# US 10,871,886 B2 · Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving drawing objects

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- Number: US 10,871,886 B2
- Document ID: US10871886B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/378,735
- Filed: 2019-04-09
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-31
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Jennifer P. Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871886B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/0486: Drag-and-drop
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

In accordance with various implementations, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display device and one or more input devices. The method includes displaying, on the display device, a drawing user interface that includes a set of drawing objects. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a first user input moving to define a path within the drawing user interface. In response to detecting the first user input moving to define the path within the drawing user interface, the method includes displaying, on the display device, a representation of the path within the drawing user interface. The method includes detecting, via the one or more input devices, a second user input moving within the drawing user interface from a first location on a first side of the representation of the path to a second location. In response to detecting the second user input and in accordance with a determination that the path satisfies a length criterion, the method includes moving those of the set of drawing objects on the first side of the representation of the path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
at a device with a display device and one or more input devices:
displaying, on the display device, a drawing user interface that includes a set of drawing objects including a first drawing object, a second drawing object, and a third drawing object;
detecting, via the one or more input devices, a first user input moving to define a path within the drawing user interface;
in response to detecting the first user input moving to define the path within the drawing user interface, displaying, on the display device, a representation of the path within the drawing user interface; and
after displaying the representation of the path within the drawing user interface:
detecting, via the one or more input devices, a second user input moving within the drawing user interface in a first direction; and
in response to detecting the second user input:
in accordance with a determination that the path satisfies a length criterion and that the first drawing object is on a first side of the path and the second drawing object and the third drawing object are on a second side of the path, moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input; and
in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and encloses the second user interface object without enclosing the first user interface object and without enclosing the third user interface object, moving the second drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input and without moving the third drawing object based on the second user input.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes increasing a distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes increasing the distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object by an amount proportional to a distance of movement of the second user input.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes decreasing a distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes, in response to a first portion of the second user input, decreasing the distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object by an amount proportional to a distance of a first portion of the second user input until the representation of the path touches the second drawing object or the third drawing object.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes, in response to a second portion of the second user input, maintaining the locations of the first drawing object and the second drawing object.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input includes, in response to a second portion of the second user input, moving the first drawing object and the second drawing object by an amount proportional to a distance of the second portion of the second user input.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input is detected while a drawing object selection tool is selected.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising:
in accordance with a determination that the first user input includes a stylus user input, displaying the representation of the path within the drawing user interface; and
in accordance with a determination that the first user input includes a finger user input, scrolling the set of drawing objects in the drawing user interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising, in accordance with the determination that the path satisfies the length criterion and that the first drawing object is on the first side of the path and the second drawing object and the third drawing object are on the second side of the path:
in accordance with a determination that the second user input includes a finger user input, moving the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input and
in accordance with a determination that the second user input includes a stylus user input, displaying a representation of a movement of the second user input.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the second user input:
in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and does not enclose any of the set of drawing objects, ceasing display of the representation of the path.

### Claim 12

An electronic device comprising:
a display device configured to display a user interface;
one or more input devices configured to receive inputs; and
a processing device coupled with the display device and the one or more input devices, the processing device configured to:
display, on the display device, a drawing user interface that includes a set of drawing objects including a first drawing object, a second drawing object, and a third drawing object;
detect, via the one or more input devices, a first user input moving to define a path within the drawing user interface;
in response to detecting the first user input moving to define the path within the drawing user interface, display, on the display device, a representation of the path within the drawing user interface; and
after displaying the representation of the path within the drawing user interface:
detect, via the one or more input devices, a second user input moving within the drawing user interface in a first direction; and
in response to detecting the second user input:
in accordance with a determination that the path satisfies a length criterion and that the first drawing object is on a first side of the path and the second drawing object and the third drawing object are on a second side of the path, move the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input; and
in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and encloses the second user interface object without enclosing the first user interface object and without enclosing the third user interface object, move the second drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input and without moving the third drawing object based on the second user input.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is configured to move the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input by increasing a distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is configured to move the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input by decreasing a distance between the first drawing object and the second drawing object.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing device detects the first user input while a drawing object selection tool is selected.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing device detects the first user input by detecting a stylus user input and detects the second user input by detecting a finger user input.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to:
in response to detecting the second user input and in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and does not enclose any of the set of drawing objects, ceasing display of the representation of the path.

### Claim 18

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, that, when executed by an electronic device with a display device and one or more input devices, cause the electronic device to:
display, on the display device, a drawing user interface that includes a set of drawing objects including a first drawing object, a second drawing object, and a third drawing object;
detect, via the one or more input devices, a first user input moving to define a path within the drawing user interface;
in response to detecting the first user input moving to define the path within the drawing user interface, display, on the display device, a representation of the path within the drawing user interface; and
after displaying the representation of the path within the drawing user interface:
detect, via the one or more input devices, a second user input moving within the drawing user interface in a first direction; and
in response to detecting the second user input:
in accordance with a determination that the path satisfies a length criterion and that the first drawing object is on a first side of the path and the second drawing object and the third drawing object are on a second side of the path, move the second drawing object and the third drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input; and
in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and encloses the second user interface object without enclosing the first user interface object and without enclosing the third user interface object, move the second drawing object in the first direction based on the second user input without moving the first drawing object based on the second user input and without moving the third drawing object based on the second user input.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
in response to detecting the second user input and in accordance with a determination that the path does not satisfy the length criterion and does not enclose any of the set of drawing objects, cease display of the representation of by the path.