PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9361130-B2
Application Number: US-77273810-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Systems, methods, and computer program products providing an integrated user interface for reading content

Abstract:
A method performed by a portable, processor-based device with a display screen is disclosed. The method includes rendering a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the display screen. The GUI includes a first scrollable column with a plurality of graphical elements arranged sequentially within the first column, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with at least one article of a plurality of articles. The GUI also includes a second scrollable column with a plurality of independent text portions, each of the text portions corresponding to a respective article. The method further includes coordinating the first and second scrollable columns so that when a first article is selected a first text portion associated with the first article is displayed on the display screen, and a first graphical element associated with the first article is displayed next to the first text portion.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 at a portable computing device with a touch screen display:
 displaying a plurality of articles in a first scrollable column and a second scrollable column on the touch screen display, wherein:
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are independently scrollable; 
 a respective article in the plurality of articles includes text for the respective article, and
 one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article that are a distinct subset of the respective article from the text of the respective article; 
 
 the text for the respective article is displayed in the first scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article are displayed in the second scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are separate from each other, and are displayed concurrently with each other; 
 
 detecting selection of a first article in the plurality of articles; 
 in response to detecting selection of the first article in the plurality of articles, concurrently displaying text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column and a first graphical element contained within the selected first article in the second scrollable column, next to the text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column; and, 
 in response to a first input that scrolls the selected first article in either of the first scrollable column or the second scrollable column, automatically concurrently scrolling the other scrollable column, of the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column, at a rate such that an end of the text in the selected first article in the first scrollable column is reached as a last graphical element in the selected first article in the second scrollable column is reached. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article include still pictures, video, ads, interactive widgets, and/or 3D models. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected first article is concurrently displayed with one or more unselected articles in the plurality of articles and the selected first article is visually emphasized relative to the one or more unselected articles. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , including:
 detecting a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scrolling the first scrollable column to display text for a second article in the plurality of articles, distinct from the text in the selected first article; and 
 scrolling the second scrollable column to display a second graphical element contained within the second article, distinct from the first graphical element contained within the selected first article, next to the text for the second article in the first scrollable column. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second input is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the first scrollable column or the second is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the second scrollable column. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second is activation of a button for going to a next article in the plurality of articles. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein graphical elements contained within the selected first article are cued to sections within the text for the selected first article, the method including:
 detecting a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scrolling, in the first scrollable column, the text for the selected first article from a first section of text to a second section of text in the selected first article; and 
 scrolling, in the second scrollable column, graphical elements contained within the selected first article from a first graphical element cued to the first section of text to a second graphical element cued to the second section of text. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A portable computing device, comprising:
 a touch screen display; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying a plurality of articles in a first scrollable column and a second scrollable column on the touch screen display, wherein:
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are independently scrollable; 
 a respective article in the plurality of articles includes
 text for the respective article, and 
 one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article that are a distinct subset of the respective article from the text of the respective article; 
 
 the text for the respective article is displayed in the first scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article are displayed in the second scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are separate from each other, and are displayed concurrently with each other; 
 
 detecting selection of a first article in the plurality of articles; 
 in response to detecting selection of the first article in the plurality of articles, concurrently displaying text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column and a first graphical element contained within the selected first article in the second scrollable column, next to the text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column; and, 
 in response to a first input that scrolls the selected first article in either of the first scrollable column or the second scrollable column, automatically concurrently scrolling the other scrollable column, of the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column, at a rate such that an end of the text in the selected first article in the first scrollable column is reached as a last graphical element in the selected first article in the second scrollable column is reached. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article include still pictures, video, ads, interactive widgets, and/or 3D models. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the selected first article is concurrently displayed with one or more unselected articles in the plurality of articles and the selected first article is visually emphasized relative to the one or more unselected articles. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8 , including instructions for:
 detecting a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scrolling the first scrollable column to display text for a second article in the plurality of articles, distinct from the text in the selected first article; and 
 scrolling the second scrollable column to display a second graphical element contained within the second article, distinct from the first graphical element contained within the selected first article, next to the text for the second article in the first scrollable column. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the second input is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the first scrollable column or the second input is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the second scrollable column. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the second input is activation of a button for going to a next article in the plurality of articles. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 8 , wherein graphical elements contained within the selected first article are cued to sections within the text for the selected first article, the device including instructions for:
 detecting a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scrolling, in the first scrollable column, the text for the selected first article from a first section of text to a second section of text in the selected first article; and 
 scrolling, in the second scrollable column, graphical elements contained within the selected first article from a first graphical element cued to the first section of text to a second graphical element cued to the second section of text. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:
 display a plurality of articles in a first scrollable column and a second scrollable column on the touch screen display, wherein:
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are independently scrollable; 
 a respective article in the plurality of articles includes
 text for the respective article, and 
 one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article that are a distinct subset of the respective article from the text of the respective article; 
 
 the text for the respective article is displayed in the first scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article are displayed in the second scrollable column on the touch screen display; 
 the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column are separate from each other, and are displayed concurrently with each other; 
 
 detecting selection of a first article in the plurality of articles; 
 in response to detecting selection of the first article in the plurality of articles, concurrently displaying text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column and a first graphical element contained within the selected first article in the second scrollable column, next to the text for the selected first article in the first scrollable column; and, 
 in response to a first input that scrolls the selected first article in either of the first scrollable column or the second scrollable column, automatically concurrently scrolling the other scrollable column, of the first scrollable column and the second scrollable column, at a rate such that an end of the text in the selected first article in the first scrollable column is reached as a last graphical element in the selected first article in the second scrollable column is reached. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more graphical elements contained within the respective article include still pictures, video, ads, interactive widgets, and/or 3D models. 
     
     
       17. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the selected first article is concurrently displayed with one or more unselected articles in the plurality of articles and the selected first article is visually emphasized relative to the one or more unselected articles. 
     
     
       18. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , including instructions, which when executed by the portable computing device with the touch screen display, cause the device to:
 detect a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scroll the first scrollable column to display text for a second article in the plurality of articles, distinct from the text in the selected first article; and 
 scroll the second scrollable column to display a second graphical element contained within the second article, distinct from the first graphical element contained within the selected first article, next to the text for the second article in the first scrollable column. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second input is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the first scrollable column or the second input is a finger swipe on the touch screen display on the second scrollable column. 
     
     
       20. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second input is activation of a button for going to a next article in the plurality of articles. 
     
     
       21. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein graphical elements contained within the selected first article are cued to sections within the text for the selected first article, the computer readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed by the portable computing device with the touch screen display, cause the device to:
 detect a second input; and, 
 in response to detecting the second input:
 scroll, in the first scrollable column, the text for the selected first article from a first section of text to a second section of text in the selected first article; and 
 scroll, in the second scrollable column, graphical elements contained within the selected first article from a first graphical element cued to the first section of text to a second graphical element cued to the second section of text.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/772,752, filed May 3,2010 and entitled, “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS PROVIDING AN ARTICLE SELECTION STRUCTURE,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates, in general, to user interfaces and, more specifically, for user interfaces for reading content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the last decade people have changed the way they consume content. One big shift is the ubiquity of smart phones and other handheld devices that offer access to web-based content and media applications (“apps”). However, handheld devices tend to have limitations. In particular, people tend to use phones for short bursts of time. In one example, a user is waiting in a line and pulls out his or her phone to use for ninety seconds or so. The user may read an article or search for a particular small piece of information. In general, handheld content consumption tends to be quite targeted. It is generally assumed that, because the screen is kept small, handheld devices are annoying to use. Users typically do not want to use handheld devices or for significant content consumption. Of course, the above-described phenomenon is a generality, and some users employ handheld devices for more than that, but the above-described use is the preferred use modality. 
     Recently, tablet or slate computers have become increasingly popular. Tablet computers usually have a touchscreen about the size of a typical laptop computer&#39;s screen or larger while omitting an integrated, physical keyboard. The tablet computer provides a virtual keyboard upon the touchscreen when needed. In general, tablet computers have a slightly different use modality than do handheld devices or laptops because of their larger screens. It would be helpful to have user interfaces for consuming content that are especially convenient for use with tablet computers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer program products to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that has independently-scrollable and coordinated columns, where one column has text and another column has graphical elements (e.g., still pictures, video, ads, interactive “widgets”, 3D models, and/or the like.—implemented with HTML, flash or other plugins). 
     Various embodiments of the invention separate graphical elements from text and treat them differently. In one example, the text of an article is presented on one side, and the graphical elements are presented on the other side. The graphical elements from multiple articles are presented in one continuous column, and the text from the multiple articles is presented in another continuous column. The graphical elements give the user a sense of what the various articles are about by showing the content of the graphical elements. The graphical elements can also be used as a navigation mechanism for letting the user select particular articles to read. In one example, selecting any one of the graphical elements will load the article by scrolling the text column to align the text associated with the selected graphical element. Similarly, the text column can be scrolled and a text portion selected to load an article. When a text portion is selected, the graphical element column is automatically scrolled to align the graphical elements of the selected article with the text. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI) adapted according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows the exemplary GUI of  FIG. 1  with visual effects adapted according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows the GUI of  FIG. 1  with two columns operating according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary GUI adapted according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary method adapted according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exemplary system adapted according to one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example computer system adapted according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI)  100  adapted according to one embodiment of the invention. In one example, GUI  100  is presented upon a display screen of processor-based device  150 . Appropriate processor-based devices include but are not limited to laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers (e.g., the iPad™, available from Apple), and portable devices. Some embodiments are especially adapted for use with touchscreen devices, though the scope of embodiments is not so limited, as devices that use computer pointing devices (e.g., a mouse or touchpad) may be adapted for use in some designs as well. In some embodiments, GUI  100  is part of app that is downloaded and run on a processor-based device, while other embodiments may implement GUI  100  as a plug-in for a browser, an interface for a website, and/or the like. 
     GUI  100  includes a first column  110  and a second column  120 , both of which are scrollable. For instance, a user on a touchscreen device may use a finger swipe to move a column up or down within GUI  100 , or a user with a mouse may grab and drag a column up or down. 
     GUI  100  divides the text and graphical elements from articles into two columns. In this particular view, headline  101  and text reading area  103  are part of an article that also includes graphical element  123 . Similarly, headline  105  and text reading area  107  are part of an article that also includes graphical element  127 . The advertising portion  125  is optional and may or may not be related to either one of the articles. Furthermore, property branding portion  121  is also optional and may or may not be germane to either of the articles. The arrangement of  FIG. 1  is exemplary and non-limiting. Other embodiments may include two or more graphical elements for any given article (rather than just one), and property branding portions and advertising portions may be more or less numerous or arranged in different ways than that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Furthermore, column  110  includes the text from at least two articles, and it is understood that in some embodiments column  110  can scroll up or down to access any number of articles. Column  120  includes graphical elements from at least two articles, and in some embodiments may include graphical elements from any number of articles.  FIG. 1  shows two articles for ease of illustration, though GUI  100  can be designed to include as many articles as a user desires. 
     A human user is presented articles through GUI  100  in a novel manner. The user sees the articles by text, perhaps the article text itself and/or a title/abstract structure. The user also sees the articles by the graphical elements associated therewith. The user can select an article either by selecting an entry in column  110  or in column  120 . In one example, the user desires to choose content by graphical elements, so the user scrolls through column  120  until he or she sees a graphical element that looks interesting. The user then selects the graphical element by, for example, tapping the graphical element, using a mouse click, or positioning the graphical element at the top or center of the screen and waiting a specified amount of time, though the particular scope of embodiments is not limited to any technique for selecting a graphical element. When the user selects a graphical element, GUI  100  brings up the text associated with that graphical element. 
     In another example, the user desires to choose an article based on the text portions in column  110 . The user scrolls through column  110  and selects an entry. GUI  100  automatically scrolls an associated graphical element to the top to bring up the article. 
     Additionally or alternatively, a user can browse through either one of columns  110  and  120  as the other column automatically adjusts to align with the column that is scrolled by the user. For instance, as a user swipes to browse column  120 , and GUI  100  automatically aligns column  110  so that the appropriate text portions are aligned with the graphical elements as the graphical elements move. In any event, the GUI  100  provides an automated technique to align content as a user&#39;s attention moves from one article to another. 
     Though GUI  100  is centered around scrolling functions, various embodiments do not preclude the use of other navigation techniques. For instance, the embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes buttons  115 - 118  for navigating. Button  115  provides for the selected article to be opened in an embedded web browser; button  116  allows an article to be shared by email, Multi Media Messaging Service (MMS), or other way; button  117  allows one column  110 ,  120  or the other to be expanded to the full screen. Button  118  allows the columns  110 ,  120  to be swapped in place to accommodate right- and left-handed users equitably. In an additional example, though not shown, a button can be provided for going to the next article. Buttons  115 - 118  are exemplary, as other types of interfaces and functions can be adapted for use by various embodiments. 
     Various visual effects may be included in some embodiments to add a more user-friendly and intuitive feel to GUI  100 . An example of a visual effect is emphasizing pictures and texts from selected articles while de-emphasizing pictures and text from unselected articles.  FIG. 2  shows exemplary GUI  100  with visual effects adapted according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 2 , text portion  202  is associated with a selected article, as are graphical elements  206  and  207 . By contrast, text portion  204  and graphical element  208  are displayed upon GUI  100  but are not selected. 
     Text portion  202  and graphical elements  206 ,  207  are rendered with full fidelity, whereas text portion  204  and graphical element  208  are rendered with reduced fidelity. For example, text portion  204  and graphical element  208  might be rendered partially transparent or partially faded to white or some other color for de-emphasis, and other renderings are possible to represent activity or inactivity. Additionally or alternatively, visual effects may also be added to text portion  202  and graphical elements  206 ,  207 , e.g., a frame or visual decoration around the border of text portion  202  and graphical elements  206 ,  207 . The visual effects can be adjusted as other articles are selected and/or columns  110 ,  120  are scrolled. 
     Various embodiments also automatically align the content of an article as a user scrolls within the article.  FIG. 3  shows GUI  100  with columns  110 ,  120  operating according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this example, the text portion  300  is longer than the screen upon which GUI  100  is rendered; therefore, scrolling is necessary to view all of the text portion. Similarly, the article has five pictures  302 - 310  that span an area longer than the screen, so scrolling is also necessary in order to see all of the pictures  302 - 310 . In this example, as the user scrolls column  110 , the graphical elements  302 - 310  in column  320  are scrolled at a rate proportional to that of the text and appropriate for the number of graphical elements. Thus, as the bottom of the text portion  300  is reached, the last picture  310  is reached as well. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the graphical elements  302 - 310  are cued to sections within text portion  300  so that as those sections are scrolled within view, the appropriate graphical elements are aligned as well. Furthermore, should the user scroll through column  120 , text box  110  is also scrolled proportionately and/or by cues to synchronize text and graphical element. 
     In one example, a user manually scrolls while reading an article. In the example of a touchscreen tablet computer, the user drags his or her thumb up the text portion  300  while reading. If there is just one graphical element associated with the article, then in one example, the graphical element stays stationary until the user gets to the end of the article, at which point the graphical element switches over to another graphical element. In another example, when more than fifty percent of the scrolling area is the next article, then the graphical element alpha fades as the next graphical element associated with the article shows up. The same techniques can be used for text portions as a user scrolls the graphical elements. Any manner of transitioning between articles can be used by various embodiments. 
       FIG. 400  is an illustration of exemplary GUI  400  adapted according to one embodiment of the invention. GUI  400  operates in a similar manner to GUI  100  of  FIG. 1 . For instance, GUI  400  includes column  410  for text portions of articles and column  420  for graphical elements of articles. As in  FIG. 1 , columns  410 ,  420  can be independently scrolled and are coordinated so as to automatically align the content of a particular article. 
     GUI  400  also includes column  430 , integrated in GUI  400  with columns  410 ,  420 . The items in column  430  correspond to available articles. A user can select one, some, all, or none of the available articles to be viewed. Upon selection, an article is divided into text and graphics and distributed in columns  410 ,  420 . Column  430  includes indicators showing which of the articles have been selected and are available for viewing in columns  410 ,  420 . Specifically, column  430  includes circles that when filled in, colored, or otherwise visually marked, indicate that a corresponding article has been selected. In  FIG. 4 , circles  401 - 404  are visually marked to indicate having been selected. The operation of a feature, such as that shown in column  430 , is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/772,752, filed concurrently herewith and entitled, “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS PROVIDING AN ARTICLE SELECTION STRUCTURE,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of exemplary method  500  adapted according to one embodiment of the invention. Method  500  may be performed, for example, by a processor-based device executing a program that instantiates the functional modules shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In block  501 , a GUI is rendered on a display screen. The GUI has a first scrollable column with multiple graphical elements arranged sequentially within the first column, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with at least one article of a plurality of content articles. The GUI also has a second scrollable column with a plurality of independent text portions, each of the text portions corresponding to a respective article. 
     In block  502 , the first and second scrollable columns are coordinated so that when a first article is selected a first text portion associated with the first article is displayed on the display screen, and a first graphical element associated with the first article is displayed next to the first text portion. In one example, the graphical elements are scrolled though, and the text column is scrolled as well to align with the graphical elements. In another example, the text portions are scrolled through, and the graphical elements are scrolled as well to align with the text. Thus, when a user selects an article for attention, the text and graphical element of that article are synchronized so that the user sees both in an intuitive manner. 
     In block  503 , a third column is rendered in the GUI, the third column including a list of the content articles. The third column also has multiple selectable features allowing user input to select one or more of the content articles. When an article is selected, it is placed in the first and second scrollable columns. An example of the third column is column  430  of  FIG. 4 . 
     In block  504 , the selected content articles are loaded for offline use. For example, the selected articles can be placed in memory and retrieved for access later, whether the computer is online or offline. 
     Various embodiments are not limited to the exact method shown in  FIG. 5 . Various embodiments may add, omit, rearrange, or modify actions. For instance, many embodiments will render the three columns perceptibly simultaneously, so that actions of block  503  are performed with actions of block  501 . Furthermore, it is understood that the items in the first scrollable column may include any type of graphical element, so that one or more videos or other presentations may be placed in the first scrollable column to accompany text content in the first column. Additionally, the term “article” is used herein in the examples above to refer to magazine or newspaper articles, though the term is not limited thereto. Articles may include other divisions of content, such as book chapters and/or the like. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exemplary system  600  adapted according to one embodiment of the invention. System  600  includes functional modules  601  and  602 . The divisions of the functional modules is conceptual and exemplary, as the functions may be performed by a single functional unit or divided between two or more functional units different than those shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Some embodiments include one or more advantages over other techniques. For instance, various embodiments provide a GUI that leverages the capabilities and expected use modalities of tablet computers. The expectation for the tablet or slate category of computers is that they are more likely to be used in a casual, comfortable kind of scenario. In one example, a user is sitting on a couch, lying on a bed, or sitting at a kitchen countertop, perhaps watching television or eating. Instead of reading the back of the cereal box, the user is using the tablet. 
     It is expected that tablet computers are going to be used in a casual discovery mode where the user has ten minutes or half an hour and wants to browse content for something interesting to pass the time. Various embodiments provide a new and intuitive way for users to consume content, especially on tablet computers. Furthermore, various embodiments are especially useful for newspapers, magazine, blogs, e-books and other syndicated content that provides both text and graphics. 
     Additionally, various embodiments have desirable ergonomic qualities when used with tablet computers. Tablet computers tend to be heavier than handheld devices (e.g., phones), and are often grasped by a user with one hand while the other hand is used to make gestures on the screen. In some embodiments, a single hand can be used to select among articles by scrolling through one or both columns of text and graphical elements. 
     In another single-handed use, a user can recline on a couch having one hand on, e.g., a cup of coffee, and with the other hand, the user can both hold the device and thumb-navigate. Also, when placed in the lap, the user may desire to navigate using both thumbs. In some embodiments, a user can access most or all of the GUI with his or her hands at the bottom right and bottom left hand corner of the screen by dragging the columns up and down. 
     When implemented via computer-executable instructions, various elements of embodiments of the present invention are in essence the software code defining the operations of such various elements. The executable instructions or software code may be obtained from a tangible readable medium (e.g., a hard drive media, optical media, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, tape media, cartridge media, flash memory, ROM, memory stick, and/or the like). In fact, readable media can include any medium that can store information. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example computer system  700  adapted according to one embodiment of the present invention. That is, computer system  700  comprises an example system on which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented (such as processor-based device  150  of  FIG. 1 ). Central processing unit (CPU)  701  is coupled to system bus  702 . CPU  701  may be any general purpose or specialized purpose CPU. However, the present invention is not restricted by the architecture of CPU  701  as long as CPU  701  supports the inventive operations as described herein. CPU  701  may execute the various logical instructions according to embodiments of the present invention. For example, one or more CPUs, such as CPU  701 , may execute machine-level instructions according to the exemplary operational flows described above in conjunction with  FIG. 5 . 
     Computer system  700  also preferably includes random access memory (RAM)  703 , which may be SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or the like. In this example, computer system  700  uses RAM  703  to buffer  302  of  FIG. 3 . Computer system  700  preferably includes read-only memory (ROM)  704  which may be PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or the like. RAM  703  and ROM  704  hold user and system data and programs, as is well known in the art. 
     Computer system  700  also preferably includes input/output (I/O) adapter  705 , communications adapter  711 , user interface adapter  708 , and display adapter  709 . I/O adapter  705 , user interface adapter  708 , and/or communications adapter  711  may, in certain embodiments, enable a user to interact with computer system  700  in order to input information, such as hand gestures (via a touchscreen or a pointing device) that indicate that one or more columns should be scrolled. 
     I/O adapter  705  preferably connects to storage device(s)  706 , such as one or more of hard drive, compact disc (CD) drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, etc. to computer system  700 . The storage devices may be utilized when RAM  703  is insufficient for the memory requirements associated with storing media data. Communications adapter  711  is preferably adapted to couple computer system  700  to network  712  (e.g., the Internet, a LAN, a cellular network, etc.). User interface adapter  708  couples user input devices, such as keyboard  713 , pointing device  707 , and microphone  714  and/or output devices, such as speaker(s)  715  to computer system  700 . Display adapter  709  is driven by CPU  701  to control the display on display device  710  to, for example, display the articles. 
     While the above examples are provided in the context of tablet computers with touchscreens, the scope of embodiment is not so limited. For instance, some embodiments may be adapted for use with handheld devices, laptop computers, desktop computers, workstations, and/or other process-based devices with a GUI. Additionally, some embodiments can be used with devices that do not have a touchscreen but, instead, rely on another manner of screen navigation, such as pointing, hotkeys, and the like. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to general purpose computers and may be implemented on other types of processors, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. In fact, persons of ordinary skill in the art may utilize any number of suitable structures capable of executing logical operations according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20100503
Publication Date: 20160607
Grant Date: 20160607
Priority Date: 20100503
Inventors: SANGIOVANNI JOHN
BEDERSON BENJAMIN B.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F40/103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/40", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/338", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/338", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/40", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/451", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/9577", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/9577", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/4443", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/30905", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/30017", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/211", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/30716", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F17/30696", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/451", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 44904033