US Patent 10324619 Touch-based gesture recognition and application navigation

A method is performed at an electronic device that includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs. The device displays a user interface of a software application, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of user-interface elements. A first gesture is detected on the touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface, and an initial direction of movement is determined for the first gesture. The device recognizes that the initial direction corresponds to one of a first predefined direction on the touch-sensitive surface or a second predefined direction on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the first predefined direction is distinct from the second predefined direction. Display of one or more user-interface elements of the plurality of user-interface elements is manipulated in accordance with the corresponding one of the first or second predefined direction.