Method for operating user interface and recording medium for storing program applying the same

• US 8,487,883 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Kao, Yih-Feng, Liu, Te-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hegarty, Kelly B
• Application Number:
  US12/109,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 715/788, 715/810, 715/765, 715/766, 715/778, 715/700, 715/782, 715/763, 345/340, 345/163, 345/173, 345/348, 345/156, 345/157, 345/174, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.09
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for operating a user interface and a recording medium for storing a program applying the same are provided. The method includes following steps. First, a touch generated by touching a touch display using an input tool is detected. Then, whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display is determined. Next, whether the position of the touch is changed is determined if the touch is generated on the specific area. The user interface is activated or switched if the position of the touch is changed. Accordingly, a more convenient and intuitive method for operating the user interface is provided and the convenience in using the electronic device is increased.

Claims

1. A method for operating a first user interface which has at least one timing information and at least one event notification, suitable for a an electronic device having a touch display, the method comprising:

displaying a second user interface having a plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in an array form on the touch display, wherein each of the plurality of finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch generated by an input tool;

determining whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display;

determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed if the touch is generated on the specific area; and

if it is determined that the touch is generated on the specific area and it is determined that the position of the touch on the touch display is changed, activating the first user interface by dragging the first user interface, which has the at least one timing information and the at least one event notification, out from a display edge of the touch display to replace the second user interface, having the plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in the array form, on the touch display, wherein the specific area is close to the display edge, and wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are respectively located on two adjacent surfaces of a 3D motion user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time;

determining whether or not the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input tool comprises a finger or a stylus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the timing information is associated with a time or a date, and the event notification is associated with a personal schedule or an unread message.

5. A method for operating a first user interface having a first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in a first array form, suitable for an electronic device having a touch display, the method comprising:

displaying a second user interface having a second plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in a second array form on the touch display, wherein each of the first and the second plurality of finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch generated by an input tool;

determining whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display;

determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed if the touch is generated on the specific area; and

if it is determined that the touch is generated on the specific area and it is determined that the position of the touch on the touch display is changed, switching the second user interface, having the second plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in the second array form, to the first user interface, having the first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in the first array form, from a display edge of the touch display, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are respectively located on two adjacent surfaces of a 3D motion user interface.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time;

determining whether or not the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

switching the first user interface to the second user interface via another touch on the specific area.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of switching the second user interface comprises:

dragging the first user interface out from the display edge of the touch display closest to the touch and displaying the first user interface.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of switching the second user interface to the first user interface comprises:

switching the second user interface to the first user interface according to a moving direction of the touch; and

dragging the first user interface out from the display edge of the touch display opposite to the moving direction and displaying the first user interface.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the 3D motion user interface is configured to rotate around an axis.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for storing a program, the program executing following steps:

displaying a first user interface having a first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in a first array form on a touch display, wherein each of the first plurality of finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch generated by an input tool;

determining whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display;

determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed if the touch is generated on the specific area; and

if the touch is generated on the specific area and if it is determined that the position of the touch on the touch display is changed, activating a second user interface by dragging the second user interface, which has at least one timing information and at least one event notification, out from a display edge of the touch display to replace the first user interface, having the first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in the first array form, on the touch display, wherein the specific area is close to the display edge, and wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are respectively located on two adjacent surfaces of a 3D motion user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time;

determining whether or not the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the timing information is associated with a time or a date, and the event notification is associated with a personal schedule or an unread message.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for storing a program, the program executing following steps:

displaying a first user interface having a first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in a first array form on a touch display, wherein each of the first plurality of finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch generated by an input tool;

determining whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display;

determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed if the touch is generated on the specific area; and

if it is determined that the touch is generated on the specific area and it is determined that the position of the touch on the touch display is changed, switching the first user interface, having the first plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in the first array form, to a second user interface, having a second plurality of finger-touchable icons arranged in a second array form, from a display edge of the touch display, wherein each of the second plurality of finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program, and the first user interface and the second user interface are respectively located on two adjacent surfaces of a 3D motion user interface.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the step of determining whether or not the position of the touch on the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time;

determining whether or not the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the 3D motion user interface is configured to rotate around an axis.