Downloadable watch faces

• US 20050278757A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wolff, Roger E., Grossman, Joel K., Colando, Christian James, VanderSpek, Paul J., Miller, Roger Colin, Tan, Albert W.
• Application Number:
  US10/857,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/00 Visual time or date indication means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/20 the radio signal being an AM/FM standard signal, e.g. RDS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

The present invention downloads watch faces to a mobile electronic device. Watch faces are broadcast to mobile electronic devices. The watch faces are automatically delivered and stored on a mobile electronic device for selection by a user. Using the device, users can quickly change the current watch face. The user may customize the watch faces they receive. For example, the user may select from a list of available watch faces. Additionally, a mystery watch face may be communicated to the device.

Claims

1. A method for receiving and interacting with downloadable watch faces on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

receiving a watch face through at least one of the following;

a broadcast directed to many electronic devices;

a direct connection; and

a peer connection from another device that has the watch face;

storing the watch face on the electronic device;

associating the watch face with a time application on the electronic device; and

displaying the watch face on a display of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the watch face from a plurality of watch faces that are stored on the mobile electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the watch face from the plurality of watch faces further comprises selecting a face mode on the mobile electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an input from a selector on the mobile device indicating the watch face to be selected.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the watch face through the broadcast, further comprises determining a channel the watch face is to be broadcast on.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the channel the watch face is to be broadcast on, further comprises receiving a configuration message including the channel information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a watch face on a web site to be broadcast to the mobile electronic device.

8. An apparatus for receiving and interacting with downloadable watch faces on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a data store;

a communication device configured to receive a watch face through at least one of the following;

over a broadcast that is directed to a plurality of mobile electronic devices and store the watch face in the data store;

a direct connection; and

a peer connection from another apparatus that includes the watch face;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the user interface, the data store, the communication connection, and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

select a current watch face when a time channel is activated; and

display the current watch face on the display.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the electronic system is further configured to select the current watch face from a set of watch faces stored on the apparatus in response to the selector.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising determining the set of watch faces to store on the apparatus in response to user preferences.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein receiving the watch face over the broadcast, further comprises determining a channel the watch face is to be broadcast on.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining the channel the watch face is to be broadcast on, further comprises receiving a configuration message including the channel information.

13. A system for receiving and interacting with downloadable watch faces on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a broadcast device configured to broadcast a watch face to a plurality of mobile electronic devices at the same time;

a mobile electronic device, having;

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive the broadcast including the watch face and store the watch face in the data store;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the communication connection, the user interface, the data store and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

select a current watch face; and

display the current watch face on the display.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising in response to the selector, selecting the watch face from a plurality of watch faces that are stored on the mobile electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein receiving the watch face through the broadcast, further comprises determining a channel the watch face is to be broadcast on.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein determining the channel the watch face is to be broadcast on, further comprises receiving a configuration message including the channel information.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a web page arranged to receive an input for selecting a watch face to be broadcast to the mobile electronic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcast device is configured to broadcast an FM communication signal.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a server configured to receive input from a user to select the watch face to be broadcast.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the broadcast device is further configured to send a configuration message to the mobile electronic device indicating what watch faces to keep on the mobile electronic device.