Graphical user interface methods, systems, and computer program products

• US 9,423,954 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US14/924,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20160048289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• 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 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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 3/0486 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods, computer software, apparatuses, and systems are described in connection with a mobile device including at least one processor operatively coupled to a touchscreen and memory. The memory stores a first application and a second application. The mobile device is configured for: presenting, utilizing the touchscreen, at least one menu including a plurality of interface elements including a first application interface element associated with the first application and a second application interface element associated with the second application; detecting, utilizing the touchscreen, a first user input in connection with the first application interface element associated with the first application; in response to the first user input, presenting, utilizing the touchscreen, a first visual component for presenting first data associated with the first application; detecting, utilizing the touchscreen, a second user input in connection with the second application interface element associated with the second application; in response to the second user input, presenting, utilizing the touchscreen, a second visual component for presenting second data associated with the second application, such that a first border of the first visual component corresponds to a second border of the second visual component; detecting, utilizing the touchscreen, a third user input; and in response to the third user input, automatically changing, utilizing the at least one processor and the touchscreen, the presentation of the first visual component and the second visual component, such that the first border of the first visual component corresponds to the second border of the second visual component.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured for coupling with a display, memory, and at least one input device and further configured for;

storage of a first application, a second application, and a third application, utilizing the memory;

detection of a first user input, utilizing the at least one input device;

in response to the first user input, presentation of, utilizing the display, a plurality of reduced windows that do not visually overlap each other, the plurality of reduced windows including a second application reduced window associated with the second application and a third application reduced window associated with the third application which are both presented exterior to a first window associated with the first application without visual overlap between the first window and the plurality of reduced windows;

detection of a second user input in connection with the second application reduced window associated with the second application, utilizing the at least one input device;

in response to the second user input in connection with the second application reduced window associated with the second application, presentation of, utilizing the display, a second window associated with the second application for presenting second data associated with the second application, adjacent to the first window associated with the first application;

detection of a third user input, utilizing the at least one input device; and

in response to the third user input, change of, utilizing the display, the presentation of the first window and the second window, such that a first size of the first window and a second size of the second window are both changed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the plurality of reduced windows are organized in at least one row of thumbnails that are presented in a desktop space exterior to the first window.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first user input is in connection with a first application reduced window associated with the first application.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first user input includes a dragging and dropping in connection with the first window that results in a change in a size and a location of the first window.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a location of the plurality of reduced windows is based on the dragging and dropping in connection with the first window.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first user input includes a dragging in connection with the first window that results in a change in a size and a location of the first window, where the first user input is capable of being received utilizing the at least one input device that includes a mouse pointer input device, and a touchscreen input device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the reduced windows do not include a first application reduced window associated with the first application after the first window is presented, and the reduced windows do not include the second application reduced window associated with the second application after the second window is presented.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the plurality of reduced windows including the second application reduced window associated with the second application and the third application reduced window associated with the third application, are selected for presentation adjacent to the first window associated with the first application based on whether the second application and the third application are operating.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause:

detection of a fourth user input in connection with the second window associated with the second application, utilizing the at least one input device;

in response to the fourth user input in connection with the second window associated with the second application, presentation of, utilizing the display, at least a portion of the plurality of reduced windows including the third application reduced window associated with the third application, adjacent to the first window and the second window;

detection of a fifth user input in connection with the third application reduced window associated with the third application, utilizing the at least one input device;

in response to the fifth user input in connection with the third application reduced window associated with the third application, presentation of, utilizing the display, a third window associated with the third application for presenting third data associated with the third application, adjacent to the first window and the second window;

detection of a sixth user input, utilizing the at least one input device; and

in response to the sixth user input, change, utilizing the display, the presentation of the third window, such that at least one of the first size of the first window or the second size of the second window is changed with a third size of the third window.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one input device and the display take the form of a touchscreen, and the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input include different touch inputs utilizing the touchscreen;

and, until the first user input is detected, a maximum amount of a presentation space of the touchscreen capable of being used to present windows, is used for the first window, after which the presentation space of the touchscreen is split between two portions one of which is used for the first window.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

the first user input includes a dragging in connection with the first window that results in a change in a size and a location of the first window;

the plurality of reduced windows are spaced in available space of a desktop exterior to the first window at a location that is based on the dragging and dropping in connection with the first window; and

the second application reduced window associated with the second application is a first sized representation that is enlarged to a second sized representation in connection with the presentation of the second window.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

the reduced windows include application window thumbnails that are presented in a desktop space exterior to the first window in response to the first user input which includes a dragging and dropping in connection with the first window that results in a change in a size and a location of the first window in connection with the presentation thereof;

the application window thumbnails move in response to movement of the first window by a user, and are re-sized in response to re-sizing of the first window by the user, so that the application window thumbnails are located and sized to facilitate a selection thereof for user-configurable simultaneous presentation of multiple windows;

the second user input includes a selection of the second application reduced window;

the first application and the second application are operating before the first user input, the second user input, and the third user input are detected;

the first size of the first window and the second size of the second window are symmetric in response to the second user input and asymmetric in response to the third user input, such that the first window and the second window are non-overlapping; and

in response to a fourth user input, a third window is presented so as to overlie only some of the first window and the second window, such that;

the third window has a first z-value that is different from a second z-value of the first window and the second window, in response to the fourth user input;

the first size of the first window and the second size of the second window are changed, in response to the fourth user input; and

the third window is given input focus, in response to the fourth user input.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first z-value and the input focus of the third window facilitate user-configurable binding of the third window with respect to at least one of the first window or the second window.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured for coupling with memory and a touchscreen, and further configured for;

storage of a plurality of applications including a first application, a second application, and a third application, utilizing the memory, the applications including a first program component and a second program component;

detection of a first user input;

in response to the first user input, presentation of, utilizing the touchscreen, a first window associated with the first program component including at least one user interface element;

detection of a second user input in connection with the at least one user interface element of the first window;

in response to the second user input in connection with the at least one user interface element of the first window, creation of a second window associated with the second program component and presentation thereof, utilizing the touchscreen, adjacent to and not overlapping with respect to the first window, for presenting, in the second window, data associated with the at least one user interface element of the first window;

detection of a third user input; and

in response to the third user input, change, utilizing the touchscreen, the presentation of the first window and the second window, such that a first size of the first window and a second size of the second window are both changed, and the second window remains adjacent to and not overlapping with respect to the first window.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first program component and the second program component are components of different applications.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first window is presented simultaneously and without overlap with a plurality of reduced windows that are organized and do not overlap each other, the plurality of reduced windows including a second application reduced window associated with the second application and a third application reduced window associated with the third application, for being selected for causing presentation via the second window in lieu of the data associated with the at least one user interface element of the first window.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

in response to a fourth user input, a third window is presented so as to overlie only some of the first window and the second window, utilizing the touchscreen, such that;

the third window has a first z-value that is different from a second z-value of the first window and the second window, in response to the fourth user input;

the third window is given input focus, in response to the fourth user input; and

the first size of the first window and the second size of the second window are changed, in response to the fourth user input; and

in response to a fifth user input in the form of a dragging and dropping in connection with the third window, presentation of, utilizing the touchscreen, the third window associated with the third application in place of at least one of the first window or the second window.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the fourth user input includes a selection of at least one other user interface element of the first window.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured for coupling with memory and a display and further configured for;

storage of a first application, a second application, and a third application, utilizing the memory;

detection of a first user input in the form of a dragging and dropping;

in response to the first user input in the form of the dragging and dropping, presentation of, utilizing the display and in a desktop space, a plurality of window representations that are positioned in at least one row and do not overlap each other, the plurality of window representations being associated with only operating applications except the first application, and including a second application window representation associated with the second application and a third application window representation associated with the third application both exterior to a first window associated with the first application that is presented without overlap between the first window and the plurality of window representations;

detection of a second user input in the form of a dragging and dropping in connection with the first window associated with the first application;

in response to the second user input in the form of the dragging and dropping in connection with the first window associated with the first application, changing both a first location of the first window and a second location of the plurality of window representations, such that the plurality of window representations do not overlap each other and are positioned in at least one row exterior to the first window;

detection of a third user input in connection with the second application window representation associated with the second application;

in response to the third user input in connection with the second application window representation associated with the second application, presentation of, utilizing the display, a second window associated with the second application adjacent to the first window associated with the first application such that the first window and the second window do not overlap;

detection of a fourth user input;

in response to the fourth user input, changing the presentation of the first window and the second window, such that a first size of the first window and a second size of the second window are both changed;

detection of a fifth user input;

in response to the fifth user input, presentation of a third window so as to overlie only some of the first window and only some of the second window, utilizing the display, such that;

the third window has a first z-value that is different from a second z-value of the first window and the second window, in response to the fifth user input, and

the third window is given input focus, in response to the fifth user input;

detection of a sixth user input in the form of a dragging and dropping in connection with the third window; and

in response to the sixth user input in the form of the dragging and dropping in connection with the third window, presentation of, utilizing the display, the third window in place of at least one of the first window or the second window.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further configured such that the first size of the first window and the second size of the second window are changed, in response to the fifth user input.