Touch-based fluid window management

• US 9,268,457 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuscher, Alexander Friedrich, Jitkoff, John Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHREWSBURY, NATHAN K
• Application Number:
  US13/549,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20150205446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 715/800
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0481 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• 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 computer-implemented method for tiling a window, the method comprising presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display and receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at a plurality of contact points. In certain aspects, the method further comprises steps for receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the window in a direction of a first edge of the display area and in response to the second user input and resizing a first edge of the window. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tiling a window, the method comprising:

presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points for selection of the window;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the window in a direction of a first edge of the display area and at a speed; and

in response to the direction and the speed of the second user input;

if the speed of the second user input is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the first edge of the display area; and

if the speed of the second user input is faster than a second threshold speed, resizing the window.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the touch-based display, a third user input indicating a second movement of the window in a direction of a second edge of the display area; and

in response to the third user input, resizing the window.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more fingers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points, is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more hands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein resizing the window comprises:

aligning a first edge of the window with a grid overlaid upon the display area; and

snapping the window to the grid.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second threshold speeds are the same.

6. A system for tiling a window, the system comprising:

one or more processors;

a touch-based display coupled to the one or more processors; and

a computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising;

presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points for selection of the window;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the window in a direction of a first edge of the display area and at a speed; and

in response to the direction and the speed of the second user input;

if the speed of the second user input is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the first edge of the display area; and

if the speed of the second user input is faster than a second threshold speed, resizing the window.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, via the touch-based display, a third user input indicating a second movement of the window in a direction of a second edge of the display area; and

in response to the third user input, resizing the window.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points, is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more hands.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein resizing the window comprises:

aligning a first edge of the window with a grid overlaid upon the display area; and

snapping the window to the grid.

10. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points for selection of the window;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the window in a direction of a first edge of the display area and at a speed; and

in response to the direction and the speed of the second user input;

if the speed of the second user input is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the first edge of the display area; and

if the speed of the second user input is faster than a second threshold speed, resizing the window.

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

receiving, via the touch-based display, a third user input indicating a second movement of the window in a direction of a second edge of the display area; and

in response to the third user input, resizing the window.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more fingers.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points, is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more hands.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein resizing the window comprises:

aligning a first edge of the window with a grid overlaid upon the display area; and

snapping the window to the grid.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a user gesture; and

based on both a direction and a speed of the user gesture;

if the speed of the user gesture is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the user gesture at a first slower speed; and

if the speed of the user gesture is faster than a second threshold speed, sliding the window in the direction of the user gesture at a second faster speed and resizing the window upon the window reaching an edge of the display area.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more fingers.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a window of a first size in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of the window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the window at a speed and in a direction of a first edge of the display area; and

in response to the direction and the speed of the second user input;

if the speed of the second user input is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the first edge of the display area; and

if the speed of the second user input is faster than a second threshold speed, minimizing the window in response to the second user input.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more hands.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a plurality of windows in a display area of a touch-based display;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a first user input indicating a selection of a first window, wherein the first user input comprises an indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at two or more contact points;

receiving, via the touch-based display, a second user input indicating a first movement of the first window at a speed and in a direction of a first edge of the display area;

if the speed of the second user input is slower than or equal to a first threshold speed, moving the window in the direction of the first edge of the display area; and

if the speed of the second user input is faster than a second threshold speed, maximizing the first window in response to the second user input, wherein the window maximizes upon reaching the first edge of the display area.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the indication that the user has initiated contact with the touch-based display at the two or more contact points is based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-based display using two or more hands.