Storage system user interface with floating file collection

• US 9,507,791 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunn, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): DRAGOESCU, CLAUDIA B
• Application Number:
  US14/302,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• 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 3/0484 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A method includes outputting for display a first view representing a first plurality of objects stored in a first folder of a hierarchical storage system and receiving one or more selection inputs that designate one or more objects from the plurality of objects as selected objects. The method also includes outputting for display a floating interface element representing the selected objects and receiving a navigation input identifying a second folder of the hierarchical storage system. The method also includes executing, in response to the navigation input, a view transition that removes the first view from display and outputs, for display, a second view representing a second plurality of objects stored in the second folder, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects remains displayed during the view transition.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

outputting, by one or more processors and for display, a first view representing a first plurality of objects stored in a first folder of a hierarchical storage system;

receiving, by the one or more processors, one or more selection inputs that designate one or more objects from the plurality of objects as selected objects;

determining, by the one or more processors, when the one or more selection inputs comprise a gesture input at a predetermined velocity in a predetermined direction;

outputting, by the one or more processors and for display, a floating interface element representing the selected objects in response to the one or more selection inputs being determined to comprise the gesture input at the predetermined velocity in the predetermined direction, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects is superimposed over the first view, comprises a scaled-down visual representation of the selected objects, and is movable in response to a positioning input;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a navigation input identifying a second folder of the hierarchical storage system; and

executing, by the one or more processors and in response to the navigation input, a view transition that removes the first view from display and outputs, for display, a second view representing a second plurality of objects stored in the second folder, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects remains displayed during the view transition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first view is scrollable relative to the floating interface element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation input comprises a gesture input of a predetermined shape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the view transition is an animated transition from the first view to the second view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the view transition removes the first view from display by translating the first view out of a display area in correspondence to a gesture input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the view transition outputs the second view for display by translating the second view into a display area in correspondence to a gesture input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the view transition removes the first view from display by translating the first view out of a display area and simultaneously translating the second view into the display area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the view transition removes the first view from display by translating the first view out of a display area and simultaneously translating the second view into the display area in correspondence to a gesture input.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors and while the second view is output for display, an object move input that causes the selected objects to be removed from the first folder and stored in the second folder.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, by the one or more processors and for display, a path indicator interface element comprising a graphical indication of the first folder or the second folder in relation to associated parent folders in the hierarchical storage system.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including program instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

outputting, for display, a first view representing a first plurality of objects stored in a first folder of a hierarchical storage system;

receiving one or more selection inputs that designate one or more objects from the plurality of objects as selected objects;

determining when the one or more selection inputs comprise a gesture input at a predetermined velocity in a predetermined direction;

outputting, for display, a floating interface element representing the selected objects in response to the one or more selection inputs being determined to comprise the gesture input at the predetermined velocity in the predetermined direction, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects is superimposed over the first view, comprises a scaled-down visual representation of the selected objects, and is movable in response to a positioning input;

receiving a navigation input identifying a second folder of the hierarchical storage system; and

executing, in response to the navigation input, a view transition that removes the first view from display and outputs, for display, a second view representing a second plurality of objects stored in the second folder, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects remains displayed during the view transition.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first view is scrollable relative to the floating interface element.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the view transition removes the first view from display by translating the first view out of a display area and simultaneously translating the second view into the display area in correspondence to a gesture input.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, while the second view is output for display, an object move input that causes the selected objects to be removed from the first folder and stored in the second folder.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising:

outputting, for display, a path indicator interface element comprising a graphical indication of the first folder or the second folder in relation to associated parent folders in the hierarchical storage system.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices for storing program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

output, for display, a first view representing a first plurality of objects stored in a first folder of a hierarchical storage system;

receive one or more selection inputs that designate one or more objects from the plurality of objects as selected objects;

determine when the one or more selection inputs comprise a gesture input at a predetermined velocity in a predetermined direction;

output, for display, a floating interface element representing the selected objects in response to the one or more selection inputs being determined to comprise the gesture input at the predetermined velocity in the predetermined direction, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects is superimposed over the first view, comprises a scaled-down visual representation of the selected objects, and is movable in response to a positioning input;

receive a navigation input identifying a second folder of the hierarchical storage system; and

execute, in response to the navigation input, a view transition that removes the first view from display and outputs, for display, a second view representing a second plurality of objects stored in the second folder, wherein the floating interface element representing the selected objects remains displayed during the view transition.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first view is scrollable relative to the floating interface element.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the view transition removes the first view from display by translating the first view out of a display area and simultaneously translating the second view into the display area in correspondence to a gesture input.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, while the second view is output for display, an object move input that causes the selected objects to be removed from the first folder and stored in the second folder.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

output, for display, a path indicator interface element comprising a graphical indication of the first folder or the second folder in relation to associated parent folders in the hierarchical storage system.