METHODS AND SOFTWARE FOR FACILITATING THE SELECTION OF MULTIPLE ITEMS AT AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150074606A1
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Meln, Sven Ola Petter
• Granted Patent: US 9,594,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of facilitating the selection of multiple items at an electronic device having a touch sensitive display and for receiving user input, the device, comprising: displaying on the display a grid list of icons representing selectable items, the icons being ordered in the grid: in rows extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one column; or in columns extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one row; and, in response to the device receiving user input in the form of a touch starting from a first icon and continuing forwards or backwards in the first direction, causing items represented by icons adjacent to the first icon forwards or backwards in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying on a touch sensitive display a grid list of icons representing selectable items, the icons being ordered in the grid;

in rows extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one column;

or

in columns extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one row;

and, in response to the device detecting a touch input starting from a first icon and continuing forwards or backwards in the first direction, causing items represented by icons adjacent to the first icon forwards or backwards in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying a visual indication of the selection of the items in relation to the representative icons.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the continuous touch remains in the row/column containing the first item, the method comprises causing only the items represented by adjacent icons to have been touched to be selected.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the continuous touch is continued in the first direction beyond the end of the row/column containing the first item, the method comprises causing items represented by icons in the next row/column in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the continuous touch is continued in the first direction beyond the end of the row/column containing the first item, the grid list is automatically scrolled in the second direction.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the grid list is scrolled in the second direction when the continuous touch is continued in the first direction beyond the end of the row/column containing the first item to display another row/column of the grid list:

when the the last visible item in the grid list is selected;

or

to cause the row/column containing the icon representing the current last selected item to be displayed adjacent the touch.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising accelerating the rate of selection of items represented by adjacent icons in the grid list in response to the touch being continued in the first direction beyond the end of the row/column containing the first item or further beyond the end of the row/column containing the first item.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising only causing the multiple items to be selected in response to the continuous touch remaining static in relation to a first icon for a predetermined period of time before continuing in the first direction.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising causing the multiple items to be selected in response to the continuous touch regardless of a dwell time of the touch in relation to a first icon before the touch continues in the first direction.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising deselecting a selected item in response to the continuous touch being retraced backwards in the first direction.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, after the continuous touch has ceased, deselecting a selected item in response to receipt of a touch in relation to the icon representing the selected item.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising allowing a further selection of multiple items in the grid list in response to the device receiving user input in the form of a further touch starting from a second icon and continuing forwards or backwards in the first direction, causing items represented by icons adjacent to the first icon forwards or backwards in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising causing the displayed grid list to be scrolled in response to receipt of a touch gesture extending in the second direction including a flick or a swipe.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, entering a multiple select mode of interaction in response to receipt of the continuous touch, such that all subsequent static touches or continuous touches in the first direction in relation to the grid list icons cause the items represented by the icons to be selected/deselected.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ordered grid list of icons represents one or more of the group comprising:

images, photographs, videos, audio files, contacts, documents, spreadsheets, attachments, emails or other files.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising causing a selection of adjacent items in the ordered grid list even across multiple rows/columns in response to receipt of simultaneous touches on two icons, the items represented by all icons between and including the two icons being selected.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a touch sensitive display for receiving user input;

one or more processors; and

memory comprising instructions which when executed by one or more of the processors cause the electronic device to;

display on the display a grid list of icons representing selectable items, the icons being ordered in the grid;

in rows extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one column;

or

in columns extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one row;

and, in response to the device receiving user input in the form of a touch starting from a first icon and continuing forwards or backwards in the first direction, cause items represented by icons adjacent to the first icon forwards or backwards in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.

18. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which when executed by one or more of the processors of an electronic device having a touch sensitive display for receiving user input, cause the electronic device to:

display on the display a grid list of icons representing selectable items, the icons being ordered in the grid;

in rows extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one column;

or

in columns extending in a first direction and being arranged consecutively in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the grid list comprising at least one row;

and, in response to the device receiving user input in the form of a touch starting from a first icon and continuing forwards or backwards in the first direction, cause items represented by icons adjacent to the first icon forwards or backwards in the ordered grid list to be selected consecutively.