Card metaphor for activities in a computing device

Abstract

In various embodiments, a card metaphor is established, in which each activity can be represented within an area of the screen referred to as a card. In various embodiments, any of several display modes are available for viewing, interacting with, manipulating, initiating, and dismissing cards. A persistent positional relationship can be established among cards, represented by a one-dimensional sequence. Newly opened cards are generally placed at the end of the sequence, although a new card that bears a relationship to an already open card may, in some embodiments, be placed adjacent to the already open card. In various embodiments, cards may be grouped, with such groups being represented as stacks of cards or by other visually distinctive means.

1 . A computing device, comprising:
 a display;   a processor; and   a memory storing one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to:
 present, in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, a plurality of graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device; and 
 dismiss a selected one of the graphical elements based on a user input. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a swipe gesture originating on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected one of the graphical elements. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a dragging or flicking action. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the dragging or flicking action is in an upward direction off the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 move one or more of the non-selected graphical elements within the grid arrangement to fill a vacancy left by the dismissed graphical element.   
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions to present the plurality of graphical elements causes the computing device to scale at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of graphical elements are presented in a grid mode. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device including a display, cause the computing device to:
 present, in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, a plurality of graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device; and   dismiss a selected one of the graphical elements based on a user input.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a swipe gesture originating on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected one of the graphical elements. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a dragging or flicking action. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the dragging or flicking action is in an upward direction off the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 move one or more of the non-selected graphical elements within the grid arrangement to fill a vacancy left by the dismissed graphical element.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein execution of the instructions to present the plurality of graphical elements causes the computing device to scale at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of graphical elements are presented in a grid mode. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         27 . A method of operating a computing device including a display, the method performed by a processor of the computing device and comprising:
 presenting, in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, a plurality of graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device; and   dismissing a selected one of the graphical elements based on a user input.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a swipe gesture originating on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected one of the graphical elements. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a dragging or flicking action. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the dragging or flicking action is in an upward direction off the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 moving one or more of the non-selected graphical elements within the grid arrangement to fill a vacancy left by the dismissed graphical element.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein presenting the plurality of graphical elements comprises scaling at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of graphical elements are presented in a grid mode. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         40 . A computing device, comprising:
 a display;   a processor; and   a memory storing one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to:
 present, in a grid mode, a plurality of graphical elements in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, the graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device; 
 select one of the graphical elements based on a user input; and 
 launch the software application corresponding to the selected graphical element. 
   
     
     
         41 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         42 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 dismiss all non-selected graphical elements based on the user input.   
     
     
         43 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 switch from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based the user input.   
     
     
         44 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         45 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         46 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         47 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein execution of the instructions to present the plurality of graphical elements causes the computing device to scale at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         48 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a tap gesture on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected graphical element. 
     
     
         49 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         50 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         51 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 switch from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based on the user input.   
     
     
         52 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device including a display, cause the computing device to:
 present, in a grid mode, a plurality of graphical elements in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, the graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device;   select one of the graphical elements based on a user input; and   launch the software application corresponding to the selected graphical element.   
     
     
         53 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         54 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 dismiss all non-selected graphical elements based on the user input.   
     
     
         55 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 switch from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based the user input.   
     
     
         56 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         57 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         58 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         59 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein execution of the instructions to present the plurality of graphical elements causes the computing device to scale at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         60 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a tap gesture on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected graphical element. 
     
     
         61 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         62 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         63 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:
 switch from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based on the user input.   
     
     
         64 . A method of operating a computing device including a display, the method performed by a processor of the computing device and comprising:
 presenting, in a grid mode, a plurality of graphical elements in a two-dimensional grid arrangement, the graphical elements corresponding to a plurality of software applications operating on the computing device;   selecting one of the graphical elements based on a user input; and   launching the software application corresponding to the selected graphical element.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the graphical elements are card-shaped elements. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 dismissing all non-selected graphical elements based on the user input.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 switching from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based the user input.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements shows real-time information for a respective one of the plurality of software applications. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different software applications operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein at least a first of the graphical elements and at least a second of the graphical elements correspond to different instances of a same software application operating on the computing device. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein presenting the plurality of graphical elements comprises scaling at least some previously displayed graphical elements. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user input comprises a tap gesture on a portion of the touch-sensitive display associated with the selected graphical element. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the grid mode is initiated in response to a user pressing a button on the computing device. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display, and the grid mode is initiated in response to a user interaction with a portion of the touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 switching from the grid mode to a full-screen mode based on the user input.