# US 9,436,346 B2 · Layer-based user interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,346 B2 - Document ID: US9436346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/163,104 - Filed: 2008-06-27 - Published: 2009-08-13 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-11 - Assignees: Idean Enterprises Oy - Applicants: Markus Kallio; Risto Lähdesmäki; Marko Vänskä; Petri Heiskanen; Mika Käki - Inventors: Markus Kallio; Risto Lähdesmäki; Marko Vänskä; Petri Heiskanen; Mika Käki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436346B2 ## CPC - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 3/0486: Drag-and-drop - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - H04M 1/72469: for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A layer-based user interface for computing devices. In the layer-based user interface, the functionality of the device is distributed to layers and accessed via them. Each layer is composed of a number of components or features that are typically represented by icons. The components can present, for example, data or functions to the user. The components can be interactive or un-interactive. A subset of interactive components is navigational. Navigational components are a special case of the components because of their central role in the user interface concept. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a user interface in a computing device, the method comprising: arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being invisible; choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components; said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component; launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating a third layer that was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said launching the application and simultaneously maintaining the display of said second layer that is visible on the user interface of the computing device; and wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a scrollable menu. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are arranged into a non-scrollable menu. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components are active components arranged to retrieve the visualization of the component from a network service. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said layers further comprise sub-layers having at least one component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering a component includes at least one of the following: time-based trigger, application-based trigger, pressure-based trigger and orientation-based trigger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions. ### Claim 8 A computer program comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising: arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being invisible; choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components; said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component; launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating a third layer that was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said launching the application and simultaneously maintaining the display of said second layer that is visible on the user interface of the computing device; and wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program according to claim 8, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising means for executing a computer program embodied on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium within a computing device and executable by the computing device to provide a user interface, comprising: arranging a plurality of components in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers being visible and a second layer of the plurality of layers being invisible; choosing a desired feature from the first layer by activating at least one of said components; said first layer and second layer being movable in relation to each other, wherein a dragging gesture in one of at least two possible directions moves said at least one activated component from the first layer to a predetermined activation area to cause further previously invisible second layer to become visible by revealing as the activated component is dragged, said second layer which was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said dragging of said at least one activated component; launching an application corresponding to the activated component according to the chosen feature, wherein in response to said launching the application, activating a third layer that was previously invisible and has become visible is defined by said launching the application and simultaneously maintaining the display of said second layer that is visible on the user interface of the computing device; and wherein said components are arranged into a plurality of groups and said groups are assigned a direction for launching said group. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises control means, wherein the control means is at least one of the following: a touch sensitive display, an orientation sensor and a keypad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a network connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the dragging gesture is in one of two to four directions.