Smart drag-and-drop

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for manipulating objects in a user interface. The user interface includes a first interface object operable to be selected and moved within the user interface. In response to selection and movement of the first interface object in the user interface, at least one additional interface object is presented in the user interface in proximity of the first interface object. Each additional interface object represents a drop target with which the first interface object may be associated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for manipulating objects in a user interface, comprising:
 providing the user interface including a first interface object operable to be selected and moved within the user interface; and   in response to selection and movement of the first interface object in the user interface, presenting at least one additional interface object in the user interface in proximity of the first interface object, each additional interface object representing a drop target with which the first interface object may be associated;   wherein when the first interface object is dragged such that it hovers over one of the at least one additional interface object, presenting a second set of two or more additional interface objects that is related to the additional interface object over which the first interface object is positioned;   wherein the first interface object can be dropped on one of the second set of two or more additional interface objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface object represents a data file, a shortcut, an executable, a contact, or a message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each additional interface object corresponds to a current interface object present in the user interface prior to the selection and movement of the first interface object, each current interface object representing the drop target to which the corresponding additional interface object corresponds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional interface object is presented closer to the first interface object than the corresponding current interface object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional interface object is presented in the user interface instead of the corresponding current interface object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional interface object is presented in the user interface simultaneously with the corresponding current interface object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 prior to presenting the at least one additional interface object, identifying the at least one additional interface object with reference to at least one of a parameter associated with the first interface object, at least one currently instantiated object in the user interface, previous user interaction with the drop target, a user preference, a speed of movement of the first interface object in the user interface, a direction of movement of the first interface object in the user interface, a position of the first interface object in the user interface, or a position of a preexisting drop target in the user interface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising facilitating association of the first interface object with the drop target represented by a selected one of the set of two or more additional interface objects. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein facilitating association of the first interface object with the drop target represented by the selected additional interface object comprises associating the first interface object with the drop target in response to the first interface object being dragged over and dropped on the selected additional interface object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the drop target corresponds to a first portion of a file system, and wherein facilitating association of the first interface object with the drop target represented by the selected additional interface object comprises associating the first interface element with the first portion of the file system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising facilitating navigation of a second portion of the file system related to the first portion of the file system by presenting at least one further additional interface object representing at least one further drop target associated with the second portion of the file system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user interface is associated with a web application, an operating system, a client application, or a messaging application. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional interface object comprises a plurality of additional interface objects, the method further comprising:
 determining a configuration in which to present the plurality of additional interface objects; 
 wherein presenting the at least one additional interface object in the user interface in proximity of the first interface object comprises presenting the plurality of additional interface objects in the configuration relative to the first interface object. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration of the additional interface objects is determined with reference to at least one of a number of the additional interface objects, a speed of movement of the first interface object in the user interface, a direction of movement of the first interface object in the user interface, or a position of the first interface object in the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising a processor, memory, and a display, the processor and memory being configured to:
 provide the user interface including a first interface object operable to be selected and moved within the user interface; and   in response to selection and movement of the first interface object in the user interface, present at least one additional interface object in the user interface in proximity of the first interface object, each additional interface object representing a drop target with which the first interface object may be associated;   wherein when the first interface object is dragged such that it hovers over one of the at least one additional interface object, present a second set of two or more additional interface objects that is related to the additional interface object over which the first interface object is positioned;   wherein the first interface object can be dropped on one of the second set of two or more additional interface objects.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a personal computer, a media computing platform, a wireless device, a telecommunications device, or a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface is associated with a web application, an operating system, a client application, or a messaging application. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein which are operable to cause a computing device to:
 provide the user interface including a first interface object operable to be selected and moved within the user interface; and   in response to selection and movement of the first interface object in the user interface, present at least one additional interface object in the user interface in proximity of the first interface object, each additional interface object representing a drop target with which the first interface object may be associated;   wherein when the first interface object is dragged such that it hovers over one of the at least one additional interface object, present a second set of two or more additional interface objects that is related to the additional interface object over which the first interface object is positioned;   wherein the first interface object can be dropped on one of the second set of two or more additional interface objects.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the first interface object represents a data file, a shortcut, an executable, a contact, or a message. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein each additional interface object corresponds to a current interface object present in the user interface prior to the selection and movement of the first interface object, each current interface object representing the drop target to which the corresponding additional interface object corresponds.