# US 12,216,881 B2 · Method for displaying application icon and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,881 B2 - Document ID: US12216881B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/330,200 - Filed: 2023-06-06 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-13 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Lang Song - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216881B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/04812: Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects - G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - 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 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - G06F 2203/04803: Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and device for operating an application icon are provided, to prompt a user where a currently operated application icon is located. The method includes: displaying a first screen page of a desktop, wherein the first screen page comprises N application icons, the N application icons comprise a first application icon and at least one first-layer application icon, and the first-layer application icon is located around the first application icon and adjacent to the first application icon; and the first-layer application icon comprises a foreground layer and a background layer; and receiving an operation of a user related to the first application icon; and in response to the operation, displaying the at least one first-layer application icon in a first display manner, wherein the first display manner comprises that a foreground layer of the at least one first-layer application icon moves relative to the first application icon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: one or more processors; a memory, wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the electronic device is caused to perform the following: displaying a first screen page of a desktop, wherein the first screen page comprises N application icons, the N application icons comprise a first application icon and at least two first-layer application icons, and each of the at least two first-layer application icons is located around the first application icon and adjacent to the first application icon; N is an integer greater than or equal to 3; receiving an operation of a user related to the first application icon; and in response to the operation, displaying the at least one first-layer application icon in a first display manner, wherein the first display manner comprises that the at least two first-layer application icons move relative to the first application icon, to present that the at least two first-layer application icons are attracted or popped off by the first application icon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are at least two of a second application icon, a third application icon, a fourth application icon, and a fifth application icon; and; the second application icon is located on a left side of the first application icon, the third application icon is located on a right side of the first application icon, the fourth application icon is located above the first application icon, and the fifth application icon is located below the first application icon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are the second application icon, the third application icon, the fourth application icon, and the fifth application icon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are at least two of a sixth application icon, a seventh application icon, an eighth application icon, and a ninth application icon; and the sixth application icon is located at an upper left corner of the first application icon, the seventh application icon is located at a lower left corner of the first icon, the eighth application icon is located at an upper right corner of the first icon, and the ninth application icon is located at a lower right corner of the first icon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are the sixth application icon, the seventh application icon, the eighth application icon, and the ninth application icon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instruction which cause the electronic device to perform: after the at least two first-layer application icons are displayed in the first display manner, restoring positions of the at least two first-layer application icons. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the N application icons of N applications further comprise at least one second-layer application icon, and the at least two first-layer application icons are located between the first application icon and the at least one second-layer application icon; and the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instruction which cause the electronic device to perform: displaying the at least two first-layer application icons and the at least one second-layer application icon in the first display manner in response to the operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation is opening, moving or deleting an application program corresponding to the first application icon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first application icon is a contact application icon, a browser application icon, an instant chat application icon, or a social application icon. ### Claim 10 A method for operating an application icon, wherein the method which is applied to an electronic device comprises: displaying a first screen page of a desktop, wherein the first screen page comprises N application icons, the N application icons comprise a first application icon and at least two first-layer application icons, and each of the at least two first-layer application icons is located around the first application icon and adjacent to the first application icon; and N is an integer greater than or equal to 3; receiving an operation of a user related to the first application icon; and in response to the operation, displaying the at least two first-layer application icons in a first display manner, wherein the first display manner comprises that the at least two first-layer application icons move relative to the first application icon, to present that the at least two first-layer application icons are attracted or popped off by the first application icon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are at least one of a second application icon, a third application icon, a fourth application icon, and a fifth application icon; and the second application icon is located on a left side of the first application icon, the third application icon is located on a right side of the first application icon, the fourth application icon is located above the first application icon, and the fifth application icon is located below the first application icon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are at least one of a sixth application icon, a seventh application icon, an eighth application icon, and a ninth application icon; and the sixth application icon is located at an upper left corner of the first application icon, the seventh application icon is located at a lower left corner of the first icon, the eighth application icon is located at an upper right corner of the first icon, and the ninth application icon is located at a lower right corner of the first icon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: after the at least two first-layer application icon are displayed in the first display manner, restoring positions of the at least two first-layer application icons. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the N application icons of N applications further comprise at least one second-layer application icon, and the at least two first-layer application icons are located between the first application icon and the at least one second-layer application icon; and the method further comprises: displaying the at least two first-layer application icons and the at least one second-layer application icon in the first display manner in response to the operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the operation is opening, moving or deleting an application program corresponding to the first application icon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first application icon is a contact application icon, a browser application icon, an instant chat application icon, or a social application icon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are the second application icon, the third application icon, the fourth application icon, and the fifth application icon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least two first-layer application icons are the sixth application icon, the seventh application icon, the eighth application icon, and the ninth application icon.