System and method for organizing icons for applications on a mobile device

• US 8,601,370 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chiang, Hui Yu, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine, Mujkic, Alen, Rojas Ealo, Jose Jose, Paas, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuu, Henry
• Application Number:
  US11/669,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,498 Days
• Field of Search: 715/747, 715/446, 715/811, 345/589
• US Class Current: 715/700
• 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: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A method for moving icons on a display of a mobile device, either on the display or into a folder is provided. When an icon has been selected to be moved, its appearance is altered with respect to the other icons so as to provide a visual cue to the user regarding the move and the altered icon is overlaid on the other icons as it moves thereover. The icon may be displayed with a move cursor indicating where the icon will be placed if the current position is selected. A method is also provided for creating new folders on the display using a dialog box that is configured to enable a name and icon for the folder to be chosen and/or selected. Default names and folder icons may be used and alternative icons may also be presented in the dialog box to enable a preview of the choices.

Claims

1. A method for moving an icon on a display of a computing device between a plurality of folder views, each said plurality of folder views displaying the contents of a respective folder on said display, said method comprising:

providing one or more application icons on said display in a current folder view, and at least one other icon being either a folder icon configured to enable movement into a corresponding folder view or an escape icon configured to enable movement out of said current folder view;

enabling a focus to be placed on a first icon in said current folder view using a positioning device, said first icon being one of said plurality of icons;

upon receiving a first input for selecting said first icon, displaying a menu within said current folder view and enabling selection of a move option from said menu;

upon receiving a second input selecting said move option from said menu, returning to said current folder view by removing said menu from said display, providing a visual cue associated with said first icon to indicate that said move option has been selected for said first icon, and then enabling movement of said first icon on said display within said current folder view using said positioning device;

upon the first icon overlaying a second icon, said second icon being one of said at least one other icon, visually distinguishing from a move relative to said one or more application icons by changing said visual cue to indicate that a third input will cause said first icon to be moved into or out of said current folder view; and

upon receiving said third input;

if said second icon is said folder icon, moving said first icon into said corresponding folder view, and updating said display to show the contents of said corresponding folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said corresponding folder view to a desired location; and

if said second icon is said escape icon, moving said first icon out of said current folder view, and updating said display to show the contents of said corresponding folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said corresponding folder view to a desired location.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said method further comprises updating said display to show the contents of another folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said another folder view to said desired location.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said folder icon and said method further comprises placing focus on said folder icon upon receiving said third input.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said method further comprises placing focus on said escape icon upon receiving said third input.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing said visual cue to indicate that the move option has been selected for said first icon comprises altering the appearance of said first icon with respect to the others of said plurality of icons.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein upon receiving said second input, said method comprises locking the position of said others of said plurality of icons.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein upon receiving said second input, said method comprises lowering the hue of said others of said icons with respect to said first icon.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said altering the appearance of said first icon comprises displaying an altered icon configured to be smaller in size than said first icon and configured to be overlaid on said others of said plurality of icons during movement thereof.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein said altering the appearance of said one of said plurality of icons comprises displaying a move cursor therewith, said move cursor configured to indicate a predefined position for placing said first icon.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said move cursor is positioned to the left of said first icon on said display and said predefined position is before said second icon.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said plurality of icons is arranged in a grid on said display and said predefined position is to the left of said second icon.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein if said second icon is said folder icon, said method comprises displaying a bounding box surrounding said first icon and said folder icon.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein if said second icon is said folder icon, overlaying an addition symbol on said folder icon.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of icons is arranged in a column along one direction on said display and upon receiving said second input, displaying a pair of move arrows with said first icon indicating permissible movement directions.

16. A mobile device comprising a display configured to display a plurality of folder views, one or more input mechanisms, a positioning device and a processor configured for causing said mobile device to perform the method of claim 1.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions for moving an icon on a display of a computing device between a plurality of folder views, each said plurality of folder views displaying the contents of a respective folder on said display, said computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

providing one or more application icons on said display in a current folder view, and at least one other icon being either a folder icon configured to enable movement into a corresponding folder view or an escape icon configured to enable movement out of said current folder view;

enabling a focus to be placed on a first icon in said current folder view using a positioning device, said first icon being one of said plurality of icons;

upon receiving a first input for selecting said first icon, displaying a menu within said current folder view and enabling selection of a move option from said menu;

upon receiving a second input selecting said move option from said menu, returning to said current folder view by removing said menu from said display, providing a visual cue associated with said first icon to indicate that said move option has been selected for said first icon, and then enabling movement of said first icon on said display within said current folder view using said positioning device;

upon the first icon overlaying a second icon, said second icon being one of said at least one other icon, visually distinguishing from a move relative to said one or more application icons by changing said visual cue to indicate that a third input will cause said first icon to be moved into or out of said current folder view; and

upon receiving said third input;

if said second icon is said folder icon, moving said first icon into said corresponding folder view, and updating said display to show the contents of said corresponding folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said corresponding folder view to a desired location; and

if said second icon is said escape icon, moving said first icon out of said current folder view, and updating said display to show the contents of said corresponding folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said corresponding folder view to a desired location.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions for updating said display to show the contents of another folder view while continuing to enable said first icon to be moved within said another folder view to said desired location.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein said second icon is said folder icon and said computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions for placing focus on said folder icon upon receiving said third input.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein said second icon is said escape icon and said computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions for placing focus on said escape icon upon receiving said third input.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein providing said visual cue to indicate that the move option has been selected for said first icon comprises altering the appearance of said first icon with respect to the others of said plurality of icons.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20 wherein upon receiving said second input, said computer readable storage medium comprises instructions for locking the position of said others of said plurality of icons.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20 wherein upon receiving said second input, said computer readable storage medium comprises instructions for lowering the hue of said others of said icons with respect to said first icon.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20 wherein said altering the appearance of said first icon comprises displaying an altered icon configured to be smaller in size than said first icon and configured to be overlaid on said others of said plurality of icons during movement thereof.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20 wherein said altering the appearance of said one of said plurality of icons comprises displaying a move cursor therewith, said move cursor configured to indicate a predefined position for placing said first icon.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 wherein said move cursor is positioned to the left of said first icon on said display and said predefined position is before said second icon.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 wherein said plurality of icons is arranged in a grid on said display and said predefined position is to the left of said second icon.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein said computer readable storage medium comprises instructions such that if said second icon is said folder icon, instructions are executed for displaying a bounding box surrounding said first icon and said folder icon.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein if said second icon is said folder icon, said computer readable storage medium executes instructions for overlaying an addition symbol on said folder icon.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of icons is arranged in a column along one direction on said display and upon receiving said second input, said computer readable storage medium executes instructions for displaying a pair of move arrows with said first icon indicating permissible movement directions.