Device, method, and graphical user interface for selecting and moving objects

• US 8,539,386 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Capela, Jay Christopher, Migos, Charles J., Thimbleby, William John, Weeldreyer, Christopher Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/790,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method performed at a computing device with a touch-sensitive display includes: displaying a plurality of user interface objects on the display, including a currently selected first user interface object; detecting a first contact on the first user interface object; detecting movement of the first contact across the display; moving the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact; while detecting movement of the first contact across the display: detecting a first finger gesture on a second user interface object; and, in response: selecting the second user interface object; moving the second user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture; and continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

Claims

1. A computing 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 plurality of user interface objects on the touch-sensitive display, including a currently selected first user interface object;

detecting a first contact on the first user interface object;

detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

moving the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact;

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a first finger gesture on a second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the first finger gesture being made with a second contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the second user interface object;

selecting the second user interface object;

moving the second user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture such that the second user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the second user interface object; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object and the second user interface object move as a group.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on a third user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the second finger gesture being made with a third contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the third user interface object;

selecting the third user interface object;

moving the third user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture such that the third user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the third user interface object;

continuing to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object, the second user interface object, and the third user interface object move as a group.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on the second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the second user interface object;

deselecting the second user interface object;

ceasing to move the second user interface object; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on the first user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the first user interface object;

deselecting the first user interface object;

ceasing to move the first user interface object; and

continuing to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first finger gesture is a tap gesture.

6. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a plurality of user interface objects on the touch-sensitive display, including a currently selected first user interface object;

detecting a first contact on the first user interface object;

detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

moving the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact;

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a first finger gesture on a second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the first finger gesture being made with a second contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the second user interface object;

selecting the second user interface object;

moving the second user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture such that the second user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the second user interface object; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object and the second user interface object move as a group.

7. The method of claim 6, including:

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on a third user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the second finger gesture being made with a third contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the third user interface object;

selecting the third user interface object;

moving the third user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture such that the third user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the third user interface object;

continuing to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object, the second user interface object, and the third user interface object move as a group.

8. The method of claim 6, including:

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on the second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the second user interface object;

deselecting the second user interface object;

ceasing to move the second user interface object; and

continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

9. The method of claim 6, including:

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a second finger gesture on the first user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the first user interface object;

deselecting the first user interface object;

ceasing to move the first user interface object; and

continuing to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first finger gesture is a tap gesture.

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

display a plurality of user interface objects on the touch-sensitive display, including a currently selected first user interface object;

detect a first contact on the first user interface object;

detect movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact;

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detect a first finger gesture on a second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the first finger gesture being made with a second contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the first finger gesture on the second user interface object;

select the second user interface object;

move the second user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture such that the second user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the second user interface object; and

continue to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object and the second user interface object move as a group.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detect a second finger gesture on a third user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects, the second finger gesture being made with a third contact distinct from the first contact;

detecting liftoff of the second contact; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the third user interface object;

select the third user interface object;

move the third user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture such that the third user interface object follows the movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the second finger gesture and the movement of the first contact causes the movement of the third user interface object;

continue to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact; and

continue to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact, wherein the first user interface object, the second user interface object, and the third user interface object move as a group.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detect a second finger gesture on the second user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the second user interface object;

deselect the second user interface object;

cease to move the second user interface object; and

continue to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

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

while detecting movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive display;

detect a second finger gesture on the first user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects; and

,

in response to detecting the second finger gesture on the first user interface object;

deselect the first user interface object;

cease to move the first user interface object; and

continue to move the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first finger gesture is a tap gesture.