Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Managing Folders

• US 20110252373A1
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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 3/04817 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A multifunction device displays a plurality of selectable user interface objects on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device moves a first object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects across the display to a location on the display that is proximate to a second object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects. In response to detecting that the first input meets predefined folder-creation criteria while the first object is proximate to the second object, the device creates a folder that contains the first object and the second object.

Claims

1. A multifunction device, comprising:

a display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

concurrently displaying one or more action icons and one or more folder icons on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

detecting a first input; and

in response to detecting the first input;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activating an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continuing to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon includes displaying a plurality of action icons, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

detecting selection of a respective action icon in the plurality of action icons; and

in response to detecting selection of the respective action icon;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activating an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continuing to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein, when the multifunction device is in the user reconfiguration mode, one or more of the action icons includes a deletion region for deleting the action icon, while none of the folder icons include a deletion region for deleting the folder icon.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

while the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, a function of a respective action icon that is associated with a respective application is to activate the respective application; and

while the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, the respective action icon is prevented from being used to activate the respective application.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first input corresponds to a request to select the respective folder icon;

the multifunction device is in user interface reconfiguration mode when the first input is detected;

the one or more programs include instructions for, while remaining in user reconfiguration mode;

displaying contents of a folder;

detecting a second input; and

in response to detecting the second input, ceasing to display the folder view.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

while the multifunction device is in user interface reconfiguration mode, the application icons and folder icons can be rearranged on the display in response to detected inputs; and

while the multifunction device is in normal operation mode, the application icons and folder icons cannot be rearranged on the display.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input corresponds to a request to select the respective folder icon when the first input is a tap gesture at a location on a touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a location of the respective folder icon on the display.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input corresponds to a request to select the respective action icon when the first input is a tap gesture at a location on a touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a location of the respective action icon on the display.

9. A method comprising:

at a multifunction device with a display;

concurrently displaying one or more action icons and one or more folder icons on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

detecting a first input; and

in response to detecting the first input;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activating an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continuing to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

10. A graphical user interface on a multifunction device with a display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

one or more action icons and one or more folder icons

wherein;

the one or more action icons and one or more folder icons are concurrently displayed on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

a first input is detected; and

in response to detecting the first input;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon are displayed without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, an application associated with the respective action icon is activated; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, the respective action icon continues to be displayed without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a display, cause the device to:

concurrently display one or more action icons and one or more folder icons on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

detect a first input; and

in response to detecting the first input;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, display contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activate an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continue to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

12. A multifunction device, comprising:

a display;

means for concurrently displaying one or more action icons and one or more folder icons on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

means for detecting a first input; and

means, responsive to detecting the first input, for;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activating an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continuing to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.

13. An information processing apparatus for use in a multifunction device with a display, comprising:

means for concurrently displaying one or more action icons and one or more folder icons on the display, wherein the multifunction device has a normal operation mode for activating applications and a user interface reconfiguration mode for rearranging the action icons and the folder icons on the display;

means for detecting a first input; and

means, responsive to detecting the first input, for;

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective folder icon of the one or more folder icons, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon without regard for whether the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode or the user interface reconfiguration mode; and

when the first input corresponds to a request to select a respective action icon of the one or more action icons;

when the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, activating an application associated with the respective action icon; and

,

when the multifunction device is in the user interface reconfiguration mode, continuing to display the respective action icon without activating the application associated with the respective action icon.