Multi-layer user interface with flexible parallel movement

Abstract

A user interface (UI) system calculates movements in a multi-layer graphical user interface. The UI system receives user input corresponding to gestures on a touchscreen. The UI system calculates a movement of a first layer in a first direction (e.g., a horizontal direction) at a first movement rate. The UI system calculates a movement of a second layer substantially parallel to the movement of the first layer, at a second movement rate that differs from the first movement rate. The UI system calculates a movement (e.g., a vertical movement) in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, in a UI element of one of the layers.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . One or more computer-readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface comprising:
 a first layer having a plurality of text items or icons; and 
 a second layer substantially parallel to the first layer and having one or more text items describing the plurality of text items or icons in the first layer; 
   receiving a user input corresponding to a user interaction with the graphical user interface; and   animating a movement of both the first layer and the second layer in response to the user input, wherein the first layer and the second layer move at different speeds in a same direction.   
     
     
         22 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 21 , wherein the first layer and the second layer have a hierarchical relationship, and wherein the one or more text items in the second layer are categories describing the plurality of text items or icons in the first layer. 
     
     
         23 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more text items in the second layer are displayed in one of a single row or a single column. 
     
     
         24 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 21 , wherein the speed of the first layer is greater than the speed of the second layer. 
     
     
         25 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 21 , wherein a difference in speed between the movement of the first layer and the second layer is proportional to a difference between an extent of the plurality of text items or icons in the first layer and an extent of the text items in the second layer. 
     
     
         26 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 21 , wherein the user interaction with the graphical user interface is a gesture on a touchscreen, the gesture having a gesture movement rate. 
     
     
         27 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 26 , wherein the speed of the first layer corresponds to the gesture movement rate. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of text items or icons in the first layer represent at least one of music files, video files, documents, games, photos, images, contacts, messages, or applications. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second layer comprises two or more text items, and wherein the two or more text items describe respective subsets of the plurality of text items or icons in the first layer. 
     
     
         30 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface comprising:
 a content item layer having at least one of an icon or text representing a respective plurality of content items; and 
 a text layer substantially parallel to the content item layer and having one or more text items describing the plurality of content items; 
   receiving a user input corresponding to a gesture on a touchscreen, the gesture having a gesture movement rate; and   animating a movement of both the content item layer and the text layer in response to the user input, wherein the content item layer and the text layer move at different speeds in a same direction.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more text items in the second layer are content item categories displayed in one of a single row or a single column. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the speed of the content item layer is greater than the speed of the text layer by an amount proportional to a difference between an extent of the icons or text representing the plurality of content items in the content item layer and an extent of the one or more text items in the text layer. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the user interaction with the graphical user interface is a gesture on a touchscreen, the gesture having a gesture movement rate. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the speed of the first layer corresponds to the gesture movement rate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of content items includes at least one of a music file, a video file, a document, a game, a photo, an image, a contact, a message, or an application. 
     
     
         36 . A computing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer memory storing computer-executable instructions, that, when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising:
 displaying a graphical user interface comprising:
 a content item layer having at least one of an icon or text representing a respective plurality of content items; and 
 a text layer substantially parallel to the content item layer and having two or more text categories describing respective subsets of the plurality of content items; 
 receiving a user input corresponding to a user interaction with the graphical user interface; and 
 animating a movement of both the content item layer and the text layer in response to the user input, wherein the content item layer and the text layer move at different speeds in a same direction. 
 
   
     
     
         37 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of content items includes at least one of a music file, a video file, a document, a game, a photo, an image, a contact, a message, or an application. 
     
     
         38 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the user interaction with the graphical user interface is a gesture on a touchscreen. 
     
     
         39 . The computing device of  claim 38 , wherein the computing device is a mobile device, and further comprising the touchscreen. 
     
     
         40 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the computing device is part of a video game system.