Causing display of a three dimensional graphical user interface with dynamic selectability of items

• US 9,904,457 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Colley, Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesghen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Yaron
• Application Number:
  US13/455,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,134 Days
• Field of Search: 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, to identify at least one graphical object for which the associated display parameter satisfies a predetermined criterion, and to enable individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object, wherein each individually selectable graphical object is selectable with a touch input and wherein individually selecting a graphical object with a touch input causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus:

to cause a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, wherein the display parameter comprises a display size;

to identify at least one graphical object for which the associated display size satisfies a predetermined criterion by comparing the display size associated with each of the graphical objects with a threshold, the associated display size satisfying the predetermined criterion in an instance the display size is on a correct side of the threshold;

to identify a plurality of the graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion;

to cause the three-dimensional arrangement of graphical objects to be adapted by causing the identified plurality of graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion to be moved into a cluster; and

to enable individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object for which the associated display size satisfies the predetermined criterion, the individual selectability being disabled for any graphical objects for which the associated display size does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein, in an instance the individual selectability of a graphical object is enabled, the graphical object is individually selectable and wherein individually selecting a graphical object causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object, and wherein, in an instance the individual selectablility is disabled, the action is not performed in response to user input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to adapt the appearance of the identified at least one graphical object so as to indicate to a user that the graphical object is individually selectable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to enable selectability of the cluster via the user input.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus:

to receive a signal indicative of the user input having been received in respect of the cluster;

to respond by changing the point from which the adapted three-dimensional arrangement is viewed until the display parameter associated with each of the graphical objects in the cluster satisfy the predetermined criterion; and

to enable the individual selectability of the each of the graphical objects in the cluster.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus:

to cause a handle to be displayed in association with each of the graphical objects for which the display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein a display parameter associated with at least part of the handle satisfies the predetermined criterion; and

to enable selectability of the handle associated with each graphical object.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus:

to receive a signal indicative of a request to change the point from which the three-dimensional graphical user interface is viewed;

to respond by causing a changed view of the three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on the touch-sensitive display;

to calculate an interaction metric in respect of the changed view; and

to optimise the interaction metric by automatically adjusting the point from which the three-dimensional graphical user interface is viewed or by adjusting the arrangement of the plurality of graphical objects.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus:

to calculate the interaction metric for the three-dimensional graphical user interface at a plurality of different adjusted views or for a plurality of different adjusted three-dimensional arrangements; and

to cause the view or arrangement having the highest interaction metric to be displayed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to form more than one cluster based on a cumulative display size of the identified plurality of graphical objects which are to form the cluster.

9. A method comprising:

causing a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, wherein the display parameter comprises a display size;

identifying at least one graphical object for which the associated display size satisfies a predetermined criterion by comparing the display size associated with each of the graphical objects with a threshold, the associated display size satisfying the predetermined criterion in an instance the display size is on a correct side of the threshold;

identifying a plurality of the graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion;

causing the three-dimensional arrangement of graphical objects to be adapted by causing the identified plurality of graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion to be moved into a cluster; and

enabling individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object for which the associated display size satisfies the predetermined criterion, the individual selectability being disabled for any graphical objects for which the associated display size does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein, in an instance the individual selectability of a graphical object is enabled, the graphical object is individually selectable and wherein individually selecting a graphical object causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object, and wherein, in an instance the individual selectablility is disabled, the action is not performed in response to user input.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adapting the appearance of the identified at least one graphical object so as to indicate to a user that the graphical object is individually selectable.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising enabling selectability of the cluster via the user input.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of the user input having been received in respect of the cluster;

responding by changing the point from which the adapted three-dimensional arrangement is viewed until the display parameter associated with each of the graphical objects in the cluster satisfy the predetermined criterion; and

enabling the individual selectability of the each of the graphical objects in the cluster.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising:

causing a handle to be displayed in association with each of the graphical objects for which the display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein a display parameter associated with at least part of the handle satisfies the predetermined criterion; and

enabling selectability of the handle associated with each graphical object.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a request to change the point from which the three-dimensional graphical user interface is viewed;

responding by causing a changed view of the three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on the touch-sensitive display;

calculating an interaction metric in respect of the changed view; and

optimising the interaction metric by automatically adjusting the point from which the three-dimensional graphical user interface is viewed or by adjusting the arrangement of the plurality of graphical objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein optimising the interaction metric comprises:

calculating the interaction metric for the three-dimensional graphical user interface at a plurality of different adjusted views or for a plurality of different adjusted three-dimensional arrangements; and

causing the view or arrangement having the highest interaction metric to be displayed.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the associated display parameter further comprises a virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display.

17. Computer-readable code which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method according to claim 9.

18. The method of claim 9, comprising:

causing to form more than one cluster based on a cumulative display size of the identified plurality of graphical objects which are to form the cluster.

19. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions, when executed by at least one processor, causing the at least one processor:

to cause a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, wherein the display parameter comprises a display size of the graphical object or a virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display;

to identify at least one graphical object for which the associated display parameter satisfies a predetermined criterion by comparing the display size of the graphical object or the virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display associated with each of the graphical objects with a threshold, the associated display size of the graphical object or the virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display satisfying the predetermined criterion in an instance the display size of the graphical object or the virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display is on a correct side of the threshold;

to identify a plurality of the graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion;

to cause the three-dimensional arrangement of graphical objects to be adapted by causing the identified plurality of graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion to be moved into a cluster; and

to enable individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object for which the associated display size of the graphical object or the virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display satisfies the predetermined criterion, the individual selectability being disabled for any graphical objects for which the associated display size of the graphical object or the virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein, in an instance the individual selectability of a graphical object is enabled, the graphical object is individually selectable and wherein individually selecting a graphical object causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object, and wherein, in an instance the individual selectablility is disabled, the action is not performed in response to user input.

20. A method comprising:

causing a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, wherein the display parameter comprises a virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display;

identifying at least one graphical object for which the associated virtual distance satisfies a predetermined criterion by comparing each associated virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display with a threshold, the associated virtual distance satisfying the predetermined criterion in an instance the virtual distance is on a correct side of the threshold;

identifying a plurality of the graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion;

causing the three-dimensional arrangement of graphical objects to be adapted by causing the identified plurality of graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion to be moved into a cluster; and

enabling individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object for which the associated virtual distance satisfies the predetermined criterion, the individual selectability being disabled for any graphical objects for which the associated virtual distance does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein, in an instance the individual selectability of a graphical object is enabled, the graphical object is individually selectable and wherein individually selecting a graphical object causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object, and wherein, in an instance the individual selectablility is disabled, the action is not performed in response to user input.

21. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

cause a view of a three-dimensional graphical user interface to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display, the three-dimensional graphical user interface comprising a three-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of graphical objects, each of the graphical objects, when displayed, having an associated display parameter, wherein the display parameter comprises a virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display;

identify at least one graphical object for which the associated virtual distance satisfies a predetermined criterion by comparing each associated virtual distance of the graphical object from the touch-sensitive display with a threshold, the associated virtual distance satisfying the predetermined criterion in an instance the virtual distance is on a correct side of the threshold;

identify a plurality of the graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion;

cause the three-dimensional arrangement of graphical objects to be adapted by causing the identified plurality of graphical objects for which the associated display parameter does not satisfy the predetermined criterion to be moved into a cluster; and

enable individual selectability in respect of the identified at least one graphical object for which the associated virtual distance satisfies the predetermined criterion, the individual selectability being disabled for any graphical objects for which the associated virtual distance does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, wherein, in an instance the individual selectability of a graphical object is enabled, the graphical object is individually selectable and wherein individually selecting a graphical object causes an action to be performed in respect of the selected graphical object, and wherein, in an instance the individual selectablility is disabled, the action is not performed in response to user input.