Application adaptive mobile terminal

• US 20070139372A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahler, Roger, Swanburg, Scott, Wuthnow, Mark, Klenzak, Megan
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A user interface is presented for mobile devices that provides for efficient and logical movement between applications on the mobile device. Multiple applications may be used simultaneously and interactively. Such uses and data are stored on the device and re-presented to the user at subsequent uses to provide efficiencies in commonly used functions, applications, and contacts.

Claims

1. A user interface for a mobile device, the interface comprising:

a virtual template area;

an object positioned in a particular spot in the virtual template area; and

a screening window that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein when the screening window is positioned on the object in the virtual template area, the object function may be activated.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various spots in the virtual template area.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein multiple objects are activated and functional simultaneously.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the virtual template area is on a cellular telephone.

5. A mobile device, the device comprising:

a virtual template area;

an object positioned in a particular spot in the virtual template area; and

a screening window that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein when the screening window is positioned on the object in the virtual template area, the object function may be activated.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various spots in the virtual template area.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein multiple objects are activated and functional simultaneously with the ability to interact with other activated objects.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a mechanical input receiver for a user to use to move the screening window over an object.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes buttons on a bezel on the mobile device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes tactile buttons on a screen on the mobile device.

11. The device of claim 8, whereas the mechanical input receiver includes a set of software enabled hotkeys.

12. The device of claim 5, further comprising an information repository for collection of data from previous user interactions and re-presentation of the collected data at subsequent interactions.

13. A mobile device, the device comprising:

a handset;

a virtual template area on the handset;

an object positioned in the virtual template area; and

a screening window on the handset that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein when the screening window is positioned on the object in the virtual template area, the object function may be activated by a user of the handset.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various spots in the virtual template area.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein multiple objects are activated and functional simultaneously with the ability to interact with other activated objects.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a mechanical input receiver for a user to use to move the screening window over an object.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes buttons on a bezel on the mobile device.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes tactile buttons on a screen on the mobile device.

19. The device of claim 16, whereas the mechanical input receiver includes a set of software enabled hotkeys.

20. The device of claim 13, further comprising an information repository for collection of data from previous user interactions and re-presentation of the collected data at subsequent interactions.