Navigation methods, systems, and computer program products

• US 9,423,923 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, TOAN H
• Application Number:
  US14/924,680
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for navigating between visual components. A first visual component, of a first application in a plurality of applications, is detected in a first application region of a presentation space of a display device. A first navigation area is presented, in a first navigation region determined based on the first application region, for navigating to a second visual component, of a second application in the plurality, in a second application region in the presentation space. A user input corresponding to the first navigation area is detected. In response to the detected user input, navigation information is sent to navigate to the second visual component.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a device including at least one hardware processor operatively coupled to a display and memory, the memory storing a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application, the device configured to;

present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a first visual component of the first application in the plurality of applications, in a first application region of a presentation space of the display;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application;

in response to the detection of the first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a representation of a second visual component of the second application and a representation of a third visual component of a third application, in a first navigation region of the presentation space of the display determined based on the first application region, for navigating to the second visual component of the second application, in a second application region in the presentation space of the display, the first navigation region being determined based on the first application region by determining a first location adjacent to a second location of the first visual component;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications; and

in response to the detection of the second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first visual component includes a first window, the second visual component includes a second window, and the third visual component includes a third window;

the representation of the second window and the representation of the third window are elements of a menu;

the menu is presented outside of the first window;

the menu is moved as a function of a movement of the first window; and

the menu is re-sized as a function of a re-sizing of the first window;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu is hidden if the first window is maximized;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu is re-presented if the first window is returned to a non-maximized state.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a device including at least one hardware processor operatively coupled to a display and memory, the memory storing a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application, the device configured to;

present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a first visual component of the first application in the plurality of applications, in a first application region of a presentation space of the display;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application;

in response to the detection of the first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a representation of a second visual component of the second application and a representation of a third visual component of a third application, in a first navigation region of the presentation space of the display determined based on the first application region, for navigating to the second visual component of the second application, in a second application region in the presentation space of the display, the first navigation region being determined based on the first application region by determining a first location adjacent to a second location of the first visual component;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications; and

in response to the detection of the second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first visual component includes a first window, the second visual component includes a second window, and the third visual component includes a third window;

the representation of the second window and the representation of the third window are elements of a menu;

the menu is presented outside of the first window;

the menu is moved as a function of a movement of the first window; and

the menu is re-sized as a function of a re-sizing of the first window;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the elements of the menu are organized in a uniform grid of spaced, rectilinear elements.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a device including at least one hardware processor operatively coupled to a display and memory, the memory storing a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application, the device configured to;

present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a first visual component of the first application in the plurality of applications, in a first application region of a presentation space of the display;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application;

in response to the detection of the first user input in connection with the first visual component of the first application, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, a representation of a second visual component of the second application and a representation of a third visual component of a third application, in a first navigation region of the presentation space of the display determined based on the first application region, for navigating to the second visual component of the second application, in a second application region in the presentation space of the display, the first navigation region being determined based on the first application region by determining a first location adjacent to a second location of the first visual component;

detect, utilizing the at least one hardware processor, second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications; and

in response to the detection of the second user input in connection with the representation of the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications, present, utilizing the at least one hardware processor and the display, the second visual component of the second application in the plurality of applications;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first visual component includes a first window, the second visual component includes a second window, and the third visual component includes a third window;

the representation of the second window and the representation of the third window are elements of a menu;

the menu is presented outside of the first window;

the menu is moved as a function of a movement of the first window; and

the menu is re-sized as a function of a re-sizing of the first window;

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the elements of the menu are each presented based on a z-order attribute of a corresponding application.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured for communication with;

a display,

at least one input device, and

memory;

said apparatus configured to;

utilize the memory to store a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application;

utilize the display to display a first window of the first application of the plurality of applications;

utilize the at least one input device to receive first user input for at least one of moving or re-sizing the first window of the first application;

utilize the display to at least one of move or re-size the first window of the first application, in response to the first user input;

utilize the display to display a menu in a first location with respect to a location of the first window, if the first user input takes the form of a first input and is predetermined to cause menu display, where the menu in the first location is outside the first window and includes a plurality of elements corresponding to the plurality of applications that are operating except the first application;

utilize the display to display the menu in a second location with respect to the location of the first window, if the first user input takes the form of a second input and is predetermined to cause menu display, where the menu in the second location is outside the first window and includes the plurality of elements corresponding to the plurality of applications that are operating except the first application;

utilize the at least one input device to receive second user input on one of the plurality of elements of the menu corresponding to the second application;

utilize the display to display a second window of the second application of the plurality of applications, in response to the second user input;

utilize the at least one input device to receive third user input for at least one of moving or re-sizing the second window of the second application; and

utilize the display to at least one of move or re-size the second window of the second application, in response to the third user input.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu includes a group of spaced rectilinear elements each associated with a corresponding application.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu includes a group of spaced thumbnails each associated with a corresponding application.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the elements of the menu are each in an order that correlates with a z-attribute of a corresponding application.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu is hidden in response to the first window being maximized, and re-displayed in response to the first window being returned to a non-maximized state.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first window consumes part of a presentation space of the display and permits user interaction with visual components in the first window, when the first window is returned to the non-maximized state.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the menu is conditionally displayed based on whether the first user input involves a top of the first window and a particular location of a presentation space of the display.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

the menu includes a group of spaced rectilinear elements each associated with a corresponding application;

the elements of the menu are each in an order that correlates with a z-attribute of a corresponding application;

the menu is hidden in response to the first window being maximized, and re-displayed in response to the first window being returned to a non-maximized state;

the menu is conditionally displayed based on whether the first user input involves a top of the first window and a particular location of a presentation space of the display; and

the at least one of the moving or the re-sizing of the first window includes the moving and the re-sizing of the first window.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu in the first location or the second location permits a user to conveniently enter the second user input on the one of the plurality of elements of the menu corresponding to the second application for selection purposes, instead of requiring location of the second window among a clutter of different windows and instead of requiring use of a desktop taskbar.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu in the first location or the second location based on whether the first user input includes the first input or the second input permits a user to enter the second user input on the one of the plurality of elements of the menu corresponding to the second application for selection purposes, without having to access the second window among different overlapping windows and without having to use a desktop taskbar.

14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one of the moving or the re-sizing of the first window includes the moving and the re-sizing of the first window.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least one aspect of the menu is moved and re-sized in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is based on the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, and such allows a user to display the second window via user interaction in an area that is more convenient than an area in which a desktop taskbar resides.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, in order to allow a user to display the second window via user interaction that requires fewer discrete inputs than a desktop taskbar requires.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, and such requires less user interaction than a desktop taskbar requires.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, to provide a more conveniently-located user interaction than a desktop taskbar provides.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, in order to permit more intuitive user interaction in connection with the second user input than a desktop taskbar permits.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, in order to avoid a repetition of same user movements that are otherwise required by a desktop taskbar.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the display of the menu is in response to the moving and the re-sizing of the first window, in order to allow a user to display the second window via user interaction that requires only a single user input after the menu is displayed regardless as to whether multiple windows are operating in connection with a single application.

23. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second window is displayed at least partially adjacent to the first window for at least partial simultaneous review of the first window and the second window.

24. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least one of:

said processor includes an instruction processing unit;

said memory includes at least one of processor memory, or persistent secondary memory;

said display includes at least part of a touchscreen;

said at least one input device includes at least part of a touchscreen;

said display is utilized for the at least one of the moving or re-sizing the first window by displaying the moving or the re-sizing of the first window;

said apparatus is configured to avoid a requirement of a repetition of same or similar types of inputs;

said apparatus is configured to avoid a requirement of a repetition of same or similar user movements;

said first user input precedes the second user input;

said apparatus is configured to avoid use of a standard menu of a desktop;

said apparatus is configured to avoid use of a taskbar of a desktop;

said apparatus is configured to avoid access to a single location of a desktop;

said apparatus is configured for switching between the applications;

said first input indicates that the menu is to be displayed in the first location;

said second input indicates that the menu is to be displayed in the second location;

said first user input includes a selection input and a dragging input, where the first input and the second input involve the dragging input;

said menu is displayed based on a previously-displayed menu;

said menu is displayed before the first user input;

said menu is only displayed after the first user input;

said menu is at least of moved or re-sized in response to the first user input;

said menu is at least of moved or re-sized in response to the third user input;

said menu in the first location and the menu in the second location are different instances of the same menu;

said at least one of move or re-size the second window includes moving and re-sizing the second window;

said at least one of move or re-size the second window includes only re-sizing the second window;

said first location is adjacent to a first border of the first window;

said menu takes the form of a child visual component of the first window if the first user input takes the form of the second input;

said first user input only includes the first input and therefore the menu is only displayed in the first location;

said first user input only includes the second input and therefore the menu is only displayed in the second location;

said third user input is of a same type as the first user input;

said display of the second window includes navigating thereto;

said apparatus is operable for displaying a third window in response to fourth user input on another one of the plurality of elements of the menu corresponding to a third application;

or

said receipt of each user input includes detection of a user touch.

25. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

utilize the display to display the menu in a third location with respect to a location of the second window, if the third user input takes the form of a third input and is predetermined to cause menu display, where the menu in the third location is outside the second window; and

utilize the display to display the menu in a fourth location with respect to the location of the second window, if the third user input takes the form of a fourth input and is predetermined to cause menu display, where the menu in the fourth location is outside the second window.

26. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that each of the elements of the menu includes a particular window of a corresponding application and an icon that identifies the corresponding application.

27. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that each of the elements of the menu includes a thumbnail of a corresponding application and an icon that identifies the corresponding application.

28. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first location and the second location are positioned on opposite sides of the first window.

29. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first user input is predetermined to cause menu display if the first user input involves a top of the first window and a particular location of a presentation space of the display.

30. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

the menu includes a group of spaced rectilinear elements each associated with a corresponding application;

the elements of the menu are each in an order that correlates with a z-attribute of a corresponding application;

the menu is hidden in response to the first window being maximized, and re-displayed in response to the first window being subject to additional user input on a top of the first window and a particular location of a presentation space of the display;

the menu is conditionally displayed based on whether the first user input involves a top of the first window and a particular location of a presentation space of the display; and

the at least one of the moving or the re-sizing of the first window includes the moving and the re-sizing of the first window.

31. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

the first window and the second window are each displayed in a presentation space of the display via a first virtual presentation space of the presentation space of the display, which includes a single display;

the apparatus further capable of including;

a second virtual presentation space of the presentation space of the single display that is capable of including at least one of the first window, the second window, or a third window, and

a third virtual presentation space of the presentation space of the single display that is capable of including at least one of the first window, the second window, or a fourth window;

the first virtual presentation space, the second virtual presentation space, and the third virtual presentation space of the presentation space of the single display each capable of including different menu versions that differ with respect to application-specific visual elements included therewith.