Adding a contact to a home screen

• US 10,095,375 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: van Os, Marcel Mwa
• Primary Examiner(s): Tank, Andrew L
• Application Number:
  US12/170,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,744 Days
• Field of Search: 715705, 715708, 715744, 715745, 715810, 715811, 715814, 715825, 715835, 715844, 715862, 715864, 715751, 715764, 715779, 715837-839, 4554561-457
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

An icon can be created for a contact (e.g., an individual(s) or an entity) and presented on a user interface of a mobile device, such as a “home screen.” The icon can be used to retrieve and display contact information. The icon can also be used to invoke one or more applications that are personalized to the contact. The icon can be modified to display information related to the contact. In one aspect, an icon associated with an entity can be temporarily displayed on the mobile device based on the proximity of the mobile device to the entity. The icon can be used to retrieve and display information related to the entity. Additionally, the icon can be removed from the display on the mobile device when the mobile device is no longer within a certain proximity of the entity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of unviewed content items from a plurality of individuals;

identifying, from the plurality of unviewed content items, unviewed content items associated with an individual of the plurality of individuals;

after the identification, determining;

a first number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a first application, and

a second number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a second application; and

displaying an icon representing the individual on a user interface of a device, wherein the displayed icon includes an enumerated status badge, the enumerated status badge including a sum of the first and second numbers of unviewed content items associated with the individual from the first and second applications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified unviewed content items comprise missed calls, unheard voicemails, unread emails, or unread SMS messages.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input specifying the icon; and

displaying an application icon for each of the first and second applications-in the user interface, wherein the application icon for each application includes additional information specific to that application and with respect to the individual.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional information is a displayed indication signifying a number of unviewed content items associated with a specific application and with respect to the individual.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the application icon for each application is selectable to invoke the corresponding application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application icon;

invoking an application corresponding to the selected application icon; and

displaying application information associated with the selected application and the individual.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second applications include an SMS application, a voicemail application, an email application, a calendar application, or a location application.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the icon based on content associated with the individual before displaying the icon, wherein the content includes an image and information corresponding to the individual.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein creating the icon based on the content includes creating the icon based on a portion of the content.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving input to create the icon representing the individual before creating the icon; and

in response to receiving the input to create the icon-displaying a keyboard on the device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving input through the keyboard specifying a name associated with the icon.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the icon on the user interface of the devices comprises:

displaying the name in association with the icon on the user interface.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein creating the icon comprises:

converting an image associated with the individual into the icon.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the content associated with the individual is on a contact page associated with the individual.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information corresponding to the individual comprises one or more of a name associated with the individual, a phone number associated with the individual, an email address associated with the individual, a website associated with the individual, and a concrete address associated with the individual.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon is a link to a page corresponding to the individual.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the device comprises a home screen of the device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the home screen includes an application icon for each of the first and second applications.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an application icon for each of the first and second applications-in the user interface, wherein the application icon for the first application includes an enumerated status badge including the first number of unviewed content items associated with the individual, and the application icon for the second application includes an enumerated status badge including the second number of unviewed content items associated with the individual.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an input selecting the application icon for the first application;

in response to the input, displaying the unviewed content items associated with the individual and received from the first application; and

updating the enumerated status badge included in the application icon for the first application to reflect that the unviewed content items associated with the individual and received from the first application have been viewed.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, from the plurality of unviewed content items, second unviewed content items associated with a second individual of the plurality of individuals;

after the identification, determining;

a third number of second unviewed content items in the identified second unviewed content items that are received from a third application, and

a fourth number of second unviewed content items in the identified second unviewed content items that are received from a fourth application; and

displaying a second icon representing the second individual on the user interface of the device, wherein the displayed second icon includes a second enumerated status badge, the second enumerated status badge including a sum of the third and fourth numbers of second unviewed content items associated with the second individual from the third and fourth applications.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second applications are different from the third and fourth applications.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second applications are the same as the third and fourth applications.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a plurality of unviewed content items from a plurality of individuals;

identifying, from the plurality of unviewed content items, unviewed content items associated with an individual of the plurality of individuals;

after the identification, determining;

a first number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a first application, and

a second number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a second application; and

displaying an icon representing the individual on a user interface of a device, wherein the displayed icon includes an enumerated status badge, the enumerated status badge including a sum of the first and second numbers of unviewed content items associated with the individual from the first and second applications.

25. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory coupled to the one or more processors and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform a method comprising;

receiving a plurality of unviewed content items from a plurality of individuals;

identifying, from the plurality of unviewed content items, unviewed content items associated with an individual of the plurality of individuals;

after the identification, determining;

a first number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a first application, and

a second number of unviewed content items in the identified unviewed content items that are received from a second application; and

displaying an icon representing the individual on a user interface of a device, wherein the displayed icon includes an enumerated status badge, the enumerated status badge including a sum of the first and second numbers of unviewed content items associated with the individual from the first and second applications.