Multi-dimensional object rearrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12443329-B2
Application number	US-202318239021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2023
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A method includes displaying a plurality of application icons for launching application programs, where the application icons occupy respective locations on a hexagonal grid and are arranged in a first configuration. An input that corresponds to a request to move the first application icon from a first location to a respective location, different from the first location, is detected. In response to the input, the display of the plurality of application icons is transitioned from the first configuration to a second configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display device;
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, via the display device, a plurality of application icons for launching application programs, wherein the application icons occupy respective locations on a hexagonal grid and are arranged in a first configuration including:
a first application icon at a first location on the hexagonal grid;
a second application icon at a second location on the hexagonal grid, different from the first location; and
a third application icon at a third location on the hexagonal grid, different from the first location and the second location, wherein the third location is adjacent to the first location and the second location;

while displaying the plurality of application icons arranged in the first configuration, detecting, via one or more input devices, an input that corresponds to a request to move the first application icon from the first location to a respective location, different from the first location; and
in response to the input:
moving the first application icon from the first location to the respective location; and
transitioning the display of the plurality of application icons from the first configuration to a second configuration, including:
moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon from the second location to a fourth location, different from the second location, wherein moving the second application icon around the perimeter includes moving the second application icon horizontally and vertically; and
maintaining the third application icon at the third location.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon includes moving the second application icon counterclockwise around the third application icon.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first location is on a first row and a first diagonal linear arrangement of the hexagonal grid; and
the second location is on a second row, parallel to the first row, and a second diagonal linear arrangement, parallel to the first diagonal linear arrangement.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon includes:
moving the second application icon from the second row to a third row, parallel to the second row; and
moving the second application icon from the second diagonal linear arrangement to a third diagonal linear arrangement, parallel to the second diagonal linear arrangement.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the third application icon includes a set of a respective number of application icons that occupy the respective number of locations, wherein the locations of the respective number of locations are adjacent to the third location of the third application icon.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein:
the third location of the third application icon is in a fourth row and a fourth diagonal linear arrangement;
a fourth application icon of the set of the respective number of application icons occupies a fifth location that is in a fifth row, parallel to the fourth row; and
a fifth application icon of the set of the respective number application icons occupies a sixth location that is in a fifth diagonal linear arrangement, parallel to the fourth diagonal linear arrangement.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first configuration includes a sixth application icon at a seventh location, different from the first location, the second location, and the third location; and
transitioning the display of the plurality of application icons from the first configuration to the second configuration further includes:
moving the sixth application icon around the perimeter of the third application icon from the seventh location to an eighth location, different from the seventh location.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the respective location corresponds to the second location; and
the fourth location corresponds to the first location.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the third location of the third application icon is an origin of the hexagonal grid.

10. 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 device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying, via the display device, a plurality of application icons for launching application programs, wherein the application icons occupy respective locations on a hexagonal grid and are arranged in a first configuration including:
a first application icon at a first location on the hexagonal grid;
a second application icon at a second location on the hexagonal grid, different from the first location; and
a third application icon at a third location on the hexagonal grid, different from the first location and the second location, wherein the third location is adjacent to the first location and the second location;

while displaying the plurality of application icons arranged in the first configuration, detecting, via one or more input devices, an input that corresponds to a request to move the first application icon from the first location to a respective location, different from the first location; and
in response to the input:
moving the first application icon from the first location to the respective location; and
transitioning the display of the plurality of application icons from the first configuration to a second configuration, including:
moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon from the second location to a fourth location, different from the second location, wherein moving the second application icon around the perimeter includes moving the second application icon horizontally and vertically; and
maintaining the third application icon at the third location.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon includes moving the second application icon counterclockwise around the third application icon.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein:
the first location is on a first row and a first diagonal linear arrangement of the hexagonal grid; and
the second location is on a second row, parallel to the first row, and a second diagonal linear arrangement, parallel to the first diagonal linear arrangement.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein moving the second application icon around a perimeter of the third application icon includes:
moving the second application icon from the second row to a third row, parallel to the second row; and
moving the second application icon from the second diagonal linear arrangement to a third diagonal linear arrangement, parallel to the second diagonal linear arrangement.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the perimeter of the third application icon includes a set of a respective number of application icons that occupy the respective number of locations, wherein the locations of the respective number of locations are adjacent to the third location of the third application icon.

15. The non-transit

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Kocienda Kenneth
• Karunamuni Chanaka G
• Butcher Gary Ian
• Chaudhri Imran
• Edwards Dylan Ross
• Guzman Aurelio
• Ive Jonathan P

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04817 Primary

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