Rendering object icons associated with an object icon

• US 9,927,969 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Craig T., Hoffman, Dustin L., On, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nabi, Reza
• Application Number:
  US14/823,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 715863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A device detects objects touching a first object icon representing a folder on a touch sensitive display and then moving in generally opposing directions, where the folder includes a plurality of constituent elements. In response to the detecting, additional object icons are rendered to display on the touch sensitive display, each additional object icon representing a respective constituent element, where the additional object icons are rendered in a pattern around the first object icon. The pattern of the additional object icons is animated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a device comprising a processor, objects touching a first object icon representing a folder on a touch sensitive display and then moving in generally opposing directions, the folder comprising a plurality of constituent elements;

in response to the detecting, rendering for display, by the device, additional object icons on the touch sensitive display, each additional object icon of the additional object icons representing a respective constituent element of the plurality of constituent elements, wherein the additional object icons are rendered in a pattern around the first object icon; and

causing, by the device, animation of the pattern of the additional object icons, the animation comprising moving the additional object icons without corresponding movement of the first object icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality constituent elements comprise files, and wherein rendering for display the additional object icons comprises rendering for display the additional object icons that represent the files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality constituent elements comprise a further folder and a file, and wherein rendering for display the additional object icons comprises rendering for display the additional object icons that represent the further folder and the file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the additional object icons comprises spinning the additional object icons about the first object icon.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the spinning of the additional object icons comprises spinning indefinitely the additional object icons until a user touch of the pattern is detected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the additional object icons comprises spinning the additional object icons about a center point corresponding to the first object icon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the animation of the pattern of the additional object icons comprises the causing of the animation of a generally circular pattern of the additional object icons.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the animation of the additional object icons is in response to detecting an object touch of one of the additional object icons and then moving in a curved direction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering an arrow pointing from the first object icon to each of the additional object icons.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that upon execution cause a device to:

detect user fingers touching a first object icon representing a folder on a touch sensitive display, the folder comprising a plurality of constituent elements;

in response to the detecting, render for display additional object icons on the touch sensitive display, each additional object icon of the additional object icons representing a respective constituent element of the plurality of constituent elements, wherein the additional object icons are rendered in a pattern around the first object icon; and

cause animation of the pattern of the additional object icons, the animation comprising moving the additional object icons without corresponding movement of the first object icon.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the pattern comprises a generally circular pattern of the additional object icons around a center point corresponding to the first object icon.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the animation comprises spinning the additional object icons around the center point without movement of the first object icon with the additional object icons.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the spinning of the additional object icons comprises spinning indefinitely the additional object icons until a user touch of the pattern is detected.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of constituent components represented by the additional object icons comprise at least one selected from among a further folder and a file.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the causing of the animation of the additional object icons is in response to detecting a user finger touch of one of the additional object icons and then moving in a curved direction.

16. A device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display; and

at least one processor to;

detect user fingers touching a first object icon representing a folder on a touch sensitive display and then moving in generally opposing directions, the folder comprising a plurality of constituent elements;

in response to the detecting, render for display additional object icons on the touch sensitive display, each additional object icon of the additional object icons representing a respective constituent element of the plurality of constituent elements, wherein the rendered the additional object icons in a pattern around the first object icon; and

cause animation of the pattern of the additional object icons, the animation comprising moving the additional object icons without corresponding movement of the first object icon.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the pattern comprises a generally circular pattern of the additional object icons around a center point corresponding to the first object icon.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the animation comprises spinning the additional object icons around the center point without movement of the first object icon with the additional object icons.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the spinning of the additional object icons comprises spinning indefinitely the additional object icons until a user touch of the pattern is detected.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the causing of the animation of the additional object icons is in response to detecting a user finger touch of one of the additional object icons and then moving in a curved direction.