Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications

• US 9,684,429 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN S
• Application Number:
  US14/290,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 455556, 715779, 715781, 715784
• 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 3/04883 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

An electronic device displays a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device. The device detects a first input and in response, displays a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with. The multitasking user interface includes a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing, and a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detecting activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, displaying a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user;

initiating a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user in response to detecting activation of the contactable-user affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user includes providing a plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user that correspond to different modes of communication with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continuing to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes ceasing to display one or more affordances in the first set of contactable-user affordances other than the affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user.

3. The method of claim 1, including:

detecting activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option, initiating a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

4. The method of claim 1, including:

detecting activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option;

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a single respective point of contact for the first contactable-user, initiating a communication with the first contactable-user using the respective point of contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a plurality of different points of contact for the first contactable-user, displaying a point-of-contact selection user interface that includes a description of the plurality of different points of contact and enables the user to initiate communication with the first contactable-user using one or more of the different points of contact.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes initiating a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

while displaying the multitasking user interface;

detecting a second input includes movement of a finger contact in a respective direction; and

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a first direction, displaying a second set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on first contactable-user-selection criteria; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a second direction different from the first direction, displaying a third set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on second contactable-user-selection criteria that are different from the first contactable-user-selection criteria.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application includes a plurality of concurrently displayed rows of affordances, including:

a first row that includes a plurality of representations of open applications on the display; and

a second row that includes a plurality of application icons that correspond to the representations of open applications, wherein the second row is spaced apart from the first row at a separate location from a location of the first row.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to detecting the first input, the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, display a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detect activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, display a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user;

initiate a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user in response to detecting activation of the contactable-user affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user includes providing a plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user that correspond to different modes of communication with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continue to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes ceasing to display one or more affordances in the first set of contactable-user affordances other than the affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user.

11. The medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option, initiate a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

12. The medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

detect activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option;

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a single respective point of contact for the first contactable-user, initiate a communication with the first contactable-user using the respective point of contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a plurality of different points of contact for the first contactable-user, display a point-of-contact selection user interface that includes a description of the plurality of different points of contact and enables the user to initiate communication with the first contactable-user using one or more of the different points of contact.

13. The medium of claim 9, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes initiating a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

14. The medium of claim 9, the one or more programs further comprise instructions, when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

while displaying the multitasking user interface;

detect a second input includes movement of a finger contact in a respective direction; and

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a first direction, display a second set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on first contactable-user-selection criteria; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a second direction different from the first direction, display a third set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on second contactable-user-selection criteria that are different from the first contactable-user-selection criteria.

15. The medium of claim 9, wherein the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application includes a plurality of concurrently displayed rows of affordances, including:

a first row that includes a plurality of representations of open applications on the display; and

a second row that includes a plurality of application icons that correspond to the representations of open applications, wherein the second row is spaced apart from the first row at a separate location from a location of the first row.

16. The medium of claim 9, wherein, prior to detecting the first input, the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory;

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 first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detecting activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, displaying a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user;

initiating a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user in response to detecting activation of the contactable-user affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user includes providing a plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user that correspond to different modes of communication with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continuing to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes ceasing to display one or more affordances in the first set of contactable-user affordances other than the affordance that corresponds to the first contactable-user.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs include further instructions for:

detecting activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option, initiating a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs include further instructions for:

detecting activation of a respective communication option of the plurality of communication options for the first contactable-user; and

in response to detecting activation of the respective communication option;

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a single respective point of contact for the first contactable-user, initiating a communication with the first contactable-user using the respective point of contact; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective communication option corresponds to a plurality of different points of contact for the first contactable-user, displaying a point-of-contact selection user interface that includes a description of the plurality of different points of contact and enables the user to initiate communication with the first contactable-user using one or more of the different points of contact.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user includes initiating a real-time communication session with the first contactable-user.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs include further instructions for:

while displaying the multitasking user interface;

detecting a second input includes movement of a finger contact in a respective direction; and

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a first direction, displaying a second set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on first contactable-user-selection criteria; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective direction is a second direction different from the first direction, displaying a third set of contactable-user affordances for communicating with contactable-users associated with the user that are different from the first set of contactable-user affordances and are selected based on second contactable-user-selection criteria that are different from the first contactable-user-selection criteria.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application includes a plurality of concurrently displayed rows of affordances, including:

a first row that includes a plurality of representations of open applications on the display; and

a second row that includes a plurality of application icons that correspond to the representations of open applications, wherein the second row is spaced apart from the first row at a separate location from a location of the first row.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein, prior to detecting the first input, the first application is displayed without concurrently displaying any other application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

25. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detecting activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, displaying a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user that is selected without selecting an affordance in set of open application affordances that are displayed concurrently with the first set of contactable user-affordances;

initiating a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continuing to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, display a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detect activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, display a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user that is selected without selecting an affordance in set of open application affordances that are displayed concurrently with the first set of contactable user-affordances;

initiate a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continue to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.

27. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory;

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 first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device;

while displaying the first application on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with, the multitasking user interface including;

a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing; and

a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user;

while displaying the multitasking user interface, detecting activation of a respective affordance in the multitasking user interface; and

,

after detecting activation of the respective affordance, in response to detecting activation of the respective affordance;

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the set of open application affordances that corresponds to a second application, displaying a user interface for the second application on the display; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective affordance is an affordance in the first set of contactable-user affordances that corresponds to a first contactable-user that is selected without selecting an affordance in set of open application affordances that are displayed concurrently with the first set of contactable user-affordances;

initiating a process for communicating with the first contactable-user, and

while initiating the process for communicating with the first contactable-user, continuing to display the set of open application affordances for selecting an open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications.