Method and apparatus for fluid graphical user interface

• US 8,479,107 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vainio, Janne, Bergman, Janne
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US12/651,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20110161852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 715762-769, 715/799, 715/810, 715/829
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method including causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, where each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface. The method further includes causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data, and allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface;

causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data; and

allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and remove the first selectable object from being displayed on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the removed first selectable object is reduced in priority of display as compared to other selectable objects for subsequent display of the removed first selectable object.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to move the second selectable object to an area on the graphical user interface for use as a first category, said method further comprising:

causing, at least in part, display of categorized selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface that have a relation to the first category of the second selectable object.

3. A method of claim 1,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to fix the second selectable object at a location on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the user selection and manipulation further includes allowing the user:

to activate media playback of the second selectable object;

or

to activate an editor or a viewer associated with the second selectable object.

4. A method of claim 1,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to associate the second selectable object with a third selectable object of the selectable objects, and

further comprising causing, at least in part, display of the associated second selectable object and third selectable object in motion travelling across the graphical user interface together.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is provided on a mobile device, and wherein the selectable objects are caused to be displayed in motion by appearing at a first respective side of the graphical user interface, travelling across the graphical user interface, and then disappearing at a second respective side of the graphical user interface, said method further comprising:

allowing user setting of the motion of the selectable objects including speed of travel, direction of travel, and number of selectable objects that are caused to be displayed simultaneously.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface is defined by action of the user selection and/or by a function of metadata linked to a respective selectable object.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

cause, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface;

cause, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data; and

allow user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and remove the first selectable object from being displayed on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the removed first selectable object is reduced in priority of display as compared to other selectable objects for subsequent display of the removed first selectable object.

8. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to move the second selectable object to an area on the graphical user interface for use as a first category, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

display categorized selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface that have a relation to the first category of the second selectable object.

9. An apparatus of claim 7,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to fix the second selectable object at a location on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the user selection and manipulation further includes:

allowing the user to activate media playback of the second selectable object, or

allowing the user to activate an editor or a viewer associated with the second selectable object.

10. An apparatus of claim 7,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to associate the second selectable object with a third selectable object of the selectable objects, and

wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to display the associated second selectable object and third selectable object in motion travelling across the graphical user interface together.

11. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device and wherein the selectable objects are caused to be displayed in motion by appearing at a first respective side of the graphical user interface, travelling across the graphical user interface, and then disappearing at a second respective side of the graphical user interface, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

allow user setting of the motion of the selectable objects including speed of travel, direction of travel, and number of selectable objects that are caused to be displayed simultaneously.

12. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface is defined by action of the user selection and/or by a function of metadata linked to a respective selectable object.

13. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface;

causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data; and

allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and remove the first selectable object from being displayed on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the removed first selectable object is reduced in priority of display as compared to other selectable objects for subsequent display of the removed first selectable object.

14. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to move the second selectable object to an area on the graphical user interface for use as a first category, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

display categorized selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface that have a relation to the first category of the second selectable object.

15. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 13,

wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a second selectable object of the selectable objects, and to fix the second selectable object at a location on the graphical user interface, and

wherein the user selection and manipulation further includes allowing the user:

to activate media playback of the second selectable object;

or

to activate an editor or a viewer associated with the second selectable object.

16. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device, wherein the selectable objects are caused to be displayed in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on context data of the mobile device, and wherein user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface allows for control of the motion of one or more of the selectable objects.

17. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface is defined by action of the user selection and/or by a function of metadata linked to a respective selectable object.