Desktop reveal by moving a logical display stack with gestures

• US 9,182,937 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Faulk, Brett, Reeves, Paul, de Paz, Alexander, Schrock, Rod, Marintchenko, Maxim, Csiki, Robert, Freedman, Eric, Ficklin, Jared, Burton, Denise, Cripps, Misty, Wygonik, Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Manglesh M
• Application Number:
  US13/247,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 715/761, 715/802, 715/200, 715/766, 715/797, 715/794, 715778-779
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller

Abstract

A dual-screen user device and methods are disclosed for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens. A determined number of desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be shifted between the screens by user gestures, and/or selected desktop displays. Applications can be moved off of the screens by other user gestures and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by other gestures. Desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order therefore providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications and desktops running simultaneously. The user gestures prevent the user from having to open and close the running desktops and applications that otherwise may require laborious efforts by the user to manage the multiple running desktops and applications.

Claims

1. A method of displaying one or more of a plurality of desktops and applications, each having at least one window, on a multi-display device, the method comprising:

displaying a first window associated with a first desktop on a first display of the device;

displaying a second window associated with a first application on a second display of the device;

receiving, by one or more processors, a first input that represents an instruction to move the first window associated with the first desktop to a non-visible position, move the second window associated with the first application displayed on the second display of the device to the first display of the device, and move a third window associated with one of the first application and a second application from a non-visible position to the second display of the device;

receiving a second input that represents an instruction to move the second window associated with the first application to a non-visible position, move the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application displayed on the second display of the device to the first display of the device, and move a fourth window associated with a second desktop from a non-visible position to the second display of the device,

wherein the first window associated with the first desktop, the second window associated with the first application, the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application, and the fourth window associated with the second desktop are arranged in a at least one window stack, and

wherein an order of windows of the at least one window stack is manipulated by at least a user input gesture that corresponds to a logical order of the at least one window stack in which the first window associated with the first desktop, the second window associated with the first application, the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application, and the fourth window associated with the second desktop are selectively moved to either visible positions in the at least one window stack corresponding to visible positions on the first and second displays or to non-visible positions in the at least one window stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs comprise at least one of the following:

i) a user input gesture;

ii) a combination of user input gestures;

iii) a memory output;

iv) a response to a programmed condition; and

v) hardware timers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively moving step is achieved by at least a user input gesture.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user input gesture comprises at least one of a drag gesture or a flick gesture.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the drag gesture and flick gesture are conducted on off-screen areas of the first and second displays.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one windows stack includes a window stack for the first display and a window stack for second display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first desktop is in the window stack for the first display and the second desktop is in the window stack for the second display.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a computing system to execute a method, the instructions comprising:

instructions configured to display a first window associated with a first desktop on a first display of a device;

instructions configured to display a second window associated with a first application on a second display of the device;

instructions configured to receive a first input that represents an instruction to move the first window associated with the first desktop to a non-visible position, display the second window associated with the first application on the first display of the device, and move a third window associated with one of the first application and a second application from a non-visible position to the second display of the device;

instructions configured to receive a second input that represents an instruction to move the second window associated with the first application to a non-visible position, display the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application on the first display, and move a fourth window associated with a second desktop from a non-visible position to the second display of the device,

wherein the first window associated with the first desktop, the second window associated with the first application, the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application, and the fourth window associated with the second desktop are arranged in at least one window stack, and

wherein an order of windows of the at least one window stack is manipulated by at least a user input gesture that corresponds to a logical order of the at least one window stack in which the first window associated with the first desktop, the second window associated with the first application, the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application, and the fourth window associated with the second desktop are selectively moved to either visible positions in the at least one window stack corresponding to visible positions on the first and second displays or to non-visible positions in the at least one window stack.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first display corresponds to a primary screen and wherein the second display corresponds to a secondary screen.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions configured to receive an input to change the position of a third window associated with a non-visible desktop or application and to move to a visible position on either the first or second displays thereby replacing the previously displayed window associated with one of the first and second desktops or one of the first and second applications.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first window, second window, third window, and fourth window are selectively moved by at least a user input gesture.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the at least one windows stack includes a window stack for the first display and a window stack for second display.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first desktop is in the window stack for the first display and the second desktop is in the window stack for the second display.

14. A multi-display user device, comprising:

a first display including a first display area;

a second display including a second display area;

a first user input gesture area of the first display;

a second user input gesture area of the second display, wherein the first and second user input gesture areas are configured to accept input from a user;

a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that include;

a first set of instructions configured to determine a number and identity of desktops and applications selected to be run by a user;

a second set of instructions configured to determine, based on the number and identity of the desktops and applications running, at least one window stack comprising a logical representation of the desktops and applications within an ordered group;

a third set of instructions configured to receive a first input that represents an instruction to move a first window associated with a first desktop to a non-visible position, display a second window associated with a first application on the first display of the device, and move a third window associated with one of the first application and a second application from a non-visible position to the second display of the device;

a fourth set of instructions configured to receive a second input that represents an instruction to move the second window associated with the first application to a non-visible position, display the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application on the first display, and move a fourth window associated with a second desktop from a non-visible position to the second display of the device, and

a fifth set of instructions responsive to gestures made by the user to move a perceived position in the at least one window stack of a selected window corresponding to a desktop or application to a position in the at least one window stack as determined by a type of gesture executed by the user and received at one or more of the first and second user input gesture areas, wherein the first window associated with the first desktop, the second window associated with the first application, the third window associated with one of the first application and the second application, and the fourth window associated with the second desktop are arranged in the at least one window stack.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first display corresponds to a primary screen and wherein the second display corresponds to a secondary screen.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first user input gesture area is located on an off-screen area of the first display and outside of the first display area.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the second user input gesture area is located on an off-screen area of the second display and outside of the second display area.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first and second displays show different displayed windows by user input gestures that manipulate an order of the desktops and applications in the at least one window stack.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one windows stack includes a window stack for the first display and a window stack for second display.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first desktop is in the window stack for the first display and the second desktop is in the window stack for the second display.