Method and apparatus for restricting user operations when applied to cards or windows
View Patent ↗A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user, the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction, while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.
1. A method for displaying a user interface comprising:
generating a plurality of cards for a display area;
allowing cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked zone to be moved in a first direction;
restricting cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a regular zone from being moved in said first direction;
allowing all of the cards from the plurality of cards that reside in the display area to be moved in a second direction; and
allowing only cards disposed in said locked zone to be affected by a first set of user initiated operations;
allowing only cards residing in said regular zone to be affected by a second set of user initiated operations.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting only the cards in the locked zone to a user action.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a first set of the user action is at least one of:
cutting the cards' content, pasting content to the cards, enlarging the contents of the cards, and shrinking the contents of the cards.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
allowing a card from the plurality of cards that previously resided in a regular zone, after being moved in a horizontal direction after a user command, which now occupies the locked zone to be moved in a vertical direction, while restricting a card from the plurality of cards that previously occupied the locked zone which now resides in the regular zone from being moved in a vertical direction, after being moved horizontally after the same user command.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining which card from the plurality of cards resides in a locked zone, said determining comprising at least one of:
determining whether the card completely resides in a locked zone, where part of the card resides in the locked zone,
determining whether 50% of a card resides in the locked zone, and
determining whether a predetermined amount of the card resides in the locked zone.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying the locked zone in response to a user command.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locked zone occupies at least two areas in the display area.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the regular zone occupies at least two areas in the display area.
9. A device for displaying a user interface comprising:
a processor for generating a plurality of cards for a display area;
a display area responsive to said user interface and said processor for allowing cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked zone to be moved in a first direction;
a locked zone for restricting cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a regular zone from being moved in said first direction; and
said processor allowing all of the cards from the plurality of cards that reside in the display area to be moved in a second direction;
wherein said processor allowing only cards disposed in said locked zone to be affected by a first set of user initiated operations and said processor also allowing only cards residing in said regular zone to be affected by a second set of user initiated operations.
10. A method for displaying a user interface comprising the steps of:
generating a plurality of cards for a display area;
allowing cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked zone to be moved subjected to a first set of user initiated operations but not a second set of user initiated operations;
allowing cards residing in a regular zone to be moved subjected to a second set of user initiated operations but not the first set of user initiated operations; and
allowing all of the cards from the plurality of cards that reside in the display area to be moved in a horizontal direction.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first set or second set of user initiated operations is at least one of:
cutting the cards' content, pasting content to the cards, enlarging the contents of the cards, and shrinking the contents of the cards.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining which card from the plurality of cards resides in a locked zone, wherein the determining further comprises at least one of:
determining whether the card completely resides in a locked zone, where part of the card resides in the locked zone,
determining whether 50% of a card resides in the locked zone, and
determining whether a predetermined amount of the card resides in the locked zone.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
allowing a card from the plurality of cards that previously resided in a regular zone, after being moved in a horizontal direction after a user command, which now occupies the locked zone to be moved in a vertical direction, while restricting a card from the plurality of cards that previously occupied the locked zone which now resides in the regular zone from being moved in a vertical direction, after being moved horizontally after the same user command.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising specifying the locked zone in response to a user command.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the locked zone occupies at least two areas in the display area.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the regular zone occupies at least two areas in the display area.