Method for operating user interface and recording medium for storing program applying the same

• US 9,411,496 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Kao, Yih-Feng, Liu, Te-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hegarty, Kelly B
• Application Number:
  US13/935,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for operating a user interface and a recording medium for storing a program applying the same are provided. The method includes following steps. First, a touch generated by touching a touch display using an input tool is detected. Then, whether or not the touch is generated on a specific area of the touch display is determined. Next, whether the position of the touch is changed is determined if the touch is generated on the specific area. The user interface is activated or switched if the position of the touch is changed. Accordingly, a more convenient and intuitive method for operating the user interface is provided and the convenience in using the electronic device is increased.

Claims

1. An user interface switching method for an electronic device having a touch display having a display area, comprising:

displaying a first user interface, which has a plurality of finger-touchable icons, by the touch display, wherein each of the finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch on the touch display;

determining whether the touch is generated on a non-display area of the touch display close to an edge of the touch display;

determining whether the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed along a surface of the touch display;

in response to the touch generated on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display and that the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed along the surface of the touch display, dragging a second user interface, which has at least one event notification, out from a display edge of the touch display and replacing the first user interface by the second user interface on the entire display area of the touch display;

displaying the second user interface by the touch display;

detecting another touch on the touch display;

determining whether the position of the another touch on the touch display is changed along the surface of the touch display; and

closing the second user interface in response to the position of the another touch on the touch display that is changed along the surface of the touch display and then displaying the first user interface by the touch display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch;

determining whether the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of calculating the moving distance of the touch further comprises:

calculating the moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event notification is associated with a personal schedule.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event notification is associated with an unread message.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second user interface further has a time or a date.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input tool comprises a finger or a stylus.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which stores a program for executing following steps:

displaying a first user interface, which has a plurality of finger-touchable icons, by a touch display having a display area, wherein each of the finger-touchable icons is corresponding to an application program;

detecting a touch on the touch display;

determining whether the touch is generated on a non-display area of the touch display close to an edge of the touch display;

determining whether the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed along the surface of the touch display;

in response to the touch generated on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display and that the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed along the surface of the touch display, dragging a second user interface, which has at least one event notification, out from a display edge of the touch display and replacing the first user interface by the second user interface on the entire display area of the touch display;

displaying the second user interface by the touch display;

detecting another touch on the touch display;

determining whether the position of the another touch on the touch display is changed; and

closing the second user interface in response to the position of the another touch on the touch display that is changed along the surface of the touch display and then displaying the first user interface by the touch display.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the touch;

determining whether the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the touch on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the step of calculating the moving distance of the touch further comprises:

calculating the moving distance of the touch within a predetermined time.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the event notification is associated with a personal schedule.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the event notification is associated with an unread message.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the second user interface further has a time or a date.

14. An user interface switching method for an electronic device having a touch display, which has a display area and a non-display area close to an edge of the touch display, comprising:

displaying a first user interface, which has a plurality of finger-touchable icons, by the touch display, wherein each of the finger-touchable icons is corresponding to a first application program;

determining whether or not a touch is generated on the non-display area of the touch display close to the edge of the touch display; and

in response to the touch generated on the non-display area close to the edge of the touch display, switching the first user interface, which has the plurality of finger-touchable icons, to a second user interface, which has at least one screenshot miniature of a second application program, to display the second user interface in the entire display area of the touch display.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

detecting another touch on the touch display;

determining whether the position of the another touch on the touch display is changed; and

closing the second user interface in response to the position of the another touch on the touch display that is changed and then displaying the first user interface by the touch display.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the position of the another touch on the touch display is changed further comprises:

calculating a moving distance of the another touch;

determining whether the moving distance is greater than a predetermined value; and

determining that the position of the another touch on the touch display is changed if the moving distance is greater than the predetermined value.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the display area and the non-display area close to the edge of the touch display are located on the same surface.