Thumbnail-image selection of applications

• US 9,128,605 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Nan, Jennifer, Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Miner, Patrice L., Worley, Matthew I., Anderson, Bret P., Jarrett, Robert J., Sundelin, Nils A., Seibert, Michael A., Sareen, Chaitanya Dev, Wong, Tsz Yan, LeVee, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/398,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 715/838
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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
• 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

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling thumbnail-image selection of applications. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user interface having selectable thumbnail images for applications not currently exposed on a display. The techniques and apparatuses may enable selection of this user interface through a simple gesture that is both easy-to-use and remember. Further, selection of applications not currently exposed on the display may be selected through thumbnail images representing each application'"'"'s application interface as it will appear on selection.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first gesture or a gesture portion, at least a portion of the first gesture or gesture portion being over a first user interface associated with a first application;

analyzing the first gesture or gesture portion to determine whether to pass the first gesture or gesture portion to the first application, whether to display an application-selection user interface associated with a system-interface module, or whether to display a system-control user interface associated with the system-interface module, the analyzing based, at least in part, on a starting point and a second point of the first gesture or gesture portion;

responsive to determining to display the application-selection user interface, presenting, via the system-interface module, the application-selection user interface on a display, the application-selection user interface having thumbnail images for applications, each of the thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the applications, at least one thumbnail image being associated with a second application having a second user interface and at least one thumbnail image being associated with a third application having a third user interface, the second application and the third application being different, the system-interface module being associated with launching applications;

receiving a selection of one of the thumbnail images and through a second gesture or a later gesture portion;

responsive to receiving the selection, dragging the selected thumbnail image to a region of the display based, at least in part, on the second gesture or the later gesture portion; and

based on the region of the display to which the selected thumbnail image is dragged, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected thumbnail image.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface will appear responsive to selection of the thumbnail.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface last appeared.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein one of the thumbnails includes a smaller or lower-resolution video of a video that will appear responsive to the selection of the one of the thumbnails.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the region is an edge of the display and wherein presenting the application interface snaps the application interface to the edge.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 5, wherein the presenting presents the application interface within an immersive environment and having a previously set size.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the region is not at an edge of the display and wherein presenting the application interface presents the application on all or substantially all of the display.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting the application-selection user interface progressively displays the application-selection user interface starting at an edge of the display.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein the first gesture or the gesture portion is an edge gesture received at the edge of the display from which application-selection user interface is progressively displayed.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the gesture portion is part of an ongoing gesture, the ongoing gesture having a prior portion, the prior portion selecting one of the applications arranged in a queue, responsive to which a queued thumbnail image associated with the application in the queue is presented, and where the gesture portion selects to cease presentation of the thumbnail image associated with the application.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the gesture portion is part of an ongoing gesture, the ongoing gesture having a first prior portion, the first prior portion having a start point at an edge of the display, a second prior portion having a later point not at the edge of the display, and the gesture portion following the second prior portion and having a successive point at the edge of the display.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the first gesture and the second gesture or the gesture portion and the later gesture portion are received through a mouse or a touchpad.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising, prior to presenting application-selection user interface, maintaining the thumbnail images for the applications based on the applications being previously interacted with, or commonly used or previously selected by a user associated with a device with which the display is associated.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image replaces a previously-presented application interface associated with a prior application, and responsive to receiving a third gesture or another gesture portion, presenting a fourth user interface, the fourth user interface having a thumbnail image associated with the previously-presented application and the thumbnail images other than the selected thumbnail image.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first touch-based gesture at least partially over a user interface associated with an immersive environment, the user interface associated with the immersive environment enabling interaction with one or more applications without controls provided through one or more window frames;

analyzing the touch-based gesture to determine whether to pass the first touch-based gesture to a first application associated with the user interface associated with the immersive environment, whether to display an application-selection user interface associated with a system-interface module, or whether to display a system-control user interface associated with the system-interface module based, at least in part, on a starting point and a second point of the first mouse-based gesture, the analyzing comprising analyzing the touch-based gesture to determine a final or intermediate length associated with the touch-based gesture, and an angle associated with the touch-based gesture;

responsive to determining to display the application-selection user interface, presenting the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module on a display, the application-selection user interface having thumbnail images for applications, each of the thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the applications, at least two of the applications having separate application interfaces, the system-interface module being associated with launching applications;

receiving selection of a selected thumbnail image of the thumbnail images and through a second touch-based gesture;

responsive to selection of the selected thumbnail image, presenting a menu within, over, or adjacent to the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module, the menu enabling selection to present the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image at a first display size or location or a second display size or location; and

responsive to selection of the first or second display size or location, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image and at the selected first or second display size or location within the display, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected thumbnail image.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the thumbnails are a smaller or lower-resolution image of the respective application interface as the respective application interface will appear responsive to selection of the thumbnail.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the menu further enables selection to close the selected application or remove the selected thumbnail image from the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, further comprising, prior to receiving the first touch-based gesture, presenting an indication that the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module is selectable, the indication showing indicia for each of the thumbnail images at an edge of the display.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 15, wherein the selected first or second display size or location is a size that is smaller than full size and presenting the application interface snaps the application interface to an edge of the display and within the immersive environment.

20. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media hardware having computer-readable instructions thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising;

receiving a gesture having a first portion starting at an edge of a display, moving away from the edge, and made over a current application interface associated with a current application without presenting a visible, selectable control over the current application interface or on the display presenting the current application interface;

responsive to receiving the first portion of the gesture, presenting a thumbnail image of the previous application interface progressively with the first portion of the gesture as the gesture is received;

receiving a second portion of the gesture that moves toward the edge;

determining whether to display an application-selection interface associated with a system-interface module, whether to display a system-control user interface associated with the system-interface module, or to pass the gesture to the current application based, at least in part, on the first portion of the gesture and the second portion of the gesture, the determining comprising analyzing the first portion of the gesture and the second portion of the gesture to determine an angle associated with the gesture, and a speed associated with the gesture;

responsive determining to display the application-selection interface associated with the system-interface module, presenting, via the system-interface module, the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module on the display, the application-selection user interface associated with the system-interface module having comprising other thumbnail images for other applications, each of the other thumbnail images a visual representation of an application interface for a respective one of the other applications;

receiving selection of one of the thumbnail images and through a third portion of the gesture or another gesture, the third portion of the gesture or the other gesture dragging the selected thumbnail image from the system-interface application user interface to a region of the display; and

responsive to receiving the selection and based on the region of the display to which the selected thumbnail image is dragged, presenting the application interface associated with the selected thumbnail image, the presenting effective to enable interaction with a selected application associated with the selected other thumbnail image.