Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing user interface content and user interface elements

• US 8,683,363 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Reid, Elizabeth Gloria Guarino, Rosner, Roger Rock
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayeni, Abimbola
• Application Number:
  US12/694,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20110185316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/709, 715/711, 715/724, 715785-790, 715/798, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Alignment guides configured for velocity-sensitive behavior are disclosed. In one embodiment, during a user interface element move gesture, the gesture velocity is determined, and while moving the user interface element during the gesture, the user interface operates in a first or a second state with respect to displaying alignment guides. When the velocity of the user gesture exceeds a predefined velocity threshold, the display of the user interface is maintained in the first state, which does not include visibly displaying alignment guides. When the velocity of the user gesture is less than the predefined velocity threshold, the user interface is displayed in a second state that includes visibly displaying one or more alignment guides. In some embodiments, gesture velocity is used to set alignment guide attraction strength.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a display and one or more user input devices adapted to detect user gestures;

displaying a user interface in a first state, the user interface including at least;

a user interface element configured to be moved within the user interface in response to user gestures, and

a plurality of alignment guides adapted to indicate potential placement positions within the user interface for user interface elements being moved;

detecting a user gesture, the user gesture corresponding to a gesture to move the user interface element within the user interface;

determining a velocity of the user gesture;

in response to detecting the user gesture, moving the user interface element within the user interface in accordance with the user gesture;

while moving the user interface element within the user interface;

when the velocity of the user gesture is less than a first predefined velocity threshold, displaying the user interface in a second state, the second state including visibly displaying one or more of the plurality of alignment guides; and

when the velocity of the user gesture exceeds the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and a second user interface object are aligned on a directly vertical common axis or a directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

selecting an alignment guide from the plurality of alignment guides, the selected alignment guide being associated with the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis; and

visibly displaying the selected alignment guide in conjunction with the user interface object, the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and the second user interface object;

otherwise;

when the velocity of the user gesture does not exceed the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and the second user interface object are not aligned on the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is not moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

the selected alignment guide and the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis are not displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the user interface in the first state comprises not displaying the plurality of alignment guides visibly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first alignment guide in the plurality of alignment guides is configured with a first attraction strength, and further comprising:

when the velocity of the user gesture exceeds a second predefined velocity threshold, reconfiguring the first alignment guide with a second attraction strength.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and the second predefined velocity thresholds are the same.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second attraction strength is less than the first attraction strength, and wherein the first attraction strength is greater than a lowest attraction strength.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment guides includes one or more alignment guide types selected from the group consisting of edge-to-middle-slide alignment guides, edge-to-edge alignment guides, and middle-to-middle alignment guides.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of alignment guides are displayed in conjunction with the user interface element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second state includes displaying a ruler in conjunction with the visibly displayed plurality of alignment guides.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the user gesture;

detecting a period of inactivity that exceeds a predefined duration; and

after the period of inactivity, changing the state of the user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is displayed on an electronic canvas.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the display and at least one of the one or more user input devices comprise a touch-screen display.

12. A computing device, comprising:

a display;

one or more user input devices adapted to detect user gestures;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, the one or more programs being 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 user interface in a first state, the user interface including at least;

a user interface element configured to be moved within the user interface in response to user gestures, and

a plurality of alignment guides adapted to indicate potential placement positions within the user interface for user interface elements being moved;

detecting a user gesture, the user gesture corresponding to a gesture to move the user interface element within the user interface;

determining a velocity of the user gesture;

in response to detecting the user gesture, moving the user interface element within the user interface in accordance with the user gesture;

while moving the user interface element within the user interface;

when the velocity of the user gesture is less than a first predefined velocity threshold, displaying the user interface in a second state, the second state including visibly displaying one or more of the plurality of alignment guides; and

when the velocity of the user gesture exceeds the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and a second user interface object are aligned on a directly vertical common axis or a directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

selecting an alignment guide from the plurality of alignment guides, the selected alignment guide being associated with the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis; and

visibly displaying the selected alignment guide in conjunction with the user interface object, the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and the second user interface object;

otherwise;

when the velocity of the user gesture does not exceed the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and the second user interface object are not aligned on the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is not moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

the selected alignment guide and the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis are not displayed.

13. A 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 display and one or more user input devices adapted to detect user gestures, cause the device to:

display a user interface in a first state, the user interface including at least;

a user interface element configured to be moved within the user interface in response to user gestures, and

a plurality of alignment guides adapted to indicate potential placement positions within the user interface for user interface elements being moved;

detect a user gesture, the user gesture corresponding to a gesture to move the user interface element within the user interface;

determine a velocity of the user gesture;

in response to detecting the user gesture, move the user interface element within the user interface in accordance with the user gesture;

while moving the user interface element within the user interface;

when the velocity of the user gesture is less than a first predefined velocity threshold, displaying the user interface in a second state, the second state including visibly displaying one or more of the plurality of alignment guides; and

when the velocity of the user gesture exceeds the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and a second user interface object are aligned on a directly vertical common axis or a directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

selecting an alignment guide from the plurality of alignment guides, the selected alignment guide being associated with the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis; and

visibly displaying the selected alignment guide in conjunction with the user interface object, the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and the second user interface object;

otherwise;

when the velocity of the user gesture does not exceed the first predefined velocity threshold, when the user interface object and the second user interface object are not aligned on the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis, and when the user gesture is not moving the user interface object towards the second user interface object along the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis;

the selected alignment guide and the directly vertical common axis or the directly horizontal common axis are not displayed.