User interface elements cloning and transitions

• US 20090064021A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Boettcher, Jesse W., Rempel, David J., Rossi, Peter A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods of displaying a user interface in a portable electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes creating a first clone and a second clone of a user interface element. The method also includes displaying the first clone of the user interface element on a display of the portable electronic device, modifying the second clone of the user interface element, and transitioning between the first clone of the user interface element and the second clone of the user interface element. In another embodiment, a method includes displaying an initial user interface element and displaying a transition between the initial user interface element and a final user interface element, wherein the transition is selected based on a classification of the initial user interface element and a classification of the final user interface element.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a user interface in a portable electronic device, comprising:

creating a first clone and a second clone of a user interface element;

displaying the first clone of the user interface element on a display of the portable electronic device; and

transitioning between the first clone of the user interface element and the second clone of the first user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

modifying the second clone of the user interface element prior to transitioning.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising modifying the first clone of the user interface element so that it is identical to the second clone of the user interface element.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising simultaneously modifying the first clone of the user interface element and the second clone of the user interface element during the transitioning.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning comprises resizing the user interface element, moving the user interface element, changing the opacity of the user interface element, blurring the user interface element, rotating the user element, pseudo-coloring the user interface element, or any combination thereof.

6. A method for displaying a user interface in a portable electronic device, comprising:

displaying an initial user interface element; and

selecting a transition between the initial user interface element and a final user interface element, wherein the transition is selected based on a classification of the initial user interface element and a classification of the final user interface element.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising executing the transition.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising displaying the final user interface element.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting a transition comprises selecting a default transition.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the transition comprises one of changing opacity, moving, resizing, rotating, blurring, pseudo-coloring, or any combination thereof.

11. One or more tangible, machine-readable media, comprising code executable to perform the acts of:

creating identical copies of a user interface element, wherein each copy has a unique identifier;

causing a first copy of the user interface element to be displayed on a display; and

transitioning between the first copy of the user interface element and the second copy of the user interface element.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a storage structure; and

a processor configured to process code stored on the storage structure to cause a user interface to be displayed on the display, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of user interface elements, wherein a transition between each of the plurality of user interface elements comprises creating clones of a user interface element, wherein the clones of the user interface element may be displayed at the same time during the transition.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a media player, a cellular phone, or a personal data organizer, or any combination thereof.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the display comprises a touch screen.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the display comprises an LCD.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor comprises a graphics processor configured to execute the transition.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein a transition between the plurality of user interface elements is selected based on a classification of the one or more user interface elements.

18. A user interface for an electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of user interface elements, wherein a transition between a plurality of user interface elements comprises clones of each of the plurality of user elements, wherein the clones of the user interface element are displayed at the same time during the transition.

19. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the transition comprises one of changing opacity, moving, resizing, rotating, blurring, pseudo-coloring, or any combination thereof.

20. The user interface of claim 18, wherein each clone of the user interface element comprises a unique identifier.

21. The user interface of claim 18, wherein a first clone of a user interface element is displayed prior to the transition.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein a second clone of user interface element is displayed after the transition.

23. A user interface for an electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of user interface elements, wherein each of the plurality of user interface elements is classified into one of a plurality of classes, wherein a transition between two or more of the plurality of user interface elements is selected based on the plurality of classes.

24. The user interface of claim 23, wherein one or more of the plurality of user interface elements comprises a screen.