Method and apparatus for operating user interface and recording medium using the same

• US 9,557,886 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Bamford, Drew, Shotel, Micah
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhargava, Anil
• Application Number:
  US14/574,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for operating a user interface, and a recording medium using the same are provided. First, a plurality of user interfaces is provided and one of them is displayed on a touch screen of a portable electronic device. Then, the touch screen is used for detecting a touch signal. When the touch signal is moved toward a first direction, the currently displayed user interface is switched to another one. When the touch signal is moved toward a second direction, an item of the currently displayed user interface is switched to another item. Accordingly, a more intuitive and convenient manner for operating the user interface is provided for the user.

Claims

1. A method for operating among a plurality of user interfaces comprising a first user interface and a second user interface wherein the first user interface comprises an email function and the second user interface comprises a contact function, configured for a portable electronic device with a touch screen, and the method comprising:

displaying the first user interface comprising the email function on the touch screen and displaying a first email item and a content of the first email item in the first user interface;

detecting a first touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the first touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction;

switching the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising the contact function and displaying a first contact item comprising contact information in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen, wherein the contact information comprises a name and an image of the contact;

detecting a second touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the second touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

switching from the first contact item to display a second contact item comprising contact information in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a third touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the third touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction; and

switching the second user interface comprising the contact function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function in response to the third touch signal detected by the touch screen;

displaying a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the contact function.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an item icon bar on a second margin of the touch screen, wherein the item icon bar comprises a plurality of item icons respectively corresponding to each of the items in the currently displayed user interface.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

moving the item icon bar toward the second direction when the touch signal is moved toward the second direction.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the process of displaying the item icon bar on the second margin of the user interface comprises:

displaying a magnified item icon corresponding to the currently displayed item in the currently displayed user interface in the item icon bar.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the representational icon bar substantially toward the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the representational icon bar toward a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of displaying the representational icon bar on the first margin of the touch screen comprises:

displaying a magnified representational icon corresponding to the currently displayed user interface in the representational icon bar.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is left or right and the second direction is up or down.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of detecting the touch signal by the touch screen further comprises:

determining whether a displacement of the touch signal exceeds a preset value; and

switching to the first or the second user interface when the displacement exceeds the preset value.

10. An apparatus for operating a user interface, comprising:

a touch screen, configured to detect a touch signal;

a user interface display module, configured to display one of a plurality of user interfaces on the touch screen, wherein the plurality of user interfaces comprises a first user interface and a second user interface, wherein the first user interface comprises an email function and the second user interface comprises a contact function;

a switch module, configured to directly switch between the first and the second user interface according to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen and to directly switch between email items displayed in the first user interface or contact items displayed in the second user interface according to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen, wherein the displayed email item comprises a content of the email, and wherein the displayed contact item comprises contact information comprising a name and an image of the contact,

wherein when the touch screen detects the first touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction, the switch module switches the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising the contact function and displays a first contact item in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen, when the touch screen detects the second touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the switching module switches from the first contact item to display a second contact item in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen, and when the touch screen detects a third touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction, the switch module switches the second user interface comprising the contact function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function; and

a representational icon bar display module, configured to display a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the contact function.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

an item icon bar display module, configured to display an item icon bar on a second margin of the touch screen, wherein the item icon bar comprises a plurality of item icons respectively corresponding to each of the items in the user interface.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the representational icon bar is displayed in an orientation substantially parallel to the first direction and the item icon bar is displayed in an orientation substantially parallel to the second direction.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the item icon bar display module is further configure to display a magnified item icon corresponding to the currently displayed item in the currently displayed user interface in the item icon bar.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the switch module is further configured to:

move the representational icon bar substantially toward the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the switch module is further configured to:

move the representational icon bar toward a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the representational icon bar display module is further configure to display a magnified representational icon corresponding to the currently displayed user interface in the representational icon bar.

17. A non-transitory recording medium for recording a computer program, the computer program comprising a plurality of program codes configured to be loaded into a portable electronic device to enable the portable electronic device to perform a method of operating a user interface comprising the steps of:

displaying the first user interface comprising an email function on the touch screen and displaying a first email item and a content of the first email item in the first user interface;

detecting a first touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the first touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction;

switching the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising a contact function and displaying a first contact item comprising contact information in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen, wherein the contact information comprises a name and an image of the contact;

detecting a second touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the second touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

switching from the first contact item to display a second contact item comprising contact information in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a third touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the third touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction; and

switching the second user interface comprising the contact function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function in response to the third touch signal detected by the touch screen; and

displaying a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the contact function.

18. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 17, further comprising:

displaying an item icon bar on a second margin of the touch screen, wherein the item icon bar comprises a plurality of item icons respectively corresponding to each of the items in the currently displayed user interface.

19. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 17, further comprising:

moving the representational icon bar substantially toward the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

20. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 17, further comprising:

moving the representational icon bar toward a direction substantially opposite to the first direction, when the user interface is switched from the first user interface to the second user interface in response to the first touch signal that is the touch and slide motion signal or the touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along the first direction.

21. A method for operating among a plurality of user interfaces comprising a first user interface and a second user interface wherein the first user interface comprises an email function and the second user interface comprises a message function, configured for a portable electronic device with a touch screen, and the method comprising:

displaying the first user interface comprising the email function on the touch screen and displaying a first email item and a content of the first email item in the first user interface;

detecting a first touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the first touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction;

switching the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising the message function and displaying a first message item comprising a content of the first message item in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a second touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the second touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

switching from the first message item to display a second message item comprising a content of the second message item in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a third touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the third touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction; and

switching the second user interface comprising the message function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function in response to the third touch signal detected by the touch screen;

displaying a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the message function.

22. An apparatus for operating a user interface, comprising:

a touch screen, configured to detect a touch signal;

a user interface display module, configured to display one of a plurality of user interfaces on the touch screen, wherein the plurality of user interfaces comprises a first user interface and a second user interface, wherein the first user interface comprises an email function and the second user interface comprises a message function;

a switch module, configured to directly switch between the first and the second user interface according to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen and to directly switch between email items displayed in the first user interface or message items displayed in the second user interface according to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen, wherein the displayed email item comprises a content of the email, and wherein the displayed message item comprises a content of the message item,

wherein when the touch screen detects the first touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction, the switch module switches the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising the message function and displays a first message item in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen, when the touch screen detects the second touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the switching module switches from the first message item to display a second message item in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen, and when the touch screen detects a third touch signal which is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction, the switch module switches the second user interface comprising the message function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function; and

a representational icon bar display module, configured to display a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the message function.

23. A non-transitory recording medium for recording a computer program, the computer program comprising a plurality of program codes configured to be loaded into a portable electronic device to enable the portable electronic device to perform a method of operating a user interface comprising the steps of:

displaying the first user interface comprising an email function on the touch screen and displaying a first email item and a content of the first email item in the first user interface;

detecting a first touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the first touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a first direction;

switching the first user interface comprising the email function directly to the second user interface comprising a message function and displaying a first message item comprising a content of the first message item in the second user interface in response to the first touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a second touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the second touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

switching from the first message item to display a second contact item comprising a content of the second message item in the second user interface in response to the second touch signal detected by the touch screen;

detecting a third touch signal by the touch screen, wherein the third touch signal is a touch and slide motion signal or a touch and drag motion signal on the touch screen along a third direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction; and

switching the second user interface comprising the message function directly to the first user interface comprising the email function in response to the third touch signal detected by the touch screen; and

displaying a representational icon bar on a first margin of the touch screen, wherein the representational icon bar comprises a plurality of representational icons respectively corresponding to each of the user interfaces including the first user interface comprising the email function and the second user interface comprising the message function.