Mechanism for providing user-programmable button

• US 10,306,047 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Walsh, Robert, Rathi, Shailesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N
• Application Number:
  US14/866,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20160248897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an intuitive way for a first electronic device (e.g., a head unit) to request context information from a second electronic device (e.g., a phone or tablet), and to store the context information in association with an affordance (e.g., such as a physical or virtual button on the head unit) so that the context can be later recalled in response to input on the affordance.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a first electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the first electronic device to perform a method comprising:

receiving first input on a first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the first input, requesting first context information from a second electronic device in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is separate from the first electronic device; and

storing the first context information in association with the first affordance, wherein;

receiving the first input on the first affordance of the first electronic device occurs while a current activity of an application running on the second electronic device is being performed, and

the first context information is indicative of the current activity of the application running on the second electronic device.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the second electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a user interface of a first application, wherein the first input is received while the user interface of the first application is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

further in response to the second input, causing the second electronic device to launch an application.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device is in communication with a third electronic device, different from the second electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the third electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface object;

wherein the first input is received while the first user interface object is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

wherein the first context information is related to an action associated with the first user interface object.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the method further comprising:

further in response to the first input, determining that the first user interface object is selected; and

in accordance with the determination that the first user interface object is selected, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the method further comprising:

further in response to the first input, prompting a selection of a user interface object;

receiving a selection of the first user interface object; and

in accordance with receiving the selection of the first user interface object, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance; and

in response to the second input, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

receiving third input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the third input;

in accordance with a determination that first device selection criteria are met, causing the first electronic device to perform the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that second device selection criteria are met, causing the second electronic device to perform the second action.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface, wherein the first input is received while the first user interface is displayed on the display of the first electronic device;

wherein the first context information is requested from the second electronic device in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is a user interface of an application of the second electronic device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is not a user interface of an application the second electronic device, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining a description based on the first context information; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a description of the first context information from the second electronic device; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first context information is a uniform resource identifier (URI).

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first context information is a binary blob generated by the second electronic device.

16. A first electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors including instructions for;

receiving first input on a first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the first input, requesting first context information from a second electronic device in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is separate from the first electronic device; and

storing the first context information in association with the first affordance, wherein;

receiving the first input on the first affordance of the first electronic device occurs while a current activity of an application running on the second electronic device is being performed, and

the first context information is indicative of the current activity of the application running on the second electronic device.

17. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the second electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

18. The first electronic device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a user interface of a first application, wherein the first input is received while the user interface of the first application is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

further in response to the second input, causing the second electronic device to launch an application.

19. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device is in communication with a third electronic device, different from the second electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the third electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

20. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface object;

wherein the first input is received while the first user interface object is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

wherein the first context information is related to an action associated with the first user interface object.

21. The first electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

further in response to the first input, determining that the first user interface object is selected; and

in accordance with the determination that the first user interface object is selected, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

22. The first electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

further in response to the first input, prompting a selection of a user interface object;

receiving a selection of the first user interface object; and

in accordance with receiving the selection of the first user interface object, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

23. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving second input on the first affordance; and

in response to the second input, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

24. The first electronic device of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving third input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the third input;

in accordance with a determination that first device selection criteria are met, causing the first electronic device to perform the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that second device selection criteria are met, causing the second electronic device to perform the second action.

25. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface, wherein the first input is received while the first user interface is displayed on the display of the first electronic device;

wherein the first context information is requested from the second electronic device in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is a user interface of an application of the second electronic device.

26. The first electronic device of claim 25, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is not a user interface of an application the second electronic device, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

27. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

determining a description based on the first context information; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

28. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving a description of the first context information from the second electronic device; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

29. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first context information is a uniform resource identifier (URI).

30. The first electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first context information is a binary blob generated by the second electronic device.

31. A method comprising:

at a first electronic device with one or more processors and memory;

receiving first input on a first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the first input, requesting first context information from a second electronic device in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is separate from the first electronic device; and

storing the first context information in association with the first affordance, wherein;

receiving the first input on the first affordance of the first electronic device occurs while a current activity of an application running on the second electronic device is being performed, and

the first context information is indicative of the current activity of the application running on the second electronic device.

32. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the second electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

33. The method of claim 32, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a user interface of a first application, wherein the first input is received while the user interface of the first application is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

further in response to the second input, causing the second electronic device to launch an application.

34. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance of the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device is in communication with a third electronic device, different from the second electronic device;

in response to the second input;

sending the first context information stored in association with the first affordance to the third electronic device; and

displaying a user interface associated with the first context information.

35. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface object;

wherein the first input is received while the first user interface object is displayed on the display of the first electronic device; and

wherein the first context information is related to an action associated with the first user interface object.

36. The method of claim 35, the method further comprising:

further in response to the first input, determining that the first user interface object is selected; and

in accordance with the determination that the first user interface object is selected, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

37. The method of claim 35, the method further comprising:

further in response to the first input, prompting a selection of a user interface object;

receiving a selection of the first user interface object; and

in accordance with receiving the selection of the first user interface object, determining the first context information based on the first user interface object.

38. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving second input on the first affordance; and

in response to the second input, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

39. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving third input on the first affordance of the first electronic device;

in response to the third input;

in accordance with a determination that first device selection criteria are met, causing the first electronic device to perform the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that second device selection criteria are met, causing the second electronic device to perform the second action.

40. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, a first user interface, wherein the first input is received while the first user interface is displayed on the display of the first electronic device;

wherein the first context information is requested from the second electronic device in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is a user interface of an application of the second electronic device.

41. The method of claim 33, the method further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the first user interface is not a user interface of an application the second electronic device, storing second context information in association with the first affordance;

wherein the second context information is related to a first action of the first electronic device, and the first context information is related to a second action of the second electronic device.

42. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

determining a description based on the first context information; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

43. The method of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving a description of the first context information from the second electronic device; and

displaying, on a display of the first electronic device, the description in association with the first affordance.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein the first context information is a uniform resource identifier (URI).

45. The method of claim 31, wherein the first context information is a binary blob generated by the second electronic device.