Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications

• US 9,052,925 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Amy
• Assistant Examiner(s): STITT, ERIK V
• Application Number:
  US12/888,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/764, 715/830
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view;

displaying in a first predefined area an initial group of open application icons that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

concurrently displaying at least a portion of the first application view laterally adjacent to the first predefined area;

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a scroll gesture in a first direction in the first predefined area; and

,

in response to detecting the scroll gesture in the first direction, scrolling the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predefined area in accordance with the scroll gesture to display other open application icons in the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predetermined area such that the initial group of open application icons are moved off the touch screen display;

detecting a gesture on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area; and

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective open application icon;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display open application icons in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a gesture on the at least a portion of the first application view; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the portion of the first application view;

displaying the first application view on the touch-sensitive display without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the open application icons include status indicia for corresponding applications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial group of open application icons includes an audio application icon when a corresponding audio application is in use.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein open application icons are displayed in the first predefined area in a sequence and the sequence is determined in accordance with a usage history for the corresponding open applications.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

while displaying the initial group of open application icons in the application view selection mode;

when a second scroll gesture in a second direction opposite the first direction is detected in the first predefined area, scrolling to display settings icons in the first predefined area.

7. The method of claim 1, including:

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a swipe down gesture that starts from a top edge of the display; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe down gesture;

displaying a user selectable icon, and

displaying at least one of;

a list of recent electronic notifications, and user selected information.

8. A multifunction 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 first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

entering an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view;

displaying in a first predefined area an initial group of open application icons that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

concurrently displaying at least a portion of the first application view laterally adjacent to the first predefined area;

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a gesture on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area; and

,

in response to detecting the scroll gesture in the first direction, scrolling the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predefinied area in accordance with the scroll gesture to display other open application icons in the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predetermined area such that the initial group of open application icons are moved off the touch screen display;

detecting a gesture on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective open application icon;

displaying a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

ceasing to display open application icons in the first predefined area; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

11. The device of claim 8, including instructions for:

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a gesture on the at least a portion of the first application view; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the portion of the first application view;

displaying the first application view on the touch-sensitive display without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

exiting the application view selection mode.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein at least a subset of the open application icons include status indicia for corresponding applications.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the initial group of open application icons includes an audio application icon when a corresponding audio application is in use.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein open application icons are displayed in the first predefined area in a sequence and the sequence is determined in accordance with a usage history for the corresponding open applications.

15. The device of claim 8, including instructions for:

while displaying the initial group of open application icons in the application view selection mode;

when a second scroll gesture in a second direction opposite the first direction is detected in the first predefined area, scrolling to display settings icons in the first predefined area.

16. The device of claim 8, including instructions for:

while in the application view selection mode;

detecting a swipe down gesture that starts from a top edge of the display; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe down gesture;

displaying a user selectable icon, and

displaying at least one of;

a list of recent electronic notifications, and user selected information.

9. A graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, to generate the graphical user interface comprising:

a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

wherein;

a first input is detected;

in response to detecting the first input;

an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view is entered;

an initial group of open application icons that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications is displayed in a first predefined area; and

at least a portion of the first application view is concurrently displayed laterally adjacent to the first predefined area;

while in the application view selection mode;

a scroll gesture is detected in a first direction in the first predefined area; and

, in response to detecting the scroll gesture in the first direction, the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predefined area are scrolled in accordance with the scroll gesture to display other open application icons in the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predetermined area such that the initial group of open application icons are moved off the touch screen display;

a gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area; and

, in response to detecting the gesture on the respective open application icon;

a respective application view is displayed on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

open application icons cease to be displayed in the first predefined area; and

the application view selection mode is exited.

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

display a first application view on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a first application in a plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the first application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input;

enter an application view selection mode for selecting one of the concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view;

display in a first predefined area an initial group of open application icons that correspond to at least some of the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

concurrently display at least a portion of the first application view laterally adjacent to the first predefined area;

while in the application view selection mode;

detect a scroll gesture in a first direction in the first predefined area; and

,

in response to detecting the scroll gesture in the first direction, scroll the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predefined area in accordance with the scroll gesture to display other open application icons in the plurality of concurrently open application icons in the first predetermined area such that the initial group of open application icons are moved off the touch screen display;

detect a gesture on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the respective open application icon;

display a respective application view on the touch-sensitive display for a corresponding application in the plurality of concurrently open applications, wherein the respective application view is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications;

cease to display open application icons in the first predefined area; and

exit the application view selection mode.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, including instructions which cause the device to:

while in the application view selection mode;

detect a gesture on the at least a portion of the first application view; and

,

in response to detecting the gesture on the portion of the first application view;

display the first application view on the touch-sensitive display without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications; and

exit the application view selection mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein at least a subset of the open application icons include status indicia for corresponding applications.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the initial group of open application icons includes an audio application icon when a corresponding audio application is in use.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein open application icons are displayed in the first predefined area in a sequence and the sequence is determined in accordance with a usage history for the corresponding open applications.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, including instructions which cause the device to:

while displaying the initial group of open application icons in the application view selection mode;

when a second scroll gesture in a second direction opposite the first direction is detected in the first predefined area, scroll to display settings icons in the first predefined area.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, including instructions which cause the device to:

while in the application view selection mode;

detect a swipe down gesture that starts from a top edge of the display; and

,

in response to detecting the swipe down gesture;

display a user selectable icon, and

display at least one of;

a list of recent electronic notifications, and user selected information.