Methods of manipulating a screen space of a display device

• US 7,595,810 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John
• Primary Examiner(s): GOOD JOHNSON, MOTILEWA
• Application Number:
  US11/387,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 345/650
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods to manipulate a screen space of a display device are disclosed. A plurality of application windows of a plurality of applications are displayed on a screen space. At least a first application and a second application are executing to display a plurality of windows. A user interface of system level applications maybe displayed. A selection of a single application mode is received. In response to the receiving of the selection of the single application mode, all the windows are removed automatically from the screen space, except for a first application window. At least the first and second applications continue being executed. The user interface of the system level applications may continue to be displayed. Next, a request to display a second application window is received. The second application window is displayed while the first application window is removed from the screen space.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications;

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, and displaying a second user interface to show user level applications, whose windows have been removed from the screen space and that are executing.

2. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the removing of the second set of windows includes continuing to execute the second set of user level applications and wherein live updates of the outputs of the second set of user level applications are presented in the first user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user interface includes a dock.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the dock includes a display of frequently used user level applications and user level applications that are being currently executed.

5. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the selected applications mode includes controlling a major portion of the screen space by one of the first set and the second set of user level applications.

6. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the switching is performed in response to receiving a selection of the selected applications mode.

7. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the removing of the second set of windows includes animating the removing of the second set of windows.

8. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications;

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows; and

displaying a second user interface to show user level applications, whose windows have been removed from the screen space, and are executing.

9. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the removing of the second set of windows includes continuing to execute the second set of user level applications and wherein live updates of the outputs of the second set of user level applications are presented in the first user interface.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein the first user interface includes a dock.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10, wherein the dock includes a display of frequently used user level applications and user level applications that are being currently executed.

12. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the selected applications mode includes controlling a major portion of the screen space by one of the first set and the second set of user level applications.

13. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the switching is performed in response to receiving a selection of the selected applications mode.

14. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible storage medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a first set of windows controlled by a first set of user level applications and a second set of windows controlled by a second set of user level applications, and a first user interface of a system level application on a screen space of a display device, wherein the first set of windows and the second set of windows are displayed in a multi-application mode that includes concurrently displaying application windows of a plurality of executing applications;

switching from the multi-application mode to a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the switching, the second set of windows from the screen space of the display device while leaving the first set of windows and the first user interface of the system level application displayed;

receiving a request to display the second set of user level applications; and

displaying, in response to the request, the second set of windows on the screen space of the display device while removing the first set of windows, wherein the removing of the second set of windows includes animating the removing of the second set of windows.

15. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space of the display device, wherein the selected applications mode includes controlling a major portion of the screen space by one set of applications.

16. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the second set of applications continues to execute after the removing all the windows, of the second set of applications, from the screen space, except for the windows of the first set of applications.

17. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the first set of applications continues to execute after the removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space and wherein live updates of the outputs of the first set of applications are presented in a first user interface located at an edge of the screen space.

18. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode;

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space and

displaying a first user interface to show applications, whose windows have been removed from the screen space.

19. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode;

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space and

marking the first set of applications to be displayed in the selected applications mode and marking the second set of applications to be displayed in the selected applications mode.

20. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the removing the all the windows of the second set of applications from the screen space includes animating the removal of all the windows, except for the one or more windows of the first set of applications.

21. A machine implemented method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode;

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space of the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space and

displaying a user interface of system level applications.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the selected applications mode includes controlling a major portion of the screen space by one set of applications.

23. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display he plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the second set of applications continues to execute after the removing all the windows, of the second set of applications, from the screen space, except for the one or more windows of the first set of applications.

24. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the first set of applications continues to execute after the removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space and wherein live updates of the outputs of the first set of applications are presented in a first user interface located at an edge of the screen space.

25. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode;

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space

displaying a first user interface to show applications, whose windows have been removed from the screen space.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

marking the first set of applications to be displayed in the selected applications mode and marking the second set of applications to be displayed in the selected applications mode.

27. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode; and

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while, removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space, wherein the removing of all of the windows of the second set of applications from the screen space includes animating the removal of all the windows, except for the one or more windows of the first set of applications.

28. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

displaying a plurality of windows on a screen space of a display device, wherein at least a first set of applications and a second set of applications are executing to display the plurality of windows;

receiving a selection of a selected applications mode;

removing, in response to the selection, all the windows from the screen space of the display device, except for one or more windows of the first set of applications;

receiving a request to display one or more windows of the second set of applications while in the selected applications mode;

displaying, in response to the request, the one or more windows of the second set of applications on the screen space o the display device while removing all the windows of the first set of applications from the screen space; and

displaying a user interface of system level applications.