Swiping functions for messaging applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11226724-B2
Application number	US-202016983721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2020
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

This application relates to performing organizational tasks using a variety of physical operations in a message application. The physical operations can include swiping actions performed by the user of the message application. By performing certain types of swipes on a user interface of the message application, the user can more readily organize messages stored by the message application. The types of swipes can include full swipes, which can execute one or more functions on a message, and partial swipes, which can open up a menu that includes multiple buttons for executing various operations on the message being swiped. Additionally, the direction of the swipe can also determine the functions and operations to be performed on the message being swiped.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display;
a touch-sensitive surface;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying messages in a user interface;
detecting a swipe across a respective message in the user interface;
in accordance with a determination that a distance of the swipe satisfies an option threshold:
displaying a plurality of option buttons on the user interface including at least one configurable option button and at least one non-configurable option button, wherein selection of the at least one configurable option button performs a first function corresponding to the respective message and selection of the at least one non-configurable option button performs a second function corresponding to the respective message different from the first function; and

subsequent to displaying the plurality of option buttons and in accordance with a determination that the distance of the swipe satisfies a function threshold:
ceasing to display the plurality of option buttons on the user interface, and
performing the second function corresponding to the respective message.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when the swipe is performed in a left direction and an ending point of the swipe causes a side of the message to move past the option threshold and the function threshold:
performing the function that is a left designated function, wherein the left designated function is a message organizing function configured to be performed when swipe is toward the left direction.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
displaying, during the swipe, a different status image adjacent to a side of the message, before and after the side of the message moves past the option threshold and the function threshold.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when an ending point of the swipe causes a side of the message to move toward the option threshold without passing the option threshold:
designating the option threshold to be on a left side of the function threshold when a user is performing a right swipe; and
designating the option threshold to be on a right side of the function threshold when the user is performing a left swipe.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
determining a direction of the swipe;
when the swipe is in a right direction and the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than a function threshold:
marking the message as unread; and

when the swipe is in a left direction and the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the function threshold:
moving the message to a trash folder.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when a final distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the option threshold:
causing at least part of the message to remain static on the user interface until a user touches the user interface or a button on the device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the function threshold and an end point of the swipe is between an origin of the swipe and the option threshold:
causing the message to return to an original position.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying messages in a user interface;
detecting a swipe across a respective message in the user interface;
in accordance with a determination that a distance of the swipe satisfies an option threshold:
displaying a plurality of option buttons on the user interface including at least one configurable option button and at least one non-configurable option button, wherein selection of the at least one configurable option button performs a first function corresponding to the respective message and selection of the at least one non-configurable option button performs a second function corresponding to the respective message different from the first function; and

subsequent to displaying the plurality of option buttons and in accordance with a determination that the distance of the swipe satisfies a function threshold:
ceasing to display the plurality of option buttons on the user interface, and
performing the second function corresponding to the respective message.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when the swipe is performed in a left direction and an ending point of the swipe causes a side of the message to move past the option threshold and the function threshold:
performing the function that is a left designated function, wherein the left designated function is a message organizing function configured to be performed when swipe is toward the left direction.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
displaying, during the swipe, a different status image adjacent to a side of the message, before and after the side of the message moves past the option threshold and the function threshold.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when an ending point of the swipe causes a side of the message to move toward the option threshold without passing the option threshold:
designating the option threshold to be on a left side of the function threshold when a user is performing a right swipe; and

designating the option threshold to be on a right side of the function threshold when the user is performing a left swipe.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
determining a direction of the swipe;
when the swipe is in a right direction and the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than a function threshold:
marking the message as unread; and

when the swipe is in a left direction and the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the function threshold:
moving the message to a trash folder.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when a final distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the option threshold:
causing at least part of the message to remain static on the user interface until a user touches the user interface or a button on the device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
when the distance of the swipe is equal to or greater than the function threshold and an end point of the swipe is between an origin of the swipe and the option threshold:
causing the message to return to an original position.

15. A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface:
displaying messages in a user interface;
detecting a swipe across a respective message in the user interface;

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Jisrawi Mohammed N
• Baray Cristobal
• Lemay Stephen O
• Jon Tiffany S
• Karunamuni Chanaka G
• Yang Lawrence Y

Classifications

• G06F3/04817 Primary

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• H04L51/42

  Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes · CPC title

• H04L51/214

  using selective forwarding · CPC title

• H04L51/046

  Interoperability with other network applications or services · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title