User interface with hierarchical window display

• US 8,856,675 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Nicolaou, Alex, Chung, Winson, Agarawala, Anand, Cohen, Adam, Eidelson, Ben, Jurka, Michael, Dubroy, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): PACK, CONRAD R
• Application Number:
  US13/298,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 715/777
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for displaying display windows in a graphical user interface are disclosed. An example method includes opening, on a computing device, a first root browser window and spawning, from a first link in the first root browser window in response to a user toss-gesture associated with the first link, a first subordinate browser window. The example method further includes displaying, in a hierarchical display feature of the computing device, a hierarchical relationship between the first root browser window and the first subordinate browser window so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the first subordinate browser window to the first root browser window.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a touch-screen display device;

a processor; and

a non-transitory, machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to render, on the touch-screen display device, a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI having a plurality of display modes including;

a hierarchical display mode configured to display hierarchical relationships between a plurality of individual display windows by displaying the plurality of individual display windows with differences in at least one of a relative size or placement, wherein the hierarchical relationships each indicate one of superordinacy or subordinacy between at least two display windows of the plurality of individual display windows; and

a single window display mode configured to display only one of the plurality of individual display windows as a single window and to display the hierarchical relationships between at least some of the plurality of individual display windows by displaying tabs representing at least some of the plurality of individual display windows other than the single window, the plurality of individual display windows including;

a first root window displayed as the single window; and

a first subordinate window represented by a first subordinate window tab, wherein;

the first subordinate window tab is spawned within the first root window in response to receiving a first user selection, associated with a link displayed in the first root window; and

the first subordinate window tab, in the single window display mode, is displayed and overlaid at an edge of the first root window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy to the first root window,

wherein receiving the first user selection comprises;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the link being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the link;

and

receiving, by the computing device an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended;

wherein in response to receiving a second user selection associated with the first subordinate window tab, the single window display mode is configured to;

display the first subordinate window as the single window, and

display a first root window tab representing the first root window within the first subordinate window, wherein the first root window tab is overlaid at a first edge of the first subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical superordinacy of the first root window with respect to the first subordinate window;

wherein the plurality of individual display windows further includes a second subordinate window, the second subordinate window being represented by a second subordinate window tab displayed within the first subordinate window, and

wherein the second subordinate window tab is overlaid at a second edge of the first subordinate window, opposite the first edge of the first subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the second subordinate window with respect to the first root window, and to further visually indicate, with respect to the first root window, hierarchical equivalence between the first subordinate window and the second subordinate window;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to;

switch from the hierarchical display mode to the single window display mode with a selected one of the plurality of individual display windows as the single window in response to receiving an indication of a first gesture at a location associated with the selected one of the plurality of individual display windows; and

switch from the single window display mode to the hierarchical display mode in response to receiving an indication of a second gesture at a location associated with the single window.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the second subordinate window represented by the second subordinate window tab is spawned within the first root window.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to execute a web browser application, the web browser application being configured to provide for bookmarking, as a hierarchical group, the first root window, the first subordinate window and the second subordinate window.

4. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to spawn the second subordinate window tab in response to a user selecting a link displayed in the first root window.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to spawn the second subordinate window represented by the second subordinate window tab in response to one of:

receiving a third user selection, associated with a link displayed in the first subordinate window, the third user selection being performed at the touch-screen display device; and

determining, based on the indication of the third user selection, a selection of the link displayed in the first subordinate window.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of individual display windows further includes a third subordinate window, the third subordinate window represented by a third subordinate window tab that is;

spawned within the first subordinate window; and

overlaid, in the single window display mode, as the third subordinate window tab at the second edge of the first subordinate window opposite the first edge of the first subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the third subordinate window with respect to the first root window, and to further visually indicate, with respect to the first root window, hierarchical equivalence between the first subordinate window and the third subordinate window.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device, while operating in the hierarchical display mode, to convert the first subordinate window to a second root window in response to receiving a third user selection, associated with a drag gesture,

wherein receiving the third user selection comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the first subordinate window being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the first subordinate window;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the drag gesture away from the first root window;

and

receiving, by the computing device and during the drag gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to alter, over time, a respective appearance of each of the first root window tab and the first subordinate window tab to indicate a respective amount of time that each of the first root window and the first subordinate window has been open.

9. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein receiving the first gesture comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the at least one of the plurality of individual display windows;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a pinch out gesture from the location of the at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected at the touch-screen display device; and

receiving, by the computing device and during the pinch out gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

10. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein receiving the second gesture comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a pinch in gesture from the location of at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected at the touch-screen display device; and

receiving, by the computing device and during the pinch in gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual display windows, while operating in the hierarchical display mode further comprise

a second root window.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to, in response to receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a user push-gesture performed in the hierarchical display mode at the touch-screen display device, visually space the second root window away from the first root window.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to spawn the first root window from a link in a native application display window; and

the first root window and the first subordinate window are browser display windows.

14. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to execute a web browser application, the web browser application being configured to provide for bookmarking, as a hierarchical group, the first root window and the first subordinate window.

23. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first user selection further comprises receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a sliding motion away from the location of the link being selected at the touch-screen display device.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

opening, by a computing device, a first root browser window;

spawning, within the first root browser window displayed as a single browser window, in response to receiving a first user selection associated with a link displayed in the first root browser window, a first subordinate browser window represented by a first subordinate window tab;

outputting, by the computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI having a plurality of display modes including;

a hierarchical display mode configured to display hierarchical relationships between a plurality of browser windows by displaying the plurality of browser windows with differences in at least one of a relative size or placement, wherein the hierarchical relationships each indicate one of superordinacy or subordinacy between at least two browser windows of the plurality of browser windows; and

a single window display mode configured to display only one of the plurality of browser windows as the single browser window and to display the hierarchical relationships between at least some of the plurality of browser windows by displaying tabs representing at least some of the plurality of browser windows other than the single browser window, wherein the first subordinate browser window tab is displayed and overlaid at an edge of the first root browser window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the first subordinate browser window with respect to the first root browser window,

wherein receiving the first user selection comprises;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the link being selected as a result of contact with a touch-screen display device at a location of the link;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication that contact with the touch-screen display device has ended;

wherein in response to receiving a second user selection associated with the first subordinate browser window tab, the single window display mode comprises;

displaying, by the computing device, the first subordinate browser window as the single browser window,

displaying, by the computing device, a first root browser window tab representing the first root browser window within the first subordinate browser window, wherein the first root browser window tab is overlaid at a first edge of the first subordinate browser window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical superordinacy of the first root browser window with respect to the first subordinate browser window, and

displaying, by the computing device and in the single window mode, a second subordinate browser window tab representing a second subordinate browser window displayed within the first subordinate window;

wherein the second subordinate browser window tab is overlaid at a second edge of the first subordinate browser window, opposite the first edge of the first browser subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the second subordinate browser window with respect to the first root browser window, and to further visually indicate, with respect to the first root browser window, hierarchical equivalence between the first browser subordinate window and the second subordinate browser window;

switching from the hierarchical display mode to the single window display mode with a selected one of the plurality of browser windows as the single browser window in response to receiving an indication of a first gesture at a location associated with the selected one of the plurality of browser windows; and

switching from the single window display mode to the hierarchical display mode in response to receiving an indication of a second gesture at a location associated with the single browser window.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

spawning, within the first root browser window, from a second link in the first root browser window, the second subordinate browser window represented by the second subordinate browser window tab.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

converting, while operating in the hierarchical display mode, the first subordinate browser window to a second root browser window in response to receiving, by the computing device, a third user selection, associated with a drag gesture,

wherein receiving the third user selection comprises;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the first subordinate browser window being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the first subordinate browser window;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the drag gesture away from the first root browser window;

and

receiving, by the computing device and during the drag gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first user selection further comprises receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a sliding motion away from the location of the link being selected at the touch-screen display device.

18. A non-transitory, machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to:

render, for display at a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI having a plurality of display modes including;

a hierarchical display mode configured to display hierarchical relationships between a plurality of individual display windows by displaying the plurality of individual display windows with differences in at least one of a relative size or placement, wherein the hierarchical relationships each indicate one of superordinacy or subordinacy between at least two display windows of the plurality of individual display windows; and

a single window display mode configured to display only one of the plurality of individual display windows as a single window and to display the hierarchal relationships between at least some of the plurality of individual display windows by displaying tabs representing at least some of the plurality of individual display windows other than the single window, the plurality of individual display windows including;

a first root window displayed as the single window; and

a first subordinate window represented by a first subordinate window tab, wherein;

the first subordinate window tab is spawned within the first root window in response to the computing device receiving a first user-selection, associated with a link displayed in the first root window; and

the first subordinate window tab, in the single window display mode, is displayed and overlaid at an edge of the first root window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy to the first root window,

wherein receiving the first user selection comprises;

 

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the link being selected as a result of contact with a touch-screen display device at a location of the link;

  and

 

receiving, by the computing device, an indication that contact with the touch-screen display device has ended;

wherein in response to receiving a second user selection, associated with the first subordinate window tab, the single window display mode is configured to;

display the first subordinate window as the single window, and

display a first root window tab representing the first root window within the first subordinate window, wherein the first root window tab is overlaid at a first edge of the first subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical superordinacy of the first root window with respect to the first subordinate window;

wherein the plurality of individual display windows further includes a second subordinate window, the second subordinate window being represented by a second subordinate window tab displayed within the first subordinate window, and

wherein the second subordinate window tab is overlaid at a second edge of the first subordinate window, opposite the first edge of the first subordinate window, so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the second subordinate window with respect to the first root window, and to further visually indicate, with respect to the first root window, hierarchical equivalence between the first subordinate window and the second subordinate window;

switch from the hierarchical display mode to the single window display mode with a selected one of the plurality of individual display windows as the single window in response to receiving an indication of a first gesture at a location associated with the selected one of the plurality of individual display windows; and

switch from the single window display mode to the hierarchical display mode in response to receiving an indication of a second gesture at a location associated with the single window.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to execute a web browser application, the web browser application being configured to provide for bookmarking, as a hierarchical group, the first root window, the first subordinate window and the second subordinate window.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device, while operating in the hierarchical display mode, to convert the first subordinate window to a second root window in response to receiving a third user selection, associated with a drag gesture,

wherein receiving the third user selection comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the first subordinate window being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the first subordinate window;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of the drag gesture away from the first root window; and

receiving, by the computing device and during the drag gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 18,

wherein receiving the first gesture comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected as a result of contact with the touch-screen display device at a location of the at least one of the plurality of the individual display windows;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a pinch out gesture from the location of the at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected at the touch-screen display device; and

receiving, by the computing device during the pinch out gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 18,

wherein receiving the second gesture comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a pinch in gesture from the location of the at least one of the plurality of individual display windows being selected at the touch-screen display device; and

receiving, by the computing device during the pinch in gesture, an indication that the contact with the touch-screen display device has ended.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first user selection further comprises receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a sliding motion away from the location of the link being selected at the touch-screen display device.