Method and handheld electronic device having a graphical user interface which arranges icons dynamically

• US 10,331,299 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lazaridis, Mihal, Yach, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Chavez, Renee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duckworth, Jianmei F
• Application Number:
  US15/059,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20160188135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 715744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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: 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: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a media player application is described. A method is provided comprising: (i) determining a screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with a device orientation of the handheld electronic device; (ii) displaying a first user interface screen on a display of the handheld electronic device in a portrait screen orientation when the screen orientation is a portrait screen orientation, wherein the first user interface screen comprises an album list; and (iii) displaying a second user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in a landscape screen orientation when the screen orientation is a landscape screen orientation, wherein the second user interface screen comprises an array of album art images arranged in rows and columns.

Claims

1. A method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for a media player application of a handheld electronic device, the method comprising:

determining a device orientation of the handheld electronic device in accordance with orientation data from an orientation sensor, wherein the device orientation is chosen from one of a top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation, right up device orientation, front up device orientation or back up device orientation;

determining a screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with the determined device orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation or right up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation or bottom up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the left up device orientation or right up device orientation;

determining the screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with a default screen orientation or previous screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the front up device orientation or back up device orientation, wherein the default screen orientation and previous screen orientation are either the portrait screen orientation or the landscape screen orientation;

rendering and displaying an album list user interface screen on a display of the handheld electronic device in the portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the portrait screen orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen comprises a table comprising a plurality of rows and columns, wherein rows in the table represent albums and columns comprise fields providing information about the respective album, wherein one of the columns in each row includes an album art image that links to an album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein selecting an album art image in the album list causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device; and

rendering and displaying an album array user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in the landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the landscape screen orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen comprises an array of album art images arranged in rows and columns, wherein album art images in the array of album art images are each linked to the album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein the album array user interface screen is configured for navigation in an up-and-down direction relative to the landscape screen orientation, wherein selecting an album art image in the album array causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the album list user interface screen is displayed on the display, displaying on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the album list when the album art image in the album list is selected via corresponding input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the album array user interface screen is displayed on the display, displaying on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the array of album art images when the album art image in the album array is selected via corresponding input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the album user interface screen provides detailed information about the respective album including a larger album art image and a track list including tracks for the respective album including track numbers, track names, individual track lengths, and track ratings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations are performed at regular intervals and the GUI is re-rendered and re-displayed only in response to a change in the determined device orientation in which the change in the determined device orientation corresponds to a change in the screen orientation of the GUI.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the columns of the album list comprise an album field in which the album art for the respective album is located, an artist field, a year field, a genre field, and a length field.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the album field comprises an album name and the album art for the respective album.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape left screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the left up device orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape right screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the right up device orientation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait up screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the top up device orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait down screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the bottom up device orientation.

10. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a controller;

a display coupled to the controller;

an orientation sensor connected to the controller for generating an orientation signal in dependence on the orientation of the handheld electronic device;

a memory connected to the controller, the memory having stored thereon a user interface module for generating a graphical user interface on the display;

wherein the controller is configured by the user interface module to;

determine a device orientation of the handheld electronic device in accordance with orientation data from an orientation sensor, wherein the device orientation is chosen from one of a top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation, right up device orientation, front up device orientation or back up device orientation;

determine a screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with the determined device orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation or right up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation or bottom up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the left up device orientation or right up device orientation;

determine the screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with a default screen orientation or previous screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the front up device orientation or back up device orientation, wherein the default screen orientation and previous screen orientation are either the portrait screen orientation or the landscape screen orientation;

render and display an album list user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in the portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the portrait screen orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen comprises a table comprising a plurality of rows and columns, wherein rows in the table represent albums and columns comprise fields providing information about the respective album, wherein one of the columns in each row includes an album art image that links to an album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein selecting an album art image in the album list causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device; and

render and display an album array user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in the landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the landscape screen orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen comprises an array of album art images arranged in rows and columns, wherein album art images in the array of album art images are each linked to the album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein the album array user interface screen is configured for navigation in an up-and-down direction relative to the landscape screen orientation, wherein selecting an album art image in the album array causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured by the user interface module to:

when the album list user interface screen is displayed on the display, display on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the album list when the album art image in the album list is selected via corresponding input.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured by the user interface module to:

when the album array user interface screen is displayed on the display, display on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the array of album art images when the album art image in the album array is selected via corresponding input.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the album user interface screen provides detailed information about the respective album including a larger album art image and a track list including tracks for the respective album including track numbers, track names, individual track lengths, and track ratings.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured by the user interface module to perform the operations at regular intervals and the GUI is re-rendered and re-displayed only in response to a change in the determined device orientation in which the change in the determined device orientation corresponds to a change in the screen orientation of the GUI.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the columns of the album list comprise an album field in which the album art for the respective album is located, an artist field, a year field, a genre field, and a length field.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, wherein the album field comprises an album name and the album art for the respective album.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape left screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the left up device orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape right screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the right up device orientation.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 10, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait up screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the top up device orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait down screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the bottom up device orientation.

19. A non-transitory machine readable medium having tangibly stored thereon executable instructions for execution by a controller of a handheld electronic device comprising a display and an orientation sensor connected to the controller for generating an orientation signal in dependence on the orientation of the handheld electronic device, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the controller of the handheld electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to:

determine a device orientation of the handheld electronic device in accordance with orientation data from an orientation sensor, wherein the device orientation is chosen from one of a top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation, right up device orientation, front up device orientation or back up device orientation;

determine a screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with the determined device orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation, bottom up device orientation, left up device orientation or right up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the top up device orientation or bottom up device orientation, wherein the screen orientation is chosen to be a landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the left up device orientation or right up device orientation;

determine the screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with a default screen orientation or previous screen orientation in response to a determination that the device orientation is one of the front up device orientation or back up device orientation, wherein the default screen orientation and previous screen orientation are either the portrait screen orientation or the landscape screen orientation;

render and display an album list user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in the portrait screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the portrait screen orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen comprises a table comprising a plurality of rows and columns, wherein rows in the table represent albums and columns comprise fields providing information about the respective album, wherein one of the columns in each row includes an album art image that links to an album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein selecting an album art image in the album list causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device; and

render and display an album array user interface screen on the display of the handheld electronic device in the landscape screen orientation in response to a determination that the screen orientation of the GUI is the landscape screen orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen comprises an array of album art images arranged in rows and columns, wherein album art images in the array of album art images are each linked to the album user interface screen for the respective album, wherein the album array user interface screen is configured for navigation in an up-and-down direction relative to the landscape screen orientation, wherein selecting an album art image in the album array causes the album user interface screen for the respective album to be displayed on the display of the handheld electronic device.

20. The non-transitory machine readable medium device of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the controller of the handheld electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to:

when the album list user interface screen is displayed on the display, display on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the album list when the album art image in the album list is selected via corresponding input.

21. The non-transitory machine readable medium device of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the controller of the handheld electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to:

when the album array user interface screen is displayed on the display, display on the display of the handheld electronic device the album user interface screen for the respective album in the array of album art images when the album art image in the album array is selected via corresponding input.

22. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the album user interface screen provides detailed information about the respective album including a larger album art image and a track list including tracks for the respective album including track numbers, track names, individual track lengths, and track ratings.

23. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the controller of the handheld electronic device, cause the handheld electronic device to perform the operations at regular intervals and the GUI is re-rendered and re-displayed only in response to a change in the determined device orientation in which the change in the determined device orientation corresponds to a change in the screen orientation of the GUI.

24. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the columns of the album list comprise an album field in which the album art for the respective album is located, an artist field, a year field, a genre field, and a length field.

25. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 24, wherein the album field comprises an album name and the album art for the respective album.

26. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape left screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the left up device orientation, wherein the album array user interface screen has a landscape right screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the right up device orientation.

27. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait up screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the top up device orientation, wherein the album list user interface screen has a portrait down screen orientation in response to a determination that the device is in the bottom up device orientation.