Multiple device configuration application

• US 10,331,321 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Milden, Kevin C., Skogen, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahmachari, Mandrita
• Application Number:
  US14/987,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20160357421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A user interface (UI) of a device configuration application includes a collection view window of device representations with each representation including a screen image that is representative of the configuration state of the corresponding device. The device configuration application UI allows for searching the devices based on their configuration states, and for configuring the devices based on a set of configuration templates displayed in a collection view window. The UI allows for customizing the configuration templates in a device-independent manner, while allowing the user to add a set of configuration rules to each template. The device configuration application provides a method for updating the actual lock screen image of devices by displaying a device identifier on the lock screen. The format of such device identifier includes a device-identifying text string and/or machine-readable code. Displaying a device identifier allows for a more efficient way of cataloging, tracking, and/or configuring devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

displaying a collection view window on a user interface of a device configuration application for configuring a plurality of devices;

concurrently displaying representations of form factors of a plurality of devices and corresponding representations of configuration states separate from the representations of form factors of the plurality of devices within the collection view window, wherein;

a representation of a form factor of a first device indicates the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a form factor of a second device indicates the form factor of the second device, the representation of the form factor of the second device is different from the representation of the form factor of the first device when the form factor of the second device is different from the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the first device comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a first configuration state of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the second device comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a second configuration state of the second device, and

while the first device is in the first configuration state and the second device is in the second configuration state that is different from the first configuration state, the screen image in the first representation is different from the screen image in the second representation;

while displaying the user interface of the device configuration application, detecting a change in the configuration state of the first device from the first configuration state to a different configuration state; and

in response to detecting the change in the configuration state of the first device;

updating the representation of the configuration state of the first device to include a screen image that represents the different configuration state instead of the screen image that represents the first configuration state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the form factor of the first device is based on physical properties of the first device and the representation of the form factor of the second device is based on physical properties of the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen image representing the first configuration state of the first device comprises a pre-defined default image.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, while displaying the representations of form factors and configuration states of the plurality of devices:

receiving a request to add one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states to the collection view window; and

in response to receiving the request;

reducing a size of one or more representations of form factors and configuration states in the plurality of representations of form factors and configuration states to accommodate the display of the one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states, and displaying the one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states to the collection view window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a number of available updates for one or more devices of the plurality of devices, and in response to selecting one or more of the number of available updates for one or more devices of the plurality of devices, updating the one or more devices with the selected one or more of the number of available updates, the updates comprising an update to applications configured on the one or more devices, an update to the computer operating system on the one or more devices, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting an update request, updating the selected one or more devices in accordance with the update request without updating the unselected devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting a backup request, backing up configuration information of the one or more selected devices in accordance with the backup request without backing up the unselected devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting a configuration information request, displaying configuration information of the one or more selected devices on the user interface of the device configuration application in accordance with the configuration information request without displaying configuration information of the unselected devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting a configuration information request:

displaying an option to further inquiry into the displayed configuration information of the one or more selected devices.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions to cause an electronic device with a display to perform steps of:

displaying a collection view window on a user interface of a device configuration application for configuring a plurality of devices;

concurrently displaying representations of form factors of a plurality of devices and corresponding representations of configuration states separate from the representations of form factors of the plurality of devices within the collection view window, wherein;

a representation of a form factor of a first device indicates the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a form factor of a second device indicates the form factor of the second device, the representation of the form factor of the second device is different from the representation of the form factor of the first device when the form factor of the second device is different from the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the first state comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a first configuration state of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the second device comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a second configuration state of the second device, and

while the first device is in the first configuration state and the second device is in the second configuration state that is different from the first configuration state, the screen image in the first representation is different from the screen image in the second representation;

while displaying the user interface of the device configuration application, detecting a change in the configuration state of the first device from the first configuration state to a different configuration state; and

in response to detecting the change in the configuration state of the first device;

updating the representation of the configuration state of the first device to include a screen image that represents the different configuration state instead of the screen image that represents the first configuration state.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the representation of the form factor of the first device is based on physical properties of the first device and the representation of the form factor of the second device is based on physical properties of the second device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the screen image representing the configuration state of the first device comprises a pre-defined default image.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to perform steps including, while displaying the representations of form factors and configuration states of the plurality of devices:

receiving a request to add one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states to the collection view window; and

in response to receiving the request;

reducing a size of one or more representations of form factors and configuration states in the plurality of representations of form factors and configuration states to accommodate the display of the one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states, and displaying the one or more additional representations of form factors and configuration states in the collection view window.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to perform steps including:

displaying a number of available updates for one or more devices of the plurality of devices, and in response to selecting one or more of the number of available updates for one or more devices of the plurality of devices, updating the one or more devices with the selected one or more of the number of available updates, the updates comprising an update to applications configured on the one or more devices, an update to the computer operating system on the one or more devices, or any combination thereof.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to perform steps including:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting an update request, updating the selected one or more devices in accordance with the update request without updating the unselected devices.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to perform steps including:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting a backup request, backing up configuration information of the one or more selected devices in accordance with the backup request without backing up the unselected devices.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instruction to perform steps including:

while one or more devices of the plurality of devices are selected, and one or more devices of the plurality of devices are unselected, and in response to detecting a configuration information request, displaying configuration information of the one or more selected devices on the user interface of the device configuration application in accordance with the configuration information request without displaying configuration information of the unselected devices.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to perform steps including, in response to detecting a configuration information request:

displaying an option to further inquiry into the displayed configuration information of the one or more selected devices.

19. An electronic device with a display a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and a processor, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes instructions causing the processor to perform steps of:

displaying a collection view window on a user interface of a device configuration application for configuring a plurality of devices;

concurrently displaying representations of form factors of a plurality of devices and corresponding representations of configuration states separate from the representations of form factors of the plurality of devices within the collection view window, wherein;

a representation of a form factor of a first device indicates the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a form factor of a second device indicates the form factor of the second device, the representation of the form factor of the second device is different from the representation of the form factor of the first device when the form factor of the second device is different from the form factor of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the first device comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a first configuration state of the first device,

a representation of a configuration state of the second device comprises a screen image that is selected so as to represent a second configuration state of the second device, and

while the first device is in the first configuration state and the second device is in the second configuration state that is different from the first configuration state, the screen image in the first representation is different from the screen image in the second representation;

while displaying the user interface of the device configuration application, detecting a change in the configuration state of the first device from the first configuration state to a different configuration state; and

in response to detecting the change in the configuration state of the first device;

updating the representation of the configuration state of the first device to include a screen image that represents the different configuration state instead of the screen image that represents the first configuration state.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the representation of the form factor of the first device is based on physical properties of the first device and the representation of the form factor of the second device is based on physical properties of the second device.