METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING A USER INTERFACE

• US 20140143696A1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Bin, Weng, Haibin, Liu, Daokuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

This disclosure discloses a method and device for managing a user interface. The user interface can display one of a multiple of layers, which may share one or more same icons of available application programs. Users can change the layer being displayed on the user interface through performing a simple touch gesture on the touch screen, thereby quickly finding out a set of application programs needed to use currently. Thus, users'"'"' operations are simplified.

Claims

1. A method for managing a user interface, comprising:

detecting a touch on a touch screen;

determining whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface; and

activating the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer changing gesture and the operation comprising a step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate layers on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting a layer from the list of candidate layers; and

displaying the layer selected by the user on the user interface.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining a subsequent layer of the layer being displayed on the user interface according to a preset order; and

displaying the subsequent layer on the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple of layers comprise a basic layer and extended layers, and wherein the basic layer comprises icons of all the application programs, and each of the extended layers comprises icons of application programs in the same categories.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer locking gesture and the operation comprising a step of locking a layer being displayed on the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is an application program deleting gesture and the operation comprising a step of deleting an icon of an application program corresponding to the touch in a layer being displayed on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch in the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining the type of the layer being displayed on the user interface;

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the basic layer, uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from the multiple of layers; and

,

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the extended layer, deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the extended layer, the method further comprising:

displaying a prompt of deletion mode,

receiving a user selection, and

deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface, or uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from each layer(s) according to the user selection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined application program adding gesture and the operation comprising a step of adding an icon of an application program to a layer being displayed on the user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of adding the icon of the application program to the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate application programs on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting one or more application programs from the list of candidate application programs; and

,

adding the icon of the application program selected by the user to the layer being displayed on the user interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer editing gesture and the operation comprising a step of receiving an edit instruction inputted by a user in an editing state and performing an edit operation to a layer in response to the editing instruction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the editing operation comprises at least one or more options for adding an extended layer, deleting an extended layer, merging two or more extended layers, changing the name of an extended layer, changing the background of an extended layer and changing the icon style of an application program in an extended layer.

14. A device for managing a user interface, comprising:

one or more processors;

a touch screen coupled to the one or more processors;

a memory coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

detect a touch on a touch screen;

determine whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface; and

activate the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer changing gesture and the operation comprising a step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate layers on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting a layer from the list of candidate layers; and

displaying the layer selected by the user on the user interface.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining a subsequent layer of the layer being displayed on the user interface according to a preset order; and

displaying the subsequent layer on the user interface.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the multiple of layers comprises a basic layer and extended layers, and wherein the basic layer comprises icons of all the application programs, and each of the extended layers comprises icons of application programs in the same categories.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer locking gesture and the operation comprising a step of locking a layer being displayed on the user interface.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is an application program deleting gesture and the operation comprising a step of deleting an icon of an application program corresponding to the touch in a layer being displayed on the user interface.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the step of deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch in the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining the type of the layer being displayed on the user interface;

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the basic layer, uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the multiple of layers; and

,

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the extended layer, deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein if the layer being displayed on the user interface is the extended layer, the one or more processors are further configured to:

display a prompt of deletion mode,

receive a user selection, and

delete the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface, or uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from each layer(s) according to the user selection.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined application program adding gesture and the operation comprising a step of adding an icon of an application program to a layer being displayed on the user interface.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the step of adding the icon of the application program to the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate application programs on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting one or more application programs from the list of candidate application programs; and

,

adding the icon of the application program selected by the user to the layer being displayed on the user interface.

25. The device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer editing gesture and the operation comprising a step of receiving an edit instruction inputted by a user in the editing state and performing an edit operation to a layer in response to the editing instruction.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the editing operation comprises at least one or more options for adding an extended layer, deleting an extended layer, merging two or more extended layers, changing the name of an extended layer, changing the background of an extended layer and changing the icon style of an application program in an extended layer.

27. A nonvolatile computer readable storage medium having one or more programs stored therein, which can, when it or they is/are applied to a device with a touch screen, let the device perform instructions in the following steps:

detecting a touch on a touch screen;

determining whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface; and

activating the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs.