Device, method, and graphical user interface for navigating through a hierarchy

• US 9,483,175 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wagner, Oliver P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien T
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMSEY, PATRICK RANDAL
• Application Number:
  US12/843,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 715/782, 715/828, 715/848
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A multifunction device displays a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface. The hierarchical user interface has a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels. In response to detecting a first input, the device displays a view of at least one of the lower levels and at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level. While displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, the device detects a second input. When the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level, the device enters the content modification mode for the respective lower level and ceases to display the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

Claims

1. A multifunction device, comprising:

a display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detecting a second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

entering the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed; and

concurrently displaying a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, and

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display another one of the lower levels of the hierarchical user interface;

displaying a view of another respective lower level while concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

2. The device of claim 1, including instructions for, when the second input corresponds to a selection of the predefined portion of the view of the top level:

ceasing to display view of the respective lower level and

redisplaying the view of the top level.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels includes:

displaying an animation of the view of the top level moving backwards into the display; and

displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels in front of the view of the top level so as to partially cover the view of the top level while still displaying an edge of the view of the top level.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the edge of the view of the top level is displayed in accordance with:

a simulated three-dimensional arrangement of the views of the hierarchical user interface along a simulated z-axis of the display; and

a simulated viewpoint from which the simulated three-dimensional arrangement is viewed.

5. The device of claim 1, including instructions for, after entering the content modification mode:

detecting a third input that corresponds to a request to leave the content modification mode; and

, in response to detecting the third input;

leaving the content modification mode and

redisplaying the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels in response to detecting the first input entirely occludes display of the top level except for the predefined portion of the top level, and

moving the respective lower level when the second input corresponds to the request to enter the content modification mode for the respective lower level entirely occludes display of the top level.

7. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a display;

displaying a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detecting a second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

entering the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed; and

concurrently displaying a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, and

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display at least another one of the lower levels of the hierarchical user interface;

displaying a view of another respective lower level while concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

8. The method of claim 7, including, when the second input corresponds to a selection of the predefined portion of the view of the top level:

ceasing to display view of the respective lower level and

redisplaying the view of the top level.

9. The method of claim 7, including, after entering the content modification mode:

detecting a third input that corresponds to a request to leave the content modification mode; and

,

in response to detecting the third input;

leaving the content modification mode and

redisplaying the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels includes:

displaying an animation of the view of the top level moving backwards into the display; and

displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels in front of the view of the top level so as to partially cover the view of the top level while still displaying an edge of the view of the top level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the edge of the view of the top level is displayed in accordance with:

a simulated three-dimensional arrangement of the views of the hierarchical user interface along a simulated z-axis of the display; and

a simulated viewpoint from which the simulated three-dimensional arrangement is viewed.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels in response to detecting the first input entirely occludes display of the top level except for the predefined portion of the top level, and

moving the respective lower level when the second input corresponds to the request to enter the content modification mode for the respective lower level entirely occludes display of the top level.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a display, cause the device to:

display a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, display a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detect a second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

enter the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

move the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed; and

concurrently display a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, and

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display at least another one of the lower levels of the hierarchical user interface;

displaying a view of another respective lower level while concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, including instructions which, when executed by the device cause the device to, when the second input corresponds to a selection of the predefined portion of the view of the top level:

cease to display view of the respective lower level and redisplay the view of the top level.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions that cause the device to display the view of at least one of the lower levels include instructions that cause the device to:

display an animation of the view of the top level moving backwards into the display; and

display the view of at least one of the lower levels in front of the view of the top level so as to partially cover the view of the top level while still displaying an edge of the view of the top level.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the edge of the view of the top level is displayed in accordance with:

a simulated three-dimensional arrangement of the views of the hierarchical user interface along a simulated z-axis of the display; and

a simulated viewpoint from which the simulated three-dimensional arrangement is viewed.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, including instructions that cause the device to, after entering the content modification mode:

detect a third input that corresponds to a request to leave the content modification mode; and

,

in response to detecting the third input;

leave the content modification mode and

redisplay the predefined portion of the view of the top level.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

displaying the view of at least one of the lower levels in response to detecting the first input entirely occludes display of the top level except for the predefined portion of the top level, and

moving the respective lower level when the second input corresponds to the request to enter the content modification mode for the respective lower level entirely occludes display of the top level.

19. A multifunction device, comprising:

a display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying-at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detecting a second input; and

when the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

entering the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed; and

concurrently displaying a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, wherein moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed includes concurrently;

displaying an animation of the view of the respective lower level moving in a predefined direction on the display so as to cover the predefined portion of the view of the top level; and

displaying an animation of the soft keyboard moving into a region of the display that was previously occupied by the view of the respective lower level.

20. A method, comprising:

at a multifunction device with a display;

displaying a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detecting a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying-at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detecting a second input; and

when the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

entering the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed;

; and

concurrently displaying a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, wherein moving the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed includes concurrently;

displaying an animation of the view of the respective lower level moving in a predefined direction on the display so as to cover the predefined portion of the view of the top level; and

displaying an animation of the soft keyboard moving into a region of the display that was previously occupied by the view of the respective lower level.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a multifunction device with a display, cause the device to:

display a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface on the display, the hierarchical user interface having a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels;

detect a first input;

in response to detecting the first input, display a view of at least one of the lower levels while concurrently displaying at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level;

while displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, detect a second input; and

when the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level;

enter the content modification mode for the respective lower level;

move the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed;

; and

concurrently display a soft keyboard for text input with the respective lower level, wherein the instructions that cause the device to move the respective lower level to occlude display of the predefined portion of the view of the top level such that the predefined portion of the view of the top level is no longer displayed include instructions that cause the device to concurrently;

display an animation of the view of the respective lower level moving in a predefined direction on the display so as to cover the predefined portion of the view of the top level; and

display an animation of the soft keyboard moving into a region of the display that was previously occupied by the view of the respective lower level.