Apple wins new patent: Delete gesture on touchscreen electronic devices

The US Patent and Trademark Office recently published a patent awarded to Apple, which describes "a method of deleting gestures on portable electronic devices with touchscreens."

Specifically, this patent refers to the deletion of list items that require users to perform different gesture operations on the touchscreen. In certain specific cases, this method combines the execution by computer with portable multifunctional devices, displaying a list of items on the touchscreen. After the system detects the first gesture on the touchscreen, the user can then edit the item list. After operating the first gesture, a first icon will appear next to the deletable items on the list. After detecting the second gesture operation on the touchscreen to select the deletable items, a second icon will appear next to these items.

If the system detects a gesture operation by the user on the second icon, the selected deletable items will be deleted. If the system detects a gesture operation by the user on the first icon (near the selected deletable item), the second icon will be removed.

The inventors of this Apple patent include former head of mobile iOS, Scott Forstall, along with Stephen Lemay, Bas Ording, and Marcel Van Os.