How Mobile Devices Switch Between Open Apps Using Gestures
Apple's patent describes a way to switch between open apps on a touchscreen by showing a bar of app previews and selecting one with a tap.
Original patent title: “Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications”
Apple's patent describes a way to switch between open apps on a touchscreen by showing a bar of app previews and selecting one with a tap. Granted to Apple Inc in 2012 with 24 claims and 70 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent defines a specific way to manage multitasking on a mobile device. When a user triggers an 'application view selection mode,' the device displays a row of smaller images representing currently open apps alongside a separate area for launching new apps. The user selects an app by tapping one of these previews, which then expands to full-screen while the selection bar disappears. It specifically links the transition from a full-screen app to this selection mode and back again, ensuring that selecting an app restores its previous state.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover multitasking systems that do not use a dedicated 'predefined area' for app previews
- Does not cover app switching methods that rely solely on hardware buttons rather than gestures
- Does not cover systems that display all open apps in a grid rather than a specific selection bar area
- Does not cover background processes that manage memory without a specific graphical user interface component
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the simultaneous display of 'active' app previews and 'launch' icons in two distinct, predefined areas, allowing a single gesture to switch context between running tasks and new app discovery.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
iOS App Switcher (multitasking view)
iPadOS multitasking gestures
Early iPhone multitasking bars
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is a core component of the iOS multitasking interface introduced in the early 2010s. It provided a standardized way for users to navigate between multiple active programs without losing their place, which was essential for the transition of smartphones from simple tools to primary computing devices.
Filed
September 22, 2010
Granted
October 16, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple continues to refine this interface in iOS and iPadOS. Other mobile operating system developers, such as those working on Android, have developed their own distinct implementations of app switching that navigate similar user experience requirements.
Market impact
This patent helped solidify the 'app switcher' paradigm as a standard feature for mobile operating systems. It became a significant point of reference in the broader patent wars of the early 2010s regarding mobile user interface design.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent defines a specific way to manage multitasking on a mobile device. When a user triggers an 'application view selection mode,' the device displays a row of smaller images representing currently open apps alongside a separate area for launching new apps. The user selects an app by tapping one of these previews, which then expands to full-screen while the selection bar disappears. It specifically links the transition from a full-screen app to this selection mode and back again, ensuring that selecting an app restores its previous state.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the simultaneous display of 'active' app previews and 'launch' icons in two distinct, predefined areas, allowing a single gesture to switch context between running tasks and new app discovery.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover multitasking systems that do not use a dedicated 'predefined area' for app previews
- Does not cover app switching methods that rely solely on hardware buttons rather than gestures
- Does not cover systems that display all open apps in a grid rather than a specific selection bar area
- Does not cover background processes that manage memory without a specific graphical user interface component
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
37/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
16/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$328K – $1.0M
Midpoint $655K · 4.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
24 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Chaudhri, I. (2012). How Mobile Devices Switch Between Open Apps Using Gestures (U.S. Patent No. 8,291,344). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8291344/ios-autocorrect-keyboard
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Mobile Devices Switch Between Open Apps Using Gestures cover?
Apple's patent describes a way to switch between open apps on a touchscreen by showing a bar of app previews and selecting one with a tap.
Who owns patent US 8291344?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 16, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8291344 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 70 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is a core component of the iOS multitasking interface introduced in the early 2010s. It provided a standardized way for users to navigate between multiple active programs without losing their place, which was essential for the transition of smartphones from simple tools to primary computing devices.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover multitasking systems that do not use a dedicated 'predefined area' for app previews
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
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