Systems and methods for efficiently navigating between applications with linked content on an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display

• US 10,732,820 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lemay, Stephen O., Foss, Christopher P., Lee, Woo-Ram, Yang, Lawrence Y., Stack, Caelan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, William
• Application Number:
  US15/729,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• 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 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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
• 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

Systems and methods for efficiently navigating between applications are disclosed herein. An example method includes: concurrently displaying: a first user interface (UI) associated with a first application, a status bar with status indications associated with system-wide functions; and a first affordance associated with a second application. While concurrently displaying, the method includes: detecting a first input that corresponds to selection of the affordance and, in response: replacing display of at least a portion of the first UI with a second UI that is associated with the second application; maintaining display of the status bar; and displaying a second affordance that is associated with the first application. While concurrently displaying, the method includes: detecting a second input that corresponds to selection of the second affordance and, in response: replacing display of at least a portion of the second UI with the first UI; and maintaining display of the status bar.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices;

concurrently displaying;

a first user interface that is associated with a first application;

a status bar that includes a plurality of status indications associated with respective system-wide functions of the electronic device and is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the first application; and

a first affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with a second application that is different from the first application;

while concurrently displaying the first user interface, the status bar, and the first affordance associated with the second application, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a first input that corresponds to selection of the first affordance; and

in response to detecting the first input;

replacing display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with the second application, wherein the second user interface is maintained on the display after the first input;

maintaining display of the status bar; and

ceasing to display the first affordance within the status bar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first affordance is a notification associated with the second application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification is overlaid on the second application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display except for a region occupied by the status bar; and

the second user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display, except for a region occupied by the status bar.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein maintaining display of the status bar in response to detecting the first input further includes:

updating the status bar to cease displaying at least one of the plurality of status indications.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the second affordance is displayed in an area of the status bar that was previously occupied by the at least one of the plurality of status indications that was removed from the status bar.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein maintaining display of the status bar in response to detecting the second input includes:

ceasing to display the second affordance within the status bar and updating the status bar to re-display the at least one of the plurality of status indications.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein replacing display of at least the portion of the first user interface with the second user interface includes:

sliding the portion of the first user interface in a first direction across the display until the portion of the first user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the first user interface in the first direction, sliding respective portions of the second user interface in the first direction across the display until the second user interface has replaced the portion of the first user interface on the display.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second affordance includes (i) a name of the first application and (ii) a directional indication that points in the first direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein replacing display of at least the portion of the second user interface with the first user interface includes:

sliding the portion of the second user interface in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, across the display until the portion of the second user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the second user interface in the second direction, sliding respective portions of the first user interface in the second direction across the display until the first user interface has replaced the portion of the second user interface on the display.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein:

before detecting the first input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display,

after detecting the first input and before detecting the second input, the second user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display, and

after detecting the second input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

at least one of the one or more input devices is a touch-sensitive surface that is integrated with the display, and

the first and second inputs are detected via the touch-sensitive surface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with a second application includes:

displaying a first user interface object that is associated with a third application;

detecting, via the one or more input devices, a second input directed to the first user interface object; and

in response to detecting the second input, displaying;

a third user interface that is associated with the third application;

a second affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with the second application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the second application; and

a second user interface object that is associated with a fourth application.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

while displaying the third user interface, the second affordance associated with the second application, and the second user interface object associated with the fourth application, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a third input directed to the second affordance; and

in response to detecting the third input;

displaying a fourth user interface that is associated with the fourth application; and

ceasing display of the second affordance within the status bar and instead displaying a third affordance within the status bar, the third affordance associated with the third application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the third application.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first, second, and third affordances are displayed in a predefined region at a corner of the status bar.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices, cause the electronic device to:

concurrently display;

a first user interface that is associated with a first application;

a status bar that includes a plurality of status indications associated with respective system-wide functions of the electronic device and is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the first application; and

a first affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with a second application that is different from the first application;

while concurrently displaying the first user interface, the status bar, and the first affordance associated with the second application, detect, via the one or more input devices, a first input that corresponds to selection of the first affordance; and

in response to detecting the first input;

replace display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with the second application, wherein the second user interface is maintained on the display after the first input;

maintain display of the status bar; and

cease to display the first affordance within the status bar.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to replace display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with a second application include instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

display a first user interface object that is associated with a third application;

detect, via the one or more input devices, a second input directed to the first user interface object; and

in response to detecting the second input, display;

a third user interface that is associated with the third application;

a second affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with the second application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the second application; and

a second user interface object that is associated with a fourth application.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

while displaying the third user interface, the second affordance associated with the second application, and the second user interface object associated with the fourth application, detect, via the one or more input devices, a third input directed to the second affordance; and

in response to detecting the third input;

display a fourth user interface that is associated with the fourth application;

cease display of the second affordance within the status bar and instead display a third affordance within the status bar, the third affordance associated with the third application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the third application.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first, second, and third affordances are displayed in a predefined region at a corner of the status bar.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the first affordance is a notification associated with the second application.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the notification is overlaid on the second application.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein:

the first user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display except for a region occupied by the status bar; and

the second user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display, except for a region occupied by the status bar.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions that cause the electronic device to maintain display of the status bar in response to detecting the first input further include instructions that cause the electronic device to:

update the status bar to cease displaying at least one of the plurality of status indications.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein:

the second affordance is displayed in an area of the status bar that was previously occupied by the at least one of the plurality of status indications that was removed from the status bar.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions that cause the electronic device to maintain display of the status bar in response to detecting the second input include instructions that cause the electronic device to:

cease to display the second affordance within the status bar and update the status bar to re-display the at least one of the plurality of status indications.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions that cause the electronic device to replace display of at least the portion of the first user interface with the second user interface include instructions that cause the electronic device to:

slide the portion of the first user interface in a first direction across the display until the portion of the first user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the first user interface in the first direction, slide respective portions of the second user interface in the first direction across the display until the second user interface has replaced the portion of the first user interface on the display.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the second affordance includes (i) a name of the first application and (ii) a directional indication that points in the first direction.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions that cause the electronic device to replace display of at least the portion of the second user interface with the first user interface include instructions that cause the electronic device to:

slide the portion of the second user interface in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, across the display until the portion of the second user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the second user interface in the second direction, slide respective portions of the first user interface in the second direction across the display until the first user interface has replaced the portion of the second user interface on the display.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein:

before detecting the first input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display,

after detecting the first input and before detecting the second input, the second user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display, and

after detecting the second input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein:

at least one of the one or more input devices is a touch-sensitive surface that is integrated with the display, and

the first and second inputs are detected via the touch-sensitive surface.

35. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

one or more input devices;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

concurrently display;

a first user interface that is associated with a first application;

a status bar that includes a plurality of status indications associated with respective system-wide functions of the electronic device and is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the first application; and

a first affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with a second application that is different from the first application;

while concurrently displaying the first user interface, the status bar, and the first affordance associated with the second application, detect, via the one or more input devices, a first input that corresponds to selection of the first affordance; and

in response to detecting the first input;

replace display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with the second application, wherein the second user interface is maintained on the display after the first input;

maintain display of the status bar; and

cease to display the first affordance within the status bar.

36. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to replace display of at least a portion of the first user interface with a second user interface that is associated with a second application also cause the electronic device to:

display a first user interface object that is associated with a third application;

detect, via the one or more input devices, a second input directed to the first user interface object; and

in response to detecting the second input, display;

a third user interface that is associated with the third application;

a second affordance, displayed within the status bar, associated with the second application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the second application; and

a second user interface object that is associated with a fourth application.

37. The electronic device of claim 36, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:

while displaying the third user interface, the second affordance associated with the second application, and the second user interface object associated with the fourth application, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a third input directed to the second affordance; and

in response to detecting the third input;

display a fourth user interface that is associated with the fourth application; and

cease display of the second affordance within the status bar and instead display a third affordance within the status bar, the third affordance associated with the third application, wherein the status bar is displayed outside of the user interface that is associated with the third application.

38. The electronic device of claim 37, wherein the first, second, and third affordances are displayed in a predefined region at a comer of the status bar.

39. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the first affordance is a notification associated with the second application.

40. The electronic device of claim 39, wherein the notification is overlaid on the second application.

41. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein:

the first user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display except for a region occupied by the status bar; and

the second user interface, when displayed on the display, occupies substantially all of the display, except for a region occupied by the status bar.

42. The electronic device of claim 41, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

43. The electronic device of claim 41, wherein the one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to maintain display of the status bar in response to detecting the first input also cause the electronic device to:

update the status bar to cease displaying at least one of the plurality of status indications.

44. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein:

the second affordance is displayed in an area of the status bar that was previously occupied by the at least one of the plurality of status indications that was removed from the status bar.

45. The electronic device of claim 44, wherein the one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to maintain display of the status bar in response to detecting the second input also cause the electronic device to:

cease to display the second affordance within the status bar and update the status bar to re-display the at least one of the plurality of status indications.

46. The electronic device of claim 45, wherein the second affordance includes a name of the first application.

47. The electronic device of claim 41, wherein the one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to replace display of at least the portion of the first user interface with the second user interface also cause the electronic device to:

slide the portion of the first user interface in a first direction across the display until the portion of the first user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the first user interface in the first direction, slide respective portions of the second user interface in the first direction across the display until the second user interface has replaced the portion of the first user interface on the display.

48. The electronic device of claim 47, wherein the second affordance includes (i) a name of the first application and (ii) a directional indication that points in the first direction.

49. The electronic device of claim 48, wherein the one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to replace display of at least the portion of the second user interface with the first user interface also cause the electronic device to:

slide the portion of the second user interface in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, across the display until the portion of the second user interface is no longer visible on the display, and

while sliding the portion of the second user interface in the second direction, slide respective portions of the first user interface in the second direction across the display until the first user interface has replaced the portion of the second user interface on the display.

50. The electronic device of claim 41, wherein:

before detecting the first input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display,

after detecting the first input and before detecting the second input, the second user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display, and

after detecting the second input, the first user interface and the status bar occupy substantially all of the display.

51. The electronic device of claim 50, wherein:

at least one of the one or more input devices is a touch-sensitive surface that is integrated with the display, and

the first and second inputs are detected via the touch-sensitive surface.