Edge gesture

• US 9,658,766 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Matthews, David A., Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Nan, Jennifer, Harris, Jensen, Sareen, Chaitanya Dev, Jarrett, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kujundzic, Dino
• Application Number:
  US13/118,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• 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

Abstract

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an edge gesture. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through an edge gesture that is easy-to-use and remember.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a single gesture has a start point at an edge of a first user interface or at a portion of an edge of a display shared with the edge of the first user interface and a later point not at the edge, the first user interface displaying an application;

determining a second user interface of multiple user interfaces to present based on the later point of the single gesture, the second user interface associated with the application, the second user interface enabling interaction with a plurality of controls of the application that are not enabled by the first user interface;

responsive to determining the second user interface to present, presenting the second user interface concurrently with the first user interface;

determining, based on a successive point of the single gesture and without receiving input other than the single gesture, that the single gesture extends past the later point; and

responsive to determining that the single gesture extends, causing presentation of a third user interface and ceasing presentation of the second user interface, the third user interface associated with the application, the third user interface enabling interaction with other controls of the application that are not enabled by the first user interface or the second user interface, the third user interface not enabling the interaction with the controls of the application that are enabled by the second user interface.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the edge is an edge of the first user interface, the first user interface presents visual media, the second user interface enables a first set of selections to control the visual media being played, and the third user interface enables a second set of selections to control the visual media being played.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 2, wherein presenting the second user interface presents the second user interface over the visual media and presenting the third user interface presents the third user interface over the visual media.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting the second user interface presents the second user interface over the first user interface, the second user interface is at least partially transparent, and the first user interface is at least partially visible.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presentation of the third user interface and ceasing presentation of the second user interface present the third user interface over the second user interface such that the second user interface is occluded.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the second user interface and the third user interface are opaque.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the second user interface and the third user interface are at least partially transparent.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining that the single gesture extends past the later point determines that the single gesture extends a preset distance past the later point.

9. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage memories having instructions thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising;

determine that a single gesture has a start point at an edge of a first user interface presented within a gesture-sensitive display or at a portion of an edge of the gesture-sensitive display shared with the edge of the first user interface and a later point not at the edge, the first user interface displaying an application;

cause, responsive to the determining, a second user interface to be presented over the first user interface, the second user interface associated with the application, the second user interface enabling user interaction with a plurality of controls of the application not enabled by the first user interface, at least part of the first user interface remaining visible;

determine, based on a successive point of the single gesture and without receiving input other than the single gesture, that the single gesture includes an extension; and

cause, responsive to determining that the single gesture includes the extension, presentation of a third user interface and ceasing presentation of the second user interface, the third user interface enabling interaction with other controls of the application that are not enabled by the first user interface or the second user interface, the third user interface not enabling the interaction with the controls of the application that are enabled by the second user interface.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the determination that the single gesture includes the extension includes a determination that the successive point of the single gesture extends a preset distance from the edge or the later point.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first user interface presents content for user consumption and the second user interface and the third user interface are at least partially transparent, thereby enabling user consumption of the content presented in the first user interface behind the second user interface or the third user interface.

12. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the presentation of the third user interface progressively as the single gesture is determined.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions are further configured to, following the presentation of the third user interface, receive a second successive point indicating a reversal in the single gesture and cause the presentation of the third user interface to cease to be presented.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a single gesture has a start point at an edge of a first user interface presented within a gesture-sensitive display or at a portion of an edge of the gesture-sensitive display shared with the edge of the first user interface and a later point not at the edge, the first user interface displaying an application;

responsive to the determining, causing presentation of a second user interface concurrently with the first user interface, the second user interface associated with the application, the second user interface enabling interaction with a plurality of controls of the application that are not enabled by the first user interface;

determining, based on a successive point of the single gesture and without receiving input other than the single gesture, that the single gesture extends a preset distance from the edge or the later point; and

responsive to determining that the single gesture extends, causing presentation of a third user interface and ceasing presentation of the second user interface, the third user interface associated with the application, the third user interface enabling interaction with other controls of the application that are not enabled by the first user interface or the second user interface, the third user interface not enabling the interaction with the controls of the application that are enabled by the second user interface.

15. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, wherein the preset distance is greater than an interface limit of the second user interface.

16. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, wherein the second user interface and the third user interface are presented over the first user interface, and, at least part of the first user interface remains visible.

17. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 16, wherein second user interface and the third user interface are at least partially transparent.

18. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, wherein causing the presentation of the third user interface is performed progressively as the single gesture is received.

19. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, further comprising, following causing the presentation of the third user interface, receiving a second successive point indicating a reversal in the single gesture and causing the presentation of the third user interface to cease to be presented.

20. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 14, wherein the third user interface is presented over the top of the first user interface.