# How Apple's Navigation Bar Manages App Screens

> A method for navigating between different screens in a music app using a fixed bar that shows where you are, where you came from, and a shortcut to the player.

- **Patent:** US 7596761
- **Original title:** Application user interface with navigation bar showing current and prior application contexts
- **Owner:** Apple Inc
- **Granted:** 2009
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 80
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software

## What it does

This patent describes a navigation bar that stays in a fixed position on a smartphone screen while the main content area changes. The bar is divided into three specific sections: one for the current screen, one for the previous screen, and a shortcut link to the music player. When a user taps the 'prior' region, the display animates a shift in one direction to reveal the previous page, and when they tap the 'link' region, it shifts in the opposite direction to take them to the player. This ensures the user always has a clear path back to the music controls while browsing through song lists or artist menus.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover navigation bars that move or disappear when scrolling.
- Does not cover non-hierarchical navigation systems like a simple home screen grid.
- Does not cover gestures that involve swiping the entire screen to navigate rather than tapping specific regions in a bar.
- Does not cover navigation bars that contain fewer than three distinct regions.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in maintaining a fixed navigation bar that dynamically updates its labels based on the user's history, while using directional animations to visually reinforce the 'back' or 'forward' movement through the app's hierarchy.

## Real-world examples

1. The original iPhone Music app navigation
2. iOS settings menu breadcrumb navigation
3. Standard mobile app 'back' button behaviors

## Why it matters

This patent was central to the design language of the early iPhone and iPod Touch. It established a consistent way for users to move through nested menus without getting lost, which was critical for small touchscreens where screen space is extremely limited.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Apple's Navigation Bar Manages App Screens cover?

A method for navigating between different screens in a music app using a fixed bar that shows where you are, where you came from, and a shortcut to the player.

### Who owns patent US 7596761?

Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2009.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on September 29, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 7596761 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 80 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent was central to the design language of the early iPhone and iPod Touch. It established a consistent way for users to move through nested menus without getting lost, which was critical for small touchscreens where screen space is extremely limited.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover navigation bars that move or disappear when scrolling.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7596761/os-x-dashboard-widgets

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US7596761

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._