppressing display of a portion of the panels on the user interface, wherein the portion of the panels does not include the first one of the panels.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions for controlling the processor to be operable for:

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displaying an additional panel on the user interface;

receiving a command for dragging the additional panel over the first one of the panels on the user interface; and

displaying an additional tab for the additional panel vertically with the tabs on the user interface.