Accelerated panning user interface interaction

• US 9,256,355 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Erick, Yamasani, Amith, Cleron, Michael A., Dickinson, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US14/659,408
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A computer-implemented user interface method includes displaying on a touch screen a portion of a large scale graphical space that is at least multiples larger than the device display, receiving from a user of the device an input to pan within the graphical space, automatically generating a pop up graphical panning control in response to receiving the user input, and receiving a user input to the panning control and providing panning in the graphical space, wherein movement of the panning control in a single selection is able to pan the display across a substantial portion of the large scale graphical space.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

displaying, within a graphical interface on an electronic display of a computing device, a first portion of a list of grouped items, the list of grouped items including a plurality of different groups of items with the groups of items being arranged in a particular order;

identifying, while continuing to display the first portion of the list of grouped items, that user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items within the graphical interface;

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items, causing a pop-up graphical element to be displayed within the graphical interface on the electronic display, the pop-up graphical element showing a first symbol that is representative of a first group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the first group of items including at least one item displayed within the first portion of the list of grouped items;

identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to a second portion of the list of grouped items; and

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, updating the pop-up graphical element by replacing the first symbol that is representative of the first group of items with a different, second symbol that is representative of a second group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the second group of items including at least one item within the second portion of the list of grouped items.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the groups of items from the plurality of different groups of items respectively correspond to a plurality of different alphanumeric categories such that the respective items in each of the groups of items are assigned to a respective alphanumeric category corresponding to the group of items;

the groups of items are ordered in the list of items according to the alphanumeric categories of the groups of items;

the first symbol shown by the pop-up graphical element comprises a first alphanumeric symbol corresponding to the first group of items; and

the second symbol shown by the pop-up graphical element comprises a second alphanumeric symbol corresponding to the second group of items, the second alphanumeric symbol being different than the first alphanumeric symbol.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising in response to identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, animating a display of the list of grouped items by scrolling from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items in coordination with the user input.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the display of the first portion of the list of grouped items in a fixed position, while the pop-up graphical element is updated, as the user input is performed to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic display of the computing device is a touch-sensitive electronic display that is sensitive to user gestures performed on a surface of the touch-sensitive electronic display;

identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the surface of the touch-sensitive electronic display has been contacted at a first location of the graphical interface in which a scrolling control is located; and

identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the user input has performed a swiping motion by a first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to a second location of the graphical interface.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

after identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, identifying that the user input has selected to continue scrolling the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to a third portion of the list of grouped items; and

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to continue scrolling the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to the third portion of the list of grouped items, updating the pop-up graphical element by replacing the second symbol that is representative of the second group of items with a different, third symbol that is representative of a third group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the third group of items including at least one item within the third portion of the list of grouped items,

wherein identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to the third portion of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to a third location of the graphical interface.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

as a result of detecting that the user input has performed the swiping motion by the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to the second location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by a first number of groups of items that collectively consist of a second number of items; and

as a result of detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to the third location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by the first number of groups of items that collectively consist of a third number of items, wherein the second number of items is different than the third number of items.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

as a result of detecting that the user input has performed the swiping motion by the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to the second location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by a first number of items in a second number of groups of items; and

as a result of detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to the third location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by the first number of items in a third number of groups of items, wherein the second number of groups of items is different than the third number of groups of items.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items within the graphical interface comprises identifying that the user input has selected a graphical scrolling control displayed within the graphical interface located along an edge of the electronic display.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising changing a visual shape of the graphical scrolling control in coordination with the user input scrolling the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of operations comprising:

displaying, within a graphical interface on an electronic display of a computing device, a first portion of a list of grouped items, the list of grouped items including a plurality of different groups of items with the groups of items being arranged in a particular order;

identifying, while continuing to display the first portion of the list of grouped items, that user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items within the graphical interface;

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items, causing a pop-up graphical element to be displayed within the graphical interface on the electronic display, the pop-up graphical element showing a first symbol that is representative of a first group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the first group of items including at least one item displayed within the first portion of the list of grouped items;

identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to a second portion of the list of grouped items; and

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, updating the pop-up graphical element by replacing the first symbol that is representative of the first group of items with a different, second symbol that is representative of a second group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the second group of items including at least one item within the second portion of the list of grouped items.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 11, wherein:

the groups of items from the plurality of different groups of items respectively correspond to a plurality of different alphanumeric categories such that the respective items in each of the groups of items are assigned to a respective alphanumeric category corresponding to the group of items;

the groups of items are ordered in the list of items according to the alphanumeric categories of the groups of items;

the first symbol shown by the pop-up graphical element comprises a first alphanumeric symbol corresponding to the first group of items; and

the second symbol shown by the pop-up graphical element comprises a second alphanumeric symbol corresponding to the second group of items, the second alphanumeric symbol being different than the first alphanumeric symbol.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise in response to identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, animating a display of the list of grouped items by scrolling from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items in coordination with the user input.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise maintaining the display of the first portion of the list of grouped items in a fixed position, while the pop-up graphical element is updated, as the user input is performed to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 11, wherein:

the electronic display of the computing device is a touch-sensitive electronic display that is sensitive to user gestures performed on a surface of the touch-sensitive electronic display;

identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the surface of the touch-sensitive electronic display has been contacted at a first location of the graphical interface in which a scrolling control is located; and

identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the user input has performed a swiping motion by a first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to a second location of the graphical interface.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

after identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items, identifying that the user input has selected to continue scrolling the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to a third portion of the list of grouped items; and

in response to identifying that the user input has selected to continue scrolling the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to the third portion of the list of grouped items, updating the pop-up graphical element by replacing the second symbol that is representative of the second group of items with a different, third symbol that is representative of a third group of items, from among the plurality of different groups of items, based on the third group of items including at least one item within the third portion of the list of grouped items,

wherein identifying that the user input has selected to scroll the list of grouped items from the second portion of the list of grouped items to the third portion of the list of grouped items comprises detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to a third location of the graphical interface.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

as a result of detecting that the user input has performed the swiping motion by the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to the second location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by a first number of groups of items that collectively consist of a second number of items; and

as a result of detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to the third location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by the first number of groups of items that collectively consist of a third number of items, wherein the second number of items is different than the third number of items.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

as a result of detecting that the user input has performed the swiping motion by the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the first location of the graphical interface to the second location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by a first number of items in a second number of groups of items; and

as a result of detecting that the user input has continued to perform the swiping motion by swiping the first non-zero distance across the touch-sensitive electronic display from the second location of the graphical interface to the third location of the graphical interface, scrolling the list of grouped items by the first number of items in a third number of groups of items, wherein the second number of groups of items is different than the third number of groups of items.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 11, wherein identifying that the user input has selected to initiate scrolling of the list of grouped items within the graphical interface comprises identifying that the user input has selected a graphical scrolling control displayed within the graphical interface located along an edge of the electronic display.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise changing a visual shape of the graphical scrolling control in coordination with the user input scrolling the list of grouped items from the first portion of the list of grouped items to the second portion of the list of grouped items.