Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Managing Concurrently Open Software Applications

• US 20140173517A1
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/830
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An electronic device displays a first application view at a first size. The first application view corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications. The device detects a first input; and, in response, enters an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications, and displays images of open applications. Each image is displayed at a second size that is smaller than the first size, a corresponding open application icon is concurrently displayed with each image, and the images and corresponding open application icons correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications. The device detects a selection gesture on a respective image of an open application; and, in response, displays a respective application view at the first size for a corresponding application; ceases to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and exits the application view selection mode.

Claims

1. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a first application view at a first size on the touch-sensitive display, wherein;

the first application view corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, and

the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

displaying images of open applications, wherein;

each image is displayed at a second size that is smaller than the first size,

a corresponding open application icon is concurrently displayed with each image, and

the images and corresponding open application icons correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a selection gesture on a respective image of an open application; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective image;

displaying a respective application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a single scrollable row or column.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the images of open applications are displayed in a grid, the grid comprising at least two rows of images of open applications.

4. The device of claim 1, including instructions for concurrently displaying the images of open applications and a search icon.

5. The device of claim 4, including instructions for:

detecting a gesture at a location that corresponds to the search icon;

in response to detecting the gesture at the location that corresponds to the search icon, displaying a search input user interface;

receiving one or more search terms in the search input user interface;

performing a search using the one or more search terms; and

displaying results of the search.

6. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

while in the application view selection mode, detecting a selection gesture on a respective open application icon; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective open application icon;

displaying a particular application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the particular application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

7. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

detecting a swipe gesture on one of the images of open applications; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the images of open applications;

scrolling the images of open applications so that at least one of the images of open applications is removed from the touch-sensitive display and at least a portion of another one of the images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scrolling the open application icons.

8. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

detecting a swipe gesture on one of the open application icons; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the open application icons;

scrolling the open application icons so that a plurality of the open application icons is removed from the touch-sensitive display and a second plurality of open application icons is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scrolling the images of open applications so that the displayed images of open applications are removed from the touch-sensitive display and a plurality of images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display.

9. The device of claim 8, including instructions for:

subsequent to scrolling the images of open applications and the open application icons, concurrently displaying a first number of images of open applications and a second number of open application icons, wherein the second number is larger than the first number.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input includes a swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive display that originates from an edge of the touch-sensitive display.

11. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application view at a first size on the touch-sensitive display, wherein;

the first application view corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, and

the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

displaying images of open applications, wherein;

each image is displayed at a second size that is smaller than the first size,

a corresponding open application icon is concurrently displayed with each image, and

the images and corresponding open application icons correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a selection gesture on a respective image of an open application; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective image;

displaying a respective application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

12. The method of claim 11, including:

while in the application view selection mode, detecting a selection gesture on a respective open application icon; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective open application icon;

displaying a particular application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the particular application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

13. The method of claim 11, including:

detecting a swipe gesture on one of the images of open applications; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the images of open applications;

scrolling the images of open applications so that at least one of the images of open applications is removed from the touch-sensitive display and at least a portion of another one of the images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scrolling the open application icons.

14. The method of claim 11, including:

detecting a swipe gesture on one of the open application icons; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the open application icons;

scrolling the open application icons so that a plurality of the open application icons is removed from the touch-sensitive display and a second plurality of open application icons is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scrolling the images of open applications so that the displayed images of open applications are removed from the touch-sensitive display and a plurality of images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display.

15. The method of claim 14, including:

subsequent to scrolling the images of open applications and the open application icons, concurrently displaying a first number of images of open applications and a second number of open application icons, wherein the second number is larger than the first number.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first application view at a first size on the touch-sensitive display, wherein;

the first application view corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, and

the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

enter an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view; and

display images of open applications, wherein;

each image is displayed at a second size that is smaller than the first size,

a corresponding open application icon is concurrently displayed with each image, and

the images and corresponding open application icons correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a selection gesture on a respective image of an open application; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective image;

display a respective application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exit the application view selection mode.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to:

while in the application view selection mode, detect a selection gesture on a respective open application icon; and

,

in response to detecting the selection gesture on the respective open application icon;

display a particular application view at the first size on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the particular application view is displayed without concurrently displaying at the first size an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the images and corresponding open application icons; and

exit the application view selection mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to:

detects swipe gesture on one of the images of open applications; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the images of open applications;

scroll the images of open applications so that at least one of the images of open applications is removed from the touch-sensitive display and at least a portion of another one of the images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scroll the open application icons.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to:

detect a swipe gesture on one of the open application icons; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe gesture on the one of the open application icons;

scroll the open application icons so that a plurality of the open application icons is removed from the touch-sensitive display and a second plurality of open application icons is added to the touch-sensitive display; and

concurrently scroll the images of open applications so that the displayed images of open applications are removed from the touch-sensitive display and a plurality of images of open applications is added to the touch-sensitive display.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to:

subsequent to scrolling the images of open applications and the open application icons, concurrently display a first number of images of open applications and a second number of open application icons, wherein the second number is larger than the first number.