Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications

• US 8,291,344 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Takele, Meseker
• Application Number:
  US12/888,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 715/736, 715/782, 715/790, 715/794, 715/808, 715/838, 715/845, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/838
• 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 3/04842 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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

A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application view at a first size in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

detecting a first gesture at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

in response to detecting the first gesture;

ceasing to display the first application view, and

displaying a second application view in the second application;

while in the second application, detecting an input;

in response to detecting the input;

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

displaying in a first predefined area images of open applications, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

displaying in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area, a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications;

while in the application view selection mode, detecting a second gesture;

in response to detecting the second gesture;

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view;

displaying the first application view at the first size in the first application;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode; and

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area;

displaying the view with application icons for launching applications;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

4. 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 in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

detecting a first gesture at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

in response to detecting the first gesture;

ceasing to display the first application view, and

displaying a second application view in the second application;

while in the second application, detecting an input;

in response to detecting the input;

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

displaying in a first predefined area images of open applications, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

displaying in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area, a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications;

while in the application view selection mode, detecting a second gesture;

in response to detecting the second gesture;

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view;

displaying the first application view at the first size in the first application;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode; and

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area;

displaying the view with application icons for launching applications;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

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

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

7. A graphical user interface stored on a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first application view at a first size in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

wherein;

a first gesture is detected at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

in response to detecting the first gesture;

the first application view ceases to be displayed, and

a second application view is displayed in the second application;

while in the second application, an input is detected;

in response to detecting the input;

an application view selection mode for selecting one of a plurality of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view is entered;

images of open applications are displayed in a first predefined area, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications is displayed in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area;

while in the application view selection mode, a second gesture is detected;

in response to detecting the second gesture;

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view;

the first application view is displayed at the first size in the first application;

the images in the first predefined area cease to displayed; and

the application view selection mode is exited; and

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area;

the view with application icons for launching applications is displayed;

the images in the first predefined area cease to be displayed; and

the application view selection mode is exited.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 7, wherein:

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area;

a respective application view is displayed on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

display of the images in the first predefined area is ceased; and

the application view selection mode is exited.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 8, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

10. 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 in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

detect a first gesture at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

in response to detecting the first gesture;

cease to display the first application view, and

display a second application view in the second application;

while in the second application, detect an input;

in response to detecting the input;

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

display in a first predefined area images of open applications, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

display in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area, a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications;

while in the application view selection mode, detect a second gesture;

in response to detecting the second gesture;

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view;

display the first application view at the first size in the first application;

cease to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exit the application view selection mode; and

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area;

display the view with application icons for launching applications;

cease to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exit the application view selection mode.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, including instructions which cause the device to:

when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display the images in the first predefined area; and

exit the application view selection mode.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

13. A multifunction device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

means for displaying a first application view at a first size in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

means for detecting a first gesture at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

means, responsive to detecting the first gesture, including;

means for ceasing to display the first application view, and

means for displaying a second application view in the second application;

means, enabled while in the second application, for detecting an input;

means, responsive to detecting the input, including;

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

means for displaying in a first predefined area images of open applications, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

means for displaying in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area, a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications;

means, enabled while in the application view selection mode, for detecting a second gesture;

means, responsive to detecting the second gesture, including;

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view, including;

means for displaying the first application view at the first size in the first application;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode; and

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area, including;

means for displaying the view with application icons for launching applications;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.

14. The device of claim 13, including:

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area, including;

means for displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

16. An information processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

means for displaying a first application view at a first size in a first application, the first application view including a user selectable object associated with a second application that is distinct from the first application;

means for detecting a first gesture at a location that corresponds to the user selectable object;

means, responsive to detecting the first gesture, including;

means for ceasing to display the first application view, and

means for displaying a second application view in the second application;

means, enabled while in the second application, for detecting an input;

means, responsive to detecting the input, including;

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

means for displaying in a first predefined area images of open applications, wherein;

the images of open applications correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications;

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

the images include an image of the first application view and an image of a view in the second application; and

means for displaying in a second predefined area, distinct from the first predefined area, a portion of a view with application icons for launching applications;

means, enabled while in the application view selection mode, for detecting a second gesture;

means, responsive to detecting the second gesture, including;

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the image of the first application view, including;

means for displaying the first application view at the first size in the first application;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode; and

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to the second predefined area, including;

means for displaying the view with application icons for launching applications;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, including:

means, enabled when the second gesture is at a location corresponding to an image of a respective application in the first predefined area, including;

means for displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

means for ceasing to display the images in the first predefined area; and

means for exiting the application view selection mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.