# 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. - **Patent:** US 8291344 - **Original title:** Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications - **Owner:** Apple Inc - **Granted:** 2012 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 70 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software ## What it does 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. ## 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 ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. iOS App Switcher (multitasking view) 2. iPadOS multitasking gestures 3. Early iPhone multitasking bars ## Why it matters 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. ## 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 **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8291344/ios-autocorrect-keyboard **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8291344 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How the iPhone Switches and Adds Mobile Web Browser Tabs](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8214768/ios-notification-center) — Apple's 2007 patent on using swipes, edge taps, and dedicated buttons to create and flip through multiple full-screen windows in a mobile web browser. - [How Folders With Multiple Pages Work on Touchscreens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11809700/vision-pro-eye-tracking) — Apple's patent describes how to organize apps into multi-page folders and move icons between those pages by dragging them to specific screen edges. - [How Smartphones Organize Apps into Folders](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8423911/ios-control-center) — Apple's 2010 patent describing the logic for creating and interacting with app folders on a touchscreen device, specifically distinguishing between 'normal' use and 'editing' modes. - [How to Interact with Background Apps While Using Another App](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10521248/swiftui) — A method for controlling background applications directly through a visual window inside the app you are currently using. - [How Smartphones Let You Rearrange and Organize Your Home Screen Icons](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11449194/spatial-audio-with-dynamic-head-tracking) — Apple's patent describes the specific software logic used to let users drag, drop, and rearrange app icons on a touchscreen by entering a special 'jiggle' mode.