Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing folders

• US 8,423,911 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, DAEHO D
• Application Number:
  US12/888,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 715/838, 715/764, 715/765
• 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 application 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 application 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 application icon of the one or more application icons;

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

,

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

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

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

in response to detecting selection of the respective application icon;

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

,

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

3. The device of claim 1 wherein, when the multifunction device is in the user reconfiguration mode, one or more of the application icons includes a deletion region for deleting the application 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 application 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 application 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 application 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 application icon on the display.

9. A method comprising:

at a multifunction device with a display;

concurrently displaying one or more application 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 application 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 application icon of the one or more application icons;

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

,

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

10. The method of claim 9 wherein, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon includes displaying a plurality of application icons, and the method further includes:

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

in response to detecting selection of the respective application icon;

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

,

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

11. The method of claim 9 wherein, when the multifunction device is in the user reconfiguration mode, one or more of the application icons includes a deletion region for deleting the application icon, while none of the folder icons include a deletion region for deleting the folder icon.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein:

while the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, a function of a respective application 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 application icon is prevented from being used to activate the respective application.

13. The method of claim 9, 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 method includes, 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.

14. The method of claim 9, 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.

15. The method of claim 9, 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.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first input corresponds to a request to select the respective application 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 application icon on the display.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, 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.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, 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.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first input corresponds to a request to select the respective application 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 application icon on the display.

17. 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 application icons and one or more folder icons

wherein;

the one or more application 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 application 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 application icon of the one or more application icons;

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

,

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

18. A non-transitory 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 application 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 application 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 application icon of the one or more application icons;

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

,

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

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein, displaying contents of a folder associated with the respective folder icon includes displaying a plurality of application icons, and the one or more programs include instructions which cause the device to:

detect selection of a respective application icon in the plurality of application icons; and

in response to detecting selection of the respective application icon;

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

,

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

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein, when the multifunction device is in the user reconfiguration mode, one or more of the application icons includes a deletion region for deleting the application icon, while none of the folder icons include a deletion region for deleting the folder icon.

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

while the multifunction device is in the normal operation mode, a function of a respective application 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 application icon is prevented from being used to activate the respective application.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, 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 which cause the device to, while remaining in user reconfiguration mode;

display contents of a folder;

detect a second input; and

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