# US 8,786,559 B2 · Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating tables using multi-contact gestures

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- Number: US 8,786,559 B2
- Document ID: US8786559B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/789,425
- Filed: 2010-05-27
- Published: 2011-07-07
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-06
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Edward P. A. Hogan
- Inventors: Edward P. A. Hogan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786559B2

## CPC

- G06F 40/18: of spreadsheets (form-filling G06F40/174)
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 2203/04808: Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An electronic device having a display and a touch-sensitive surface, displays a table having a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells. The device detects a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface that includes movement of one or more of a first contact and a second contact. When the detected gesture is a pinch gesture at a location that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, the device decreases the width of the one or more respective columns. When the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture at a location that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, the device increases the width of the one or more respective columns.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a display and a touch-sensitive surface;
one or more processors;
memory; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying a table comprising a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of header regions, wherein:
the header regions include a row header region and a column header region,
each row has a height and a row header in the row header region, and
each column has a width and a column header in the column header region;
detecting a first contact and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface;
detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, decreasing the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, increasing the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein:
the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the device includes instructions for, in response to detecting the gesture:
adjusting a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjusting a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, including instructions for:
detecting a third contact, wherein:
the first contact, the second contact and the third contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact, the second contact and the third contact; and,
in response to detecting the gesture:
adjusting a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjusting a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the width of the one or more respective columns is increased or decreased in response to the gesture only when the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a header region of the table.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, including instructions for, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first column header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second column header that is distinct from the first column header, adjusting the width of a plurality of the columns in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of columns includes at least the column associated with the first column header and the column associated with the second column header.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, including instructions for, in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, decreasing the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, increasing the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, including instructions for, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first row header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second row header that is distinct from the first row header, adjusting the height of a plurality of the rows in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of rows includes at least the row associated with the first row header and the row associated with the second row header.

### Claim 8

A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface:
displaying a table comprising a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of header regions, wherein:
the header regions include a row header region and a column header region,
each row has a height and a row header in the row header region, and
each column has a width and a column header in the column header region;
detecting a first contact and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface;
detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, decreasing the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, increasing the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein:
the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the method includes, in response to detecting the gesture:
adjusting a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjusting a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, including:
detecting a third contact, wherein:
the first contact, the second contact and the third contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact, the second contact and the third contact; and,
in response to detecting the gesture:
adjusting a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjusting a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the width of the one or more respective columns is increased or decreased in response to the gesture only when the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a header region of the table.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, including, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first column header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second column header that is distinct from the first column header, adjusting the width of a plurality of the columns in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of columns includes at least the column associated with the first column header and the column associated with the second column header.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, including, in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, decreasing the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, increasing the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, including, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first row header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second row header that is distinct from the first row header, adjusting the height of a plurality of the rows in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of rows includes at least the row associated with the first row header and the row associated with the second row header.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to:
display a table comprising a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of header regions, wherein:
the header regions include a row header region and a column header region,
each row has a height and a row header in the row header region, and
each column has a width and a column header in the column header region;
detect a first contact and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface;
detect a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the two-contact gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, decrease the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the one or more respective columns, increase the width of the one or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the one or more respective columns.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:
the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the computer readable storage medium includes instructions to, in response to detecting the gesture:
adjust a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjust a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable storage medium includes instructions to:
detect a third contact, wherein:
the first contact, the second contact and the third contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a respective cell of the table; and,
the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact, the second contact and the third contact; and,
in response to detecting the gesture:
adjust a width of a respective column associated with the cell in accordance with a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the column associated with the cell while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective column; and,
adjust a height of a respective row associated with the cell in accordance a component of the gesture that is perpendicular to the row associated with the cell while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the respective row.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the width of the one or more respective columns is increased or decreased in response to the gesture only when the first contact and the second contact are detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a header region of the table.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, including instructions to, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first column header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second column header that is distinct from the first column header, adjust the width of a plurality of the columns in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of columns includes at least the column associated with the first column header and the column associated with the second column header.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, including instructions to, in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, decrease the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the row header region, increase the height of a corresponding row in the table while maintaining a height of one or more other rows in the table that are concurrently displayed on the display with the corresponding row.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, including instructions to, when the first contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first row header and the second contact is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a second row header that is distinct from the first row header, adjust the height of a plurality of the rows in the table in accordance with the gesture, wherein the plurality of rows includes at least the row associated with the first row header and the row associated with the second row header.

### Claim 22

An electronic device, comprising:
a display and a touch-sensitive surface;
one or more processors;
memory; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying a table comprising a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of header regions, wherein:
the header regions include a row header region and a column header region,
each row has a height and a row header in the row header region, and
each column has a width and a column header in the column header region;
detecting a first contact and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface;
detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the gesture includes movement of one or more of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to detecting the gesture:
when the detected gesture is a pinch gesture, that includes a decrease in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to two or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the two or more respective columns, decreasing the width of the two or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the two or more respective columns; and
when the detected gesture is a de-pinch gesture, that includes an increase in a distance between the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to two or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact and has a component that is perpendicular to the two or more respective columns, increasing the width of the two or more respective columns in the table that are at least partially between the first contact and the second contact while maintaining a width of one or more other columns in the table that are not between the first contact and the second contact and are concurrently displayed on the display with the two or more respective columns.