Granted Patent B2

US 12,579,209 · App. 17/832,544 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Inventors: Marcos A. Weskamp (Palo Alto, CA); Stephen O. Lemay (Palo Alto, CA); Raymond S. Sepulveda (Portland, OR)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

G06F16/954G06F3/0483G06F3/0485G06F3/04883

Abstract

Claims (142)

1 . A method for web browsing, the method comprising:

at a portable device that is in communication with a display generation component, and one or more input devices;

displaying, via the display generation component, a web-browser user interface that includes a currently displayed webpage and an associated tab in a tab row;

receiving a swipe gesture in a first direction; and

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, performing a tab row navigation function by concurrently:

ceasing to display the currently displayed webpage and the associated tab, and

displaying an additional webpage and a respective associated additional tab in accordance with the swipe gesture in the first direction in the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the currently displayed webpage, performing a webpage navigation function to navigate a browsing history, where the webpage navigation function is different from the tab row navigation function.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the swipe gesture in the first direction is a swipe gesture moving from left to right.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the currently displayed webpage forms part of a group of webpages; and the method includes:

receiving a swipe gesture in a second direction;

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying a plurality of representations of webpages, including a representation of the currently displayed webpage, the plurality of representations of webpages corresponding to at least some of the group of webpages; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the currently displayed webpage, scrolling the currently displayed webpage.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the swipe gesture in the second direction is a swipe gesture moving from a downward location to an upward location.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of representations of webpages each include a respective affordance for removing a tab associated with the respective webpage from the group of webpages.

6 . The method of claim 3 , including:

in response to scrolling the currently displayed webpage, concurrently:

ceasing to display the associated tab; and

displaying reduced size website information at a different location than the associated tab.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the group of webpages is not a user defined group, and the method includes:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying an affordance for creating a new user defined group of webpages.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of representations of webpages do not all fit within the web-browser user interface, and the method includes:

receiving a gesture via the one or more input devices; and

in response to receiving the gesture, scrolling the plurality of representations of webpages to reveal previously non-displayed representation of webpages.

9 . The method of claim 3 , including:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying an identifier for the group of webpages.

10 . The method of claim 3 , including:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying a user interface element for displaying one or more other groups of webpages;

receiving an input at the user interface element; and

in response to receiving the input, displaying one or more identifiers each associated with the one or more other groups of webpages.

11 . The method of claim 10 , including:

receiving an input at an identifier of the one or more identifiers;

in response to receiving the input:

closing the group of webpages; and

displaying another group of webpages associated with the identifier.

12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the group of webpages is defined by a user of the portable device.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated tab in the tab row partially overlays a side of the currently displayed webpage.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable device is a smartphone with a limited screen area.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs along an axis of the tab row.

16 . The method of claim 1 , including:

in accordance with a determination that one or more tabs are scrollable from the tab row in a first direction, displaying a user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that no more tabs are scrollable in the first direction, forgoing display of the user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein no additional associated tabs are left to scroll in the tab row, and the method includes:

in response to receiving an additional swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the additional swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, concurrently:

ceasing to display the currently displayed webpage, and

displaying a new user interface that includes one or more user interface elements for selecting a new webpage to display.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the new user interface is a start page of the web-browser user interface, and the one or more user interface elements are favorited webpages, shared webpages, and frequently visited webpages.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated tab in the tab row includes webpage navigation controls in accordance with a determination that those controls are applicable.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated tab includes a multifunction user interface element that when selected displays control options related to the currently displayed webpage, and the method includes:

receiving a request to download a file associated with the webpage; and

in response to receiving the request, modifying the multifunction user interface element to show a download progress of the file.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the webpage navigation function includes either moving forward or backward a webpage in the browsing history corresponding to the associated tab.

22 . A portable device, comprising:

one or more input devices;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

displaying, via a display generation component in communication with the portable device, a web-browser user interface that includes a currently displayed webpage and an associated tab in a tab row;

receiving a swipe gesture in a first direction; and

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, performing a tab row navigation function by concurrently:

ceasing to display the currently displayed webpage and the associated tab, and

displaying an additional webpage and a respective associated additional tab in accordance with the swipe gesture in the first direction in the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the currently displayed webpage, performing a webpage navigation function to navigate a browsing history, where the webpage navigation function is different from the tab row navigation function.

23 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, that, when executed by a portable device in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices cause the portable device to:

display, via the display generation component, a web-browser user interface that includes a currently displayed webpage and an associated tab in a tab row;

receive a swipe gesture in a first direction; and

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, performing a tab row navigation function by concurrently:

cease to display the currently displayed webpage and the associated tab, and

display an additional webpage and a respective associated additional tab in accordance with the swipe gesture in the first direction in the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the currently display webpage, performing a webpage navigation function to navigate a browsing history, where the web navigation function is different from the tab row navigation function.

24 . The portable device of claim 22 , wherein the currently displayed webpage forms part of a group of webpages; and the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving a swipe gesture in a second direction;

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying a plurality of representations of webpages, including a representation of the currently displayed webpage, the plurality of representations of webpages corresponding to at least some of the group of webpages; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the currently displayed webpage, scrolling the currently displayed webpage.

25 . The portable device of claim 24 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to scrolling the currently displayed webpage, concurrently:

ceasing to display the associated tab; and

displaying reduced size website information at a different location than the associated tab.

26 . The portable device of claim 24 , wherein the group of webpages is not a user defined group, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying an affordance for creating a new user defined group of webpages.

27 . The portable device of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of representations of webpages do not all fit within the web-browser user interface, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving a gesture via the one or more input devices; and

in response to receiving the gesture, scrolling the plurality of representations of webpages to reveal previously non-displayed representation of webpages.

28 . The portable device of claim 24 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, displaying a user interface element for displaying one or more other groups of webpages;

receiving an input at the user interface element; and

in response to receiving the input, displaying one or more identifiers each associated with the one or more other groups of webpages.

29 . The portable device of claim 28 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving an input at an identifier of the one or more identifiers;

in response to receiving the input:

closing the group of webpages; and

displaying another group of webpages associated with the identifier.

30 . The portable device of claim 22 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that one or more tabs are scrollable from the tab row in a first direction, displaying a user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that no more tabs are scrollable in the first direction, forgoing display of the user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row.

31 . The portable device of claim 22 , wherein no additional associated tabs are left to scroll in the tab row, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to receiving an additional swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the additional swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, concurrently:

ceasing to display the currently displayed webpage, and

displaying a new user interface that includes one or more user interface elements for selecting a new webpage to display.

32 . The portable device of claim 31 , wherein the new user interface is a start page of the web-browser user interface, and the one or more user interface elements are favorited webpages, shared webpages, and frequently visited webpages.

33 . The portable device of claim 22 , wherein the associated tab in the tab row includes webpage navigation controls in accordance with a determination that those controls are applicable.

34 . The portable device of claim 22 , wherein performing the webpage navigation function includes either moving forward or backward a webpage in the browsing history corresponding to the associated tab.

35 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the currently displayed webpage forms part of a group of webpages; and the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

receive a swipe gesture in a second direction;

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction:

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, display a plurality of representations of webpages, including a representation of the currently displayed webpage, the plurality of representations of webpages corresponding to at least some of the group of webpages; and

in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the currently displayed webpage, scroll the currently displayed webpage.

36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

in response to scrolling the currently displayed webpage, concurrently:

cease to display the associated tab; and

display reduced size website information at a different location than the associated tab.

37 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 , wherein the group of webpages is not a user defined group, and the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, display an affordance for creating a new user defined group of webpages.

38 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 , wherein the plurality of representations of webpages do not all fit within the web-browser user interface, and the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

receive a gesture via the one or more input devices; and

in response to receiving the gesture, scroll the plurality of representations of webpages to reveal previously non-displayed representation of webpages.

39 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

in response to receiving the swipe gesture in the second direction, and in accordance with a determination that the swipe gesture occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, display a user interface element for displaying one or more other groups of webpages;

receive an input at the user interface element; and

in response to receiving the input, display one or more identifiers each associated with the one or more other groups of webpages.

40 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

receive an input at an identifier of the one or more identifiers;

in response to receiving the input:

close the group of webpages; and

display another group of webpages associated with the identifier.

41 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

in accordance with a determination that one or more tabs are scrollable from the tab row in a first direction, display a user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row; and

in accordance with a determination that no more tabs are scrollable in the first direction, forgo display of the user interface element that indicates whether additional tabs are available for selection from the tab row.

42 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein no additional associated tabs are left to scroll in the tab row, and the one or more programs include instructions that, when executed by the portable device, cause the portable device to:

in response to receiving an additional swipe gesture in the first direction:

in accordance with a determination that the additional swipe gesture in the first direction occurs at a location corresponding to the associated tab in the tab row, concurrently:

cease to display the currently displayed webpage, and

display a new user interface that includes one or more user interface elements for selecting a new webpage to display.

43 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 42 , wherein the new user interface is a start page of the web-browser user interface, and the one or more user interface elements are favorited webpages, shared webpages, and frequently visited webpages.

44 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the associated tab in the tab row includes webpage navigation controls in accordance with a determination that those controls are applicable.

45 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein performing the webpage navigation function includes either moving forward or backward a webpage in the browsing history corresponding to the associated tab.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (268)