GESTURE CONTROLS FOR MULTI-SCREEN HIERARCHICAL APPLICATIONS
Control of a computing device using gesture inputs. The computing device may be a handheld computing device with a plurality of displays. The displays may be capable of displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The plurality of displays may be modified in response to receipt of a gesture input such that a hierarchical application having related GUI screens are modified in response to the gesture input. The modification may include changing the hierarchical application from being displayed in a single screen mode to being displayed in a multi screen mode or vice versa.
1 . A method for controlling a plurality of displays of a handheld computing device, comprising:
executing a hierarchical application on the handheld comparing device, wherein the hierarchical application comprises a plurality of related familial screens;
displaying a first screen of the plurality of related familial screens on a first display of the plurality of displays;
receiving a first gesture input at the handheld computing device; and
modifying at least one of the plurality of displays in response to the receiving such that a second screen of the plurality of related familial screens is displayed on one of the first display and the second display and the first screen is displayed on the other of the first display and the second display.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gesture input is directional and the modifying corresponds to a direction of the gesture input.
3 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the gesture input comprises a drag gesture.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first screen comprises a parent screen and the second screen comprises a node screen of the parent screen.
5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first screen comprises a node screen and the second screen comprises a parent screen of the node screen.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the modifying includes displaying the second screen in the second display.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the modifying includes displaying the first screen in the second display and displaying the second screen in the first display.
8 . A method for controlling a plurality of displays of a handheld computing device, comprising:
executing a hierarchical application on the handheld comparing device, wherein the hierarchical application comprises a plurality of related familial screens;
displaying a first screen of the plurality of related familial screens on a first display of the plurality of displays and a second screen of the plurality of related familial screens on a second display of the plurality of displays;
receiving a first gesture input at the handheld computing device; and
modifying at least one of the plurality of displays in response to the receiving such that only the first screen is displayed in one of the first display and second display.
9 . The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the gesture input is directional and the modifying corresponds to a direction of the gesture input.
10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the gesture input comprises a drag gesture.
11 . The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first screen comprises a parent screen and the second screen comprises a node screen of the parent screen.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first screen comprises a node screen and the second screen comprises a parent screen of the node screen.
13 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the modifying includes displaying the first screen in the first display.
14 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the modifying includes displaying the first screen in the second display.
15 . A handheld computing device, comprising:
a processor operable to execute a hierarchical application comprising a plurality of related familial screens;
a first display in operative communication with the processor and operable to display at least one of said related familial screens;
a second display in operative communication with the processor and operable to display at least one of said related familial screens;
a gesture sensor in operative communication with the processor and operable to receive a gesture input;
wherein the processor, upon receipt of the gesture input, is operative to modify at least one of the first display and second display to change the related familial screens displayed.
16 . The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the handheld computing device comprises a smart phone.
17 . The device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first display and second display are positionable with respect to each other between an open and closed position.
18 . The device as recited in claim 17 , wherein when in the open position, the first display and the second display are visible from the vantage point of a user.
19 . The device as recited in claim 18 , wherein when in the closed position, only one of the first display and the second display are visible from the vantage point of a user.