Facebook, Inc.

Melcher Media, Inc.

Charles Melcher

Michael James Matas

Kimon Tsinteris

Austin Sarner

In one embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices including defining a hierarchical structure for a user interface (UI) that includes defining one or more layers of the hierarchical structure, adding one or more objects at each layer, and specifying one or more relationships among particular objects. The method further including associating metadata with each object at each layer, the metadata describing how the corresponding object is presented in the user interface.

User interface editor

In one embodiment, overlaying a first element on top of a second element in a user interface; and adjusting visual appearance of the first element based on a portion of the second element underneath the first element.

Overlay images and texts in user interface

Particular embodiments arrange a plurality of objects in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having one or more layers and each layer having at least one of the objects; display a portion of a sequence of first objects on a screen of a user device, the sequence of first objects all belong to a first layer in the hierarchy, each first object having as its children one or more second objects belonging to a second layer immediately below the first layer in the hierarchy; in response to a user scrolling through the sequence of first objects, estimate which specific first object in the sequence the user is likely to be viewing at a predetermined time in the future based on an acceleration of the user scrolling through the sequence of first objects; and preload the second objects that are children of the specific first object.

User intent during object scrolling

In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy, with one or more first components from a first layer floating on top of a second component from a second layer beneath the first layer. The first components are children of the second components. A user may interact with components uniformly, meaning that each specific user interaction applied to each component results in similar response from each component.

Hierarchical user interface

In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy, with a first component of the user interface presented at a first layer. One or more second component are presented at a second layer, the second components being one or more children of the first component and the second layer being one layer above the first layer.

Summary and navigation of hierarchical levels

In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers and displayed to a user. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy. In response to a first user interaction with a component that has a parent, the display transitions from a first layer at which the component is presented to a second layer at which the parent of the component is presented, with the second layer being beneath the first layer. In response to a second user interaction with a component that has a child, the display transitions from the first layer at which the component is presented to a third layer at which the child of the component is presented, with the third layer being above the first layer.

Transitions among hierarchical user-interface layers

In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy, with a first component of the user interface presented at a first layer. One or more second component are presented at a second layer, the second components being one or more children of the first component and the second layer being one layer above the first layer. Each child component of a parent component is locked to their respective parent component.

Transitions among hierarchical user interface components

Particular embodiments display an object at a first position on a screen of an electronic device; and in response to a user selecting the object with one or more fingers and moving the fingers around the screen, display an animated sequence depicting the object moving around the screen tracking movements of the user's fingers, movements of the object in the first animated sequence simulating a visual effect of the object being tethered to the user's fingers by one or more springs.

Spring motions during object animation

Particular embodiments display an object over a background on a screen of an electronic device; and display a shadow effect for the object on the screen of the electronic device, including simulating a three-dimensional (3D) environment encompassing the object; simulating a light source at a specific position within the simulated 3D environment; simulating a shadow cast by the object on the background as a result of the light source shining on the object in the simulated 3D environment; and rendering the shadow on the screen of the electronic device.

Three-dimensional shadows cast by objects

In one embodiment, presenting a folded version of an image in a user interface (UI), the folded version of the image being included in a UI component of the user interface; and in response to a user pinching the folded version of the image with two fingers, simulating and presenting an effect of the folded version of the image being lifted off and floating above the UI component.

Folding and unfolding images in a user interface

Particular embodiments display a first object in a series of objects in its entirety on a screen of an electronic device; and in response to a user interacting with the first object by moving the first object towards a first side of the screen for a distance less than a predetermined threshold distance, gradually move the first object towards the first side of the screen until a portion of the first object is displayed within a first portion of the screen on the first side of the screen; gradually move a second object onto the screen towards the first side of the screen until a portion of a second object is displayed within a second portion of the screen on a second side of the screen for the user to preview the second object; and display shading around the portion of the second object.

Preview of objects arranged in a series

In one embodiment, presenting a video in a user interface in a first presentation mode of a plurality of presentation modes, each presentation mode has a specific size for presenting a visual portion of the video and a specific volume for presenting an audio portion of the video; and in response to a user interaction with the video in the first presentation mode, transitioning the video to a second presentation mode, comprising: changing the visual portion of the video from a first size of the first presentation mode to a second size of the second presentation mode; and changing the audio portion of the video from a first volume of the first presentation mode to a second volume of the second presentation mode.

Growing community of inventors

New York, NY, United States of America

Charles Melcher