Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating user interface objects

• US 8,863,016 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Victor, B. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TILLERY, RASHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US12/567,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769, 715/768, 715/563, 715/864, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A computing device with a touch screen display simultaneously displays on the touch screen display a plurality of user interface objects and at least one destination object. The computing device detects a first input by a user on a destination object displayed on the touch screen display. While continuing to detect the first input by the user on the destination object, the computing device detects a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. In response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, the computing device performs an action on the first user interface object. The action is associated with the destination object.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

simultaneously displaying on the touch screen display;

a plurality of user interface objects, and

a plurality of destination objects including a first destination object associated with a first action and a second destination object associated with a second action different from the first action;

detecting a first input by a user on a respective destination object; and

,

while continuing to detect the first input by the user on the respective destination object;

detecting a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed at an initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display; and

,

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, performing a respective action, associated with the respective destination object, on the first user interface object, wherein;

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the first destination object, the respective action is the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the second destination object, the respective action is the second action;

after performing the respective action, detecting a third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display, undoing the respective action.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, displaying an animation of the first user interface object moving from the initial first user interface object position toward the respective destination object.

3. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, displaying a residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the third input is detected on the residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display while continuing to detect the first input by the user on the respective destination object; and

,

the method includes, in response to detecting the third input by the user on the residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display, displaying the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position.

5. The method of claim 4, including:

in response to detecting the third input by the user on the residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display, displaying an animation of the first user interface object moving from the respective destination object back to the initial first user interface object position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object is operable to associate metadata with one or more of the user interface objects.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metadata is stored with the first user interface object upon performance of the action.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the metadata is stored, upon performance of the action, in a data structure that is separate from a data structure that corresponds to the user interface object.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the metadata comprises a label.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object represents a set of user interface objects.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object represents an electronic document.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object represents a folder.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object represents an output device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object is displayed as a menu item in a menu.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input by the user is a finger swipe gesture that contacts the first user interface object.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object corresponds to a set of objects and the action performed is adding or preparing to add the first user interface object to the set of objects.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object corresponds to a folder and the action performed is adding or preparing to add the first user interface object to the folder.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object corresponds to a label and the action performed is adding or preparing to add the label to the first user interface object.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object corresponds to a hide label and the action performed is adding or preparing to add the hide label to the first user interface object and ceasing to display or preparing to cease to display the first user interface object.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective destination object corresponds to an output device and the action performed is sending the first user interface object to the output device.

21. The method of claim 3, wherein the residual image of the first user interface object is visually distinct from the first user interface object.

22. The method of claim 3, wherein the residual image of the first user interface object is a grayed-out, translucent, semi-transparent, reduced contrast, or ghost image of the first user interface object.

26. The method of claim 1 including, while continuing to detect the first input on the respective destination object and maintaining display of the plurality of destination objects:

detecting a fourth input by the user on a second user interface object displayed at an initial second user interface object position on the touch screen display different from the initial first user interface object position; and

,

in response to detecting the fourth input by the user on the second user interface object, performing the respective action associated with the respective destination object on the second user interface object.

27. The method of claim 1, including:

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, simultaneously displaying;

a residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display; and

a representation of the first user interface object moving toward the respective destination object.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the second input is a tap gesture on the first user interface object; and

the method includes, in response to detecting the tap gesture on the first user interface object, simultaneously displaying;

a residual image of the first user interface object at the initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display; and

a representation of the first user interface object moving toward the respective destination object.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second input is a tap gesture on the first user interface object; and

the method includes, in response to detecting the tap gesture on the first user interface object, displaying an animation of the first user interface object moving from the initial first user interface object position toward the respective destination object.

23. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen 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;

simultaneously displaying on the touch screen display;

a plurality of user interface objects, and

a plurality of destination objects including a first destination object associated with a first action and a second destination object associated with a second action different from the first action;

detecting a first input by a user on a respective destination object; and

,

while continuing to detect the first input by the user on the respective destination object;

detecting a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed at an initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display; and

,

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, performing a respective action, associated with the respective destination object, on the first user interface object, wherein;

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the first destination object, the respective action is the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the second destination object, the respective action is the second action;

after performing the respective action, detecting a third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display, undoing the respective action.

24. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

simultaneously display on the touch screen display;

a plurality of user interface objects, and

a plurality of destination objects including a first destination object associated with a first action and a second destination object associated with a second action different from the first action;

detect a first input by a user on a respective destination object; and

,

while continuing to detect the first input by the user on the respective destination object;

detect a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed at an initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display; and

,

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, perform a respective action, associated with the respective destination object, on the first user interface object, wherein;

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the first destination object, the respective action is the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the second destination object, the respective action is the second action;

after performing the respective action, detect a third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display, undo the respective action.

25. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, the graphical user interface comprising:

a plurality of user interface objects, and

a plurality of destination objects including a first destination object associated with a first action and a second destination object associated with a second action different from the first action;

wherein;

a first input by a user on a respective destination object is detected; and

,

while continuing to detect the first input by the user on the respective destination object;

a second input by the user on a first user interface object, displayed at an initial first user interface object position on the touch screen display, is detected; and

,

in response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, a respective action associated with the respective destination object is performed on the first user interface object, wherein;

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the first destination object, the respective action is the first action; and

 

in accordance with a determination that the respective destination object is the second destination object, the respective action is the second action;

after the respective action has been performed, a third input by the user is detected at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting the third input by the user at the initial first user object position on the touch screen display, the respective action is undone.