Orientation free user interface

Abstract

A dynamically orientable graphical user interface (GUI) can include user input controls that are configured to receive user input. The GUI can be displayed as a band around a perimeter of a horizontally oriented interactive display surface. The user input can be received directly from the orientable GUI in the form of finger movement detected by the interactive display surface and the reorientation of the GUI can be controlled according to the laws of physics, based on the user input.

1 . A computer implemented method for displaying an interactive user interface on a substantially rectilinear display surface that is bounded by four substantially linear sides, comprising:
 providing a first graphical user interface (GUI) on a display surface of a computing device, the display surface having a perimeter defined by four sides;   providing a second GUI on the display surface which is dynamically orientable independent of the first GUI, the second GUI being displayed in an initial position and an initial orientation on the display surface which facilitates viewing of the second GUI from a first side of the display surface;   detecting user input comprising a touch input on the display surface for causing a displacement of the second GUI, independent of the first GUI; and   displacing the second GUI on the display surface, without displacing the first GUI, such that the displacement of the second GUI is independent of the first GUI, and by causing the second GUI to be both (a) reoriented to a new orientation on the display surface and (b) displayed in a displaced position on the display surface, for facilitating viewing of the second GUI from a second side of the display surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first side and the second side of the display surface are adjacent sides and are offset by 90°. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first side and the second side of the display surface are opposite sides that are offset by 180°. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement is continuously and dynamically rendered without lag and so as to appear as a fluid motion as the second GUI is moved from the initial position to the displaced position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of recited in  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises a user providing touch input to the display surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user input further comprises the user providing touch input on a control that is displayed within the second GUI. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second GUI is displayed within a selected portion of the display screen along a perimeter of the display screen and which bounds the first GUI. 
     
     
         8 . A computer implemented method for displaying an interactive user interface on a substantially rectilinear display surface that is bounded by four substantially linear sides, comprising:
 providing a primary display field on a display surface of a computing device, the display surface having a perimeter defined by four sides;   providing a secondary display field on the display surface that at least partially extends around the primary display field between the primary display field and the perimeter of the display surface;   displaying a first graphical user interface (GUI) within the primary display field;   displaying a second GUI within the secondary display field, the second GUI being dynamically orientable, independent of the first GUI, the second GUI being displayed in an initial position and with an orientation that faces a first side of the display surface and which facilitates viewing of the second GUI from the first side of the display surface;   detecting user input for causing a displacement of the second GUI, independent of the first GUI; and   displacing the second GUI on the display surface, without displacing the first GUI, by causing the second GUI to be reoriented and repositioned within the secondary display field, relative to the primary display field, so as to be displayed in a new position that is different than the initial position and with an orientation that faces a different side of the display surface and without reorienting the first GUI.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the new position is offset from the initial position by an increment of 90°. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary display field extends contiguously and entirely around the primary display field. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein displacing the second GUI on the display surface includes moving a display element of the second GUI along a path extending within the second GUI. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the displacement is continuously and dynamically rendered without lag and so that the display element appears to move in a fluid motion along the path. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the display element comprises a control that is selectable by user touch input received at the display screen. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displacement occurs simultaneously in response to the user input and wherein the displacement stops in response to detecting a termination of user input. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displacement includes a movement of the second GUI that is visibly perceptible on the display screen and that causes the second GUI to continuously move about a perimeter of the display screen within the secondary display field until a touch input is received to stop the displacement of the second GUI at the new position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the new position is determined in part by laws of physics and corresponding user input that defines movement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further includes calculating a braking parameter that is proportional to a determined speed associated with the user input, the braking parameter defining a rate of decay in a calculated speed of rotation of the second GUI about to the first GUI, within the secondary display field, and applying the braking parameter to the calculated speed of rotation such that the rotation is stopped at the new position by the braking parameter according to the rate of decay. 
     
     
         18 . A computer implemented method for displaying an interactive user interface on a substantially rectilinear display surface that is bounded by four substantially linear sides, comprising:
 providing a primary display field on a display surface of a computing device, the display surface having a perimeter defined by four sides;   providing a secondary display field on the display surface that at least partially extends around the primary display field between the primary display field and the perimeter of the display surface;   displaying a first graphical user interface (GUI) within the primary display field;   displaying a second GUI within the secondary display field, the second GUI being dynamically orientable, independent of the first GUI, the second GUI being displayed in an initial position and with an orientation that faces a first side of the display surface and which facilitates viewing of the second GUI from the first side of the display surface;   detecting input for causing a displacement of the second GUI, independent of the first GUI; and   displacing the second GUI on the display surface, without displacing the first GUI, by causing the second GUI to be reoriented in an increment of substantially 90° to a new position within the secondary display field, relative to the primary display field, so as to be displayed in a new position that is different than the initial position and with an orientation that faces a different side of the display surface and without reorienting the first GUI.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the input comprises input received from an application to selectively initiate the displacement of the second GUI. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the displacement is continuously and dynamically rendered so that at least one display element of the second GUI appears to move in a fluid motion along a path within the secondary display field during the displacement. 
     
     
         21 . A computer implemented method for displaying an interactive user interface on a substantially rectilinear display surface that is bounded by four substantially linear sides, comprising:
 providing a primary display field on a display surface of a computing device, the display surface having a perimeter defined by four sides;   providing a secondary display field on the display surface that at least partially extends around the primary display field between the primary display field and the perimeter of the display surface;   displaying a first graphical user interface (GUI) within the primary display field;   displaying a second GUI within the secondary display field, the second GUI being dynamically orientable, independent of the first GUI, the second GUI being displayed in an initial position and with an orientation that faces a first side of the display surface and which facilitates viewing of the second GUI from the first side of the display surface;   detecting input for causing a 90° displacement and reorientation of the second GUI, independent of the first GUI; and   displacing the second GUI on the display surface, without displacing the first GUI, by causing the second GUI to be reoriented substantially 90° to a new position within the secondary display field, relative to the primary display field, so as to be displayed in a new position that is different than the initial position and with an orientation that faces an adjacent side of the display surface and without reorienting the first GUI;   receiving touch input subsequent to the displacing which is operative to initiate a selection of an element displayed within the second GUI; and   initiating an action responsive to the selection of the element.