Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for moving on-screen objects without using a cursor

• US 9,606,715 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US14/331,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20150033170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179, 345/211, 345/212, 345/589, 345/630, 345/684, 715763-769, 715/702, 715/784, 715/821, 463/16, 463/30, 463/31, 463/36, 463/43
• 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 3/04817 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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

Abstract

A technique is performed at a computing device with a touch screen display. The technique displays a plurality of objects on the touch screen display, detects a single finger contact on the touch screen display, and creates a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact, the touch area including a perimeter. The technique determines a respective point within the touch area and, for an object in the plurality of objects, determines whether the object overlaps with the touch area. If the object overlaps with the touch area, the technique connects the object with the touch area and moves the object in accordance with movement of the touch area.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determining a respective point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

2. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen 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 plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

3. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determine a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determine if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determine if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determine if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connect the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detect movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

move the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

4. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

a representative point is determined within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

whether the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object is determined;

whether the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object is determined; and

whether a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object is determined;

the object is connected with the touch area of the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, movement of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

the object connected with the touch area is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

5. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determining a respective point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object or that the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.