User interface for initiating activities in an electronic device
First Claim
1. A method for initiating activities in an electronic device, comprising:
- displaying, on a touch-sensitive display screen, a user interface for a first activity;
detecting a user-entered gesture on the touch-sensitive display screen, the user-entered gesture comprising a command for invoking a launcher interface, the gesture further comprising a point of contact indicating a position along a first axis and a position along a second axis;
responsive to the detected gesture;
displaying a launcher interface at a location on the screen corresponding to the indicated position along the first axis, the launcher interface comprising a plurality of user-activatable items, each user-activatable item corresponding to an activity; and
highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the indicated position along the second axis;
detecting additional user input on the touch-sensitive display screen;
responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the first axis, moving the launcher interface to a location on the screen corresponding to the changed position along the first axis;
responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the second axis, highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the changed position along the second axis; and
responsive to the additional user input indicating activation of the highlighted user-activatable item;
initiating an activity corresponding to the highlighted user-activatable item; and
dismissing the launcher interface.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a user interface is presented for initiating activities in an electronic device. The user interface includes an element referred to as a “launch wave”, which can be activated at substantially any time, even if the user is engaged with an activity, without requiring the user to first return to a home screen. In various embodiments, the user can activate the launch wave by performing a gesture, or by pressing a physical button, or by tapping at a particular location on a touchscreen, or by activating a keyboard command. In one embodiment, activation of the launch wave and selection of an item from the launch wave can be performed in one continuous operation on a touch-sensitive screen, so as to improve the expediency and convenience of launching applications and other items.
57 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for initiating activities in an electronic device, comprising:
-
displaying, on a touch-sensitive display screen, a user interface for a first activity; detecting a user-entered gesture on the touch-sensitive display screen, the user-entered gesture comprising a command for invoking a launcher interface, the gesture further comprising a point of contact indicating a position along a first axis and a position along a second axis; responsive to the detected gesture; displaying a launcher interface at a location on the screen corresponding to the indicated position along the first axis, the launcher interface comprising a plurality of user-activatable items, each user-activatable item corresponding to an activity; and highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the indicated position along the second axis; detecting additional user input on the touch-sensitive display screen; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the first axis, moving the launcher interface to a location on the screen corresponding to the changed position along the first axis; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the second axis, highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the changed position along the second axis; and responsive to the additional user input indicating activation of the highlighted user-activatable item; initiating an activity corresponding to the highlighted user-activatable item; and dismissing the launcher interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for initiating activities in an electronic device, comprising:
-
displaying, on a touch-sensitive display screen, a user interface for a first activity; detecting a user-entered gesture on the touch-sensitive display screen, the user-entered gesture comprising a command for invoking a launcher interface, the gesture further comprising a point of contact indicating a position along a first axis and a position along a second axis; responsive to the detected gesture; displaying a launcher interface at a location on the screen corresponding to the indicated position along the first axis, the launcher interface comprising a plurality of user-activatable items, each user-activatable item corresponding to an activity; and highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the indicated position along the second axis; detecting additional user input on the touch-sensitive display screen; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the first axis, moving the launcher interface to a location on the screen corresponding to the changed position along the first axis; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the second axis, highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the changed position along the second axis; responsive to the additional user input comprising removal of the point of contact while a user-activatable item is highlighted; initiating an activity corresponding to the highlighted user-activatable item; and dismissing the launcher interface; and responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to an edge of the screen; dismissing the launcher interface.
-
-
19. A computer program product for initiating activities in an electronic device, comprising:
-
a computer-readable storage medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, for causing a processor to perform the steps of; displaying, on a touch-sensitive display screen, a user interface for a first activity; detecting a user-entered gesture on the touch-sensitive display screen, the user-entered gesture comprising a command for invoking a launcher interface, the gesture further comprising a point of contact indicating a position along a first axis and a position along a second axis; responsive to the detected gesture; displaying a launcher interface at a location on the screen corresponding to the indicated position along the first axis, the launcher interface comprising a plurality of user-activatable items, each user-activatable item corresponding to an activity; and highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the indicated position along the second axis; detecting additional user input on the touch-sensitive display screen; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the first axis, moving the launcher interface to a location on the screen corresponding to the changed position along the first axis; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the second axis, highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the changed position along the second axis; and responsive to the additional user input indicating activation of the highlighted user-activatable item; initiating an activity corresponding to the highlighted user-activatable item; and dismissing the launcher interface.
-
-
20. A system for initiating activities in an electronic device, comprising:
-
a touch-sensitive display screen, for; displaying a user interface for a first activity; detecting a user-entered gesture on the touch-sensitive display screen, the user-entered gesture comprising a command for invoking a launcher interface, the gesture further comprising a point of contact indicating a position along a first axis and a position along a second axis; responsive to the detected gesture; displaying a launcher interface at a location on the screen corresponding to the indicated position along the first axis, the launcher interface comprising a plurality of user-activatable items, each user-activatable item corresponding to an activity; and highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the indicated position along the second axis; detecting additional user input on the touch-sensitive display screen; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the first axis, moving the launcher interface to a location on the screen corresponding to the changed position along the first axis; responsive to the additional user input comprising movement of the point of contact to change the position along the second axis, highlighting a user-activatable item corresponding to the changed position along the second axis; and responsive to the additional user input indicating activation of the highlighted user-activatable item, dismissing the launcher interface; and a processor, coupled to the touch-sensitive display screen, for, responsive to the additional user input indicating activation of the highlighted user-activatable item, initiating an activity corresponding to the highlighted user-activatable item.
-
Specification