Automatically expanding panes

• US 9,921,711 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Baeksan, Confer, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABOU EL SEOUD, MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/826,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 715800, 715801, 715864
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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

Abstract

A portable electronic device and a method for automatically resizing a plurality of dynamically sizable panes displaying information on a screen of a portable electronic device are provided. The method includes displaying the information in the plurality of dynamically sizable panes on the screen of the portable electronic device, interacting with one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, and automatically resizing all of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes according to the interaction with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

Claims

1. A method for automatically resizing a plurality of dynamically sizable panes displaying information on a screen of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying the information in the plurality of dynamically sizable panes on the screen of the portable electronic device;

interacting with content displayed within one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes;

comparing the interacting with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes;

automatically resizing, when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, the plurality of dynamically sizable panes in response to the interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes; and

further automatically resizing the plurality of dynamically sizable panes according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction,

wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes in response to the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes comprises increasing a size of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes displaying the content and decreasing a size of all remaining dynamically sizable panes, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality of dynamically sizeable panes that automatically increased in size corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining dynamically sizable panes that automatically decreased in size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interacting with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes comprises contacting the screen of the portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interacting with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes comprises moving an object across the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the object moved across the selected one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes comprises a finger of a user of the portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the object moved across the selected one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes generates a signal indicating a contact with the screen of the portable electronic device has occurred.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, automatically resizing, when the additional interacting with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes is terminated, the plurality of dynamically sizable panes to a size of the panes prior to the interaction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the additional interacting with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes is terminated when a user of the portable electronic device presses and releases an object from an area of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

8. A method for resizing a plurality of panes arranged on a screen of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying information in the plurality of panes arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device;

interacting with content displayed within one of the plurality of panes;

comparing the interacting with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of panes;

automatically resizing, when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, the plurality of panes in response to the interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of panes; and

further automatically resizing the plurality of panes according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of panes, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction, wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of panes in response to the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of panes comprises increasing a size of the one of the plurality of panes displaying the content and decreasing a size of all remaining panes, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality of panes that automatically increased in size corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining panes that automatically decreased in size.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the interacting with the one of the plurality of panes comprises swiping an object across the one of the plurality of panes.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising automatically resizing, when the additional interacting with the one of the plurality of panes is terminated, the plurality of panes to a size of the panes prior to the interaction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional interacting with the one of the plurality of panes is terminated when a predetermined action is performed with the one of the plurality of panes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined action comprises a user of the portable electronic device clicking on an area of the one of the plurality of panes.

13. A method for resizing a plurality of windows arranged on a screen of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying information in the plurality of windows arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device;

interacting with content displayed within one of the plurality of windows;

comparing the interacting with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of windows;

when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, automatically resizing the plurality of windows arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device in response to the interacting with the content of the one of the plurality of windows;

further automatically resizing the plurality of windows according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of windows, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction;

terminating the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of windows; and

automatically resizing the plurality of windows arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device in response to the terminating of the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of windows,

wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of windows arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device in response to the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of windows comprises expanding the one of the plurality of windows displaying the content and contracting remaining ones of the plurality of windows, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality of windows that automatically expanded corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining plurality of windows that automatically contracted.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the interacting with the one of the plurality of windows comprises at least one of a swiping action and a clicking action on the one of the plurality of windows.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the terminating of the interaction with the one of the plurality of windows comprises performing a predetermined action on the one of the plurality of windows.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined action on the one of the plurality of windows comprises a clicking action.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of windows arranged on the screen of the portable electronic device in response to the terminating of the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of windows comprises contracting the one of the plurality of windows and expanding remaining ones of the plurality of windows.

18. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen including a display and an input; and

at least one processor configured to control the touchscreen to;

display information in a plurality of dynamically sizable panes,

based on input to the touchscreen, detect an interaction with content displayed within one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes,

compare the interaction with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes,

automatically resize, when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, the plurality of dynamically sizable panes in response to the detection of the interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, and

further automatically resize the plurality of dynamically sizable panes according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

increase, when automatically resizing of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes in response to the detection of the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, a size of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes displaying the content, and

decrease a size of remaining plurality of dynamically sizable panes, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality of dynamically sizeable panes that automatically increased in size corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining plurality of dynamically sizable panes that automatically decreased in size.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes is based on a contact on the touchscreen.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes comprises moving an object across the selected one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein a finger of a user of the portable electronic device is moved across the selected one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein, when the object is moved across the selected one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes, the touchscreen generates a signal indicating that a contact on the touchscreen has occurred.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, when the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes is terminated, automatically resize the plurality of dynamically sizable panes to a size of the panes prior to the interaction.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 23, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes is terminated when a user of the portable electronic device ends contact with an area of the one of the plurality of dynamically sizable panes.

25. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen including a display and an input unit; and

at least one processor configured to control the touchscreen to;

display information in a plurality of panes,

based on input to the touchscreen, detect an interaction with content displayed within the one of the plurality of panes,

compare the interaction with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of panes,

automatically resize, when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, the plurality of panes in response to the detection of the interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of panes, and

further automatically resize the plurality of panes according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of panes, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction, wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of panes in response to the detection of the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of panes comprises increasing a size of the one of the plurality of panes displaying content and decreasing a size of remaining panes, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality panes that automatically increased in size corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining panes that automatically decreased in size.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 25, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of panes comprises moving an object across the one of the plurality of panes.

27. The portable electronic device of claim 25, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to, when the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of panes is terminated, automatically resize the plurality of panes to a size of the panes prior to the interaction.

28. The portable electronic device of claim 27, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of panes is terminated when a predetermined action is performed with the one of the plurality of panes or when a predetermined action is performed with the remaining panes.

29. The portable electronic device of claim 28, wherein the predetermined action comprises a user of the portable electronic device clicking on an area of the one of the plurality of panes or clicking on an area of the remaining panes.

30. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen including a display and an input unit; and

at least one processor configured to control the touchscreen to;

display information in a plurality of windows, based on input to the touchscreen,

detect an interaction with content displayed within one of the plurality of windows,

compare the interaction with a plurality of predetermined interactions, each of the plurality of predetermined interactions specific to the one of the plurality of windows,

automatically resize, when the interacting corresponds to scrolling the displayed content to reveal undisplayed content, the plurality of windows in response to the detection of the interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of windows,

further automatically resize the plurality of windows according to an additional interaction with the content of the one of the plurality of windows, the resizing being continuous and proportional to the additional interaction,

detect termination of the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of windows, and

automatically resize the plurality of windows in response to the detected termination of the interaction with the one of the plurality of windows, wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of windows in response to the detection of the scrolling of the content of the one of the plurality of windows comprises expanding the one of the plurality of windows displaying the content and contracting remaining ones of the plurality of windows, and

wherein the content displayed within the one of the plurality of windows that automatically expanded corresponds to content displayed in at least one of the remaining windows that automatically contracted.

31. The portable electronic device of claim 30, wherein the interaction with the one of the plurality of windows comprises at least one of a swiping action and a clicking action on the one of the plurality of windows.

32. The portable electronic device of claim 30, wherein the termination of the interaction with the one of the plurality of windows is detected when a predetermined action is performed on the one of the plurality of windows.

33. The portable electronic device of claim 32, wherein the predetermined action on the one of the plurality of windows comprises a clicking action.

34. The portable electronic device of claim 30, wherein the automatic resizing of the plurality of windows in response to the detection of the termination of the additional interaction with the one of the plurality of windows comprises contracting the one of the plurality of windows and expanding remaining ones of the plurality of windows.