Method and device for managing a user interface

• US 9,459,760 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Weng, Haibin, Wang, Bin, Liu, Daokuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yongjia
• Application Number:
  US14/076,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140143696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

This disclosure discloses a method and device for managing a user interface. The user interface can display one of a multiple of layers, which may share one or more same icons of available application programs. Users can change the layer being displayed on the user interface through performing a simple touch gesture on the touch screen, thereby quickly finding out a set of application programs needed to use currently. Thus, users'"'"' operations are simplified.

Claims

1. A method for managing a user interface, comprising:

detecting a touch on a touch screen;

determining whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface;

activating the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs,

wherein the predetermined touch gesture is an application program deleting gesture and the operation comprises determining the type of the layer being displayed on the user interface; and

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is an extended layer, the method further comprising;

displaying a prompt of deletion mode, receiving a user selection, and deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface, or uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from each layer(s) according to the user selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer changing gesture and the operation comprising a step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate layers on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting a layer from the list of candidate layers; and

displaying the layer selected by the user on the user interface.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining a subsequent layer of the layer being displayed on the user interface according to a preset order; and

displaying the subsequent layer on the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple of layers comprise a basic layer and extended layers, and wherein the basic layer comprises icons of all the application programs, and each of the extended layers comprises icons of application programs in the same categories.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer locking gesture and the operation comprising a step of locking a layer being displayed on the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined application program adding gesture and the operation comprising a step of adding an icon of an application program to a layer being displayed on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of adding the icon of the application program to the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate application programs on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting one or more application programs from the list of candidate application programs; and

,

adding the icon of the application program selected by the user to the layer being displayed on the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer editing gesture and the operation comprising a step of receiving an edit instruction inputted by a user in an editing state and performing an edit operation to a layer in response to the editing instruction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the editing operation comprises at least one or more options for adding an extended layer, deleting an extended layer, merging two or more extended layers, changing the name of an extended layer, changing the background of an extended layer and changing the icon style of an application program in an extended layer.

11. A device for managing a user interface, comprising:

one or more processors;

a touch screen coupled to the one or more processors;

a memory coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

detect a touch on a touch screen;

determine whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface;

activate the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs,

wherein the predetermined touch gesture is an application program deleting gesture and the operation comprises determining the type of the layer being displayed on the user interface; and

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is an extended layer, the one or more processors are further configured to;

display a prompt of deletion mode, receive a user selection, and delete the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface, or uninstall the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from each layer(s) according to the user selection.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer changing gesture and the operation comprising a step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate layers on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting a layer from the list of candidate layers; and

displaying the layer selected by the user on the user interface.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the step of changing the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

determining a subsequent layer of the layer being displayed on the user interface according to a preset order; and

displaying the subsequent layer on the user interface.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the multiple of layers comprises a basic layer and extended layers, and wherein the basic layer comprises icons of all the application programs, and each of the extended layers comprises icons of application programs in the same categories.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer locking gesture and the operation comprising a step of locking a layer being displayed on the user interface.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined application program adding gesture and the operation comprising a step of adding an icon of an application program to a layer being displayed on the user interface.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the step of adding the icon of the application program to the layer being displayed on the user interface comprises:

displaying a list of candidate application programs on the user interface;

receiving a user choice for selecting one or more application programs from the list of candidate application programs; and

,

adding the icon of the application program selected by the user to the layer being displayed on the user interface.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is a predetermined layer editing gesture and the operation comprising a step of receiving an edit instruction inputted by a user in the editing state and performing an edit operation to a layer in response to the editing instruction.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the editing operation comprises at least one or more options for adding an extended layer, deleting an extended layer, merging two or more extended layers, changing the name of an extended layer, changing the background of an extended layer and changing the icon style of an application program in an extended layer.

21. A nonvolatile non-transitory computer readable medium having one or more programs stored therein, which can, when it or they is/are applied to a device with a touch screen, let the device perform instructions in the following steps:

detecting a touch on a touch screen;

determining whether or not the touch matches a predetermined touch gesture, wherein the predetermined touch gesture is configured to activate an operation to a layer being displayed on the user interface;

activating the operation to the layer being displayed on the user interface if the touch matches the predetermined touch gesture,

wherein the layer being displayed on the user interface is one of a multiple of layers, which are allowed to share one or more same icons of available application programs;

wherein the predetermined touch gesture is an application program deleting gesture and the operation comprises determining the type of the layer being displayed on the user interface; and

if the layer being displayed on the user interface is an extended layer, the device further perform instructions in the following steps;

displaying a prompt of deletion mode, receiving a user selection, and deleting the icon of the application program corresponding to the touch from the extended layer being displayed on the user interface, or uninstalling the application program corresponding to the touch and deleting the icon(s) of the application program corresponding to the touch from each layer(s) according to the user selection.