User interface for application interface manipulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11614845-B2
Application number	US-201715783267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2007
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

Selection of visualization objects, such as applications windows, is performed by determining a position of a system object. A graphical representation of a system object can be positioned over a display area of an application interface. The application interface is preeminently displayed in response to a graphical representation of system object being positioned over a corresponding display area of the application interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
at an electronic device in communication with a display and one or more input devices:
displaying, via the display, a user interface including:
a first user interface element,
a second user interface element, wherein the second user interface element is at least partially obscuring the first user interface element,
a dock displayed separately from the first user interface element and the second user interface element, wherein the dock includes a plurality of icons corresponding to respective applications, and
an icon;

while displaying the user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input moving the icon to a respective location within the dock; and
in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first user interface element is associated with a first application program,
the second user interface element is associated with a second application program,
the plurality of icons includes a first icon that corresponds to a third application program, and
the input moves the icon over a location of the first icon.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock:
in accordance with a determination that the third application program is not executing, launching the third application program.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock, displaying, via the display, an interface of an application corresponding to the icon.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element comprises scaling the second user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element comprises:
displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element in response to the icon being within the dock for a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dock is disposed on an edge of the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dock further includes a second plurality of icons corresponding to respective system objects.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock comprises moving the icon from a location outside of the dock to a location within the dock.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a processor of an electronic device in communication with a display and one or more input devices, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
displaying, via the display, a user interface including:
a first user interface element,
a second user interface element, wherein the second user interface element is at least partially obscuring the first user interface element,
a dock displayed separately from the first user interface element and the second user interface element, wherein the dock includes a plurality of icons corresponding to respective applications, and
an icon;

while displaying the user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input moving the icon to a respective location within the dock; and
in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein:
the first user interface element is associated with a first application program,
the second user interface element is associated with a second application program,
the plurality of icons includes a first icon that corresponds to a third application program, and
the input moves the icon over a location of the first icon.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , the processor of the electronic device further configured to perform operations comprising, in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock:
in accordance with a determination that the third application program is not executing, launching the third application program.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , the processor of the electronic device further configured to perform operations comprising:
in response to the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock, displaying, via the display, an interface of an application corresponding to the icon.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element comprises scaling the second user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element comprises:
displaying, via the display, the first user interface element such that the first user interface element is not obscured by the second user interface element in response to the icon being within the dock for a predetermined period of time.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the dock is disposed on an edge of the user interface.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the dock further includes a second plurality of icons corresponding to respective system objects.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the input moving the icon to the respective location within the dock comprises moving the icon from a location outside of the dock to a location within the dock.

19. A system comprising:
a display;
one or more input devices;
an electronic device in communication with the display and the one or more input devices; and
a processor of the electronic device configured to perform operations comprising:
displaying, via the display, a user interface including:
a first user interface element,
a second user interface element, wherein the second user interface element is at least partially obscuring the first user interface element,
a dock displayed separately from the first user interface element and the second user interface element, wherein the dock includes a plurality of icons corresponding to respective applications, and
an icon;

while displaying the user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input moving the icon to a respective location within the dock; and
in response to the input moving the icon to the

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hynes Christopher J
• Louch John
• Ording Bas
• Bumgarner Timothy Wayne
• Peyton Eric Steven

Classifications

• G06F2203/04803

  Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  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 title