Apparatus, method and computer program product providing user interface configurable command placement logic

• US 20070157117A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Viitala, Tomi
• Application Number:
  US11/314,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157117A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

In accordance with but one exemplary embodiment of this invention a computer program is embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium. The execution of the computer program by a data processor of a device results in operations that include operating a command placement manager to map an instance of a user interface (UI) command specification to at least one control of a UI in accordance with information defining a device configuration, where the command specification is comprised of a prioritized list of commands.

Claims

1. A computer program embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium the execution of which by a data processor of a device results in operations comprising operating a command placement manager to map an instance of a user interface (UI) command specification to at least one control of a UI in accordance with information defining a device configuration, where the command specification is comprised of a prioritized list of commands.

2. The computer program as in claim 1, where the command specification defines commands, a command structure, command contexts and command placement.

3. The computer program as in claim 1, where a command comprises command properties.

4. The computer program as in claim 3, where the command property is comprised of an ID property that uniquely identifies the command.

5. The computer program as in claim 3, where the command property is comprised of a Type property that is descriptive of an intent of the command.

6. The computer program as in claim 3, where the command property is comprised of a Labels property that is descriptive of at least one command to be displayed.

7. The computer program as in claim 6, where the command property is comprised of a Sub-labels property that is descriptive of another version of the command name used by the command placement manager when the command is placed in a group that has a title.

8. The computer program as in claim 3, where the command property is comprised of a Graphics property that is descriptive of a graphical representation of the command.

9. The computer program as in claim 3, where the command property is comprised of a Shortcut property that defines a mechanism for a user to initiate the command by a shortcut.

10. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to provide a positive response.

11. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to provide a negative response.

12. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used for opening a selected item.

13. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to destroy data.

14. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to operate a selected item.

15. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to create an item.

16. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to return a user to a logically previous screen of a UI display.

17. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to exit an associated application.

18. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to stop a currently running process or operation.

19. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command is used to request help.

20. The computer program as in claim 5, where the command Type is comprised of a Type that specifies that the command has an undefined command type.

21. The computer program as in claim 1, where the command placement manager is comprised of one of a command structure or a modified command structure, a command UI and a supercontext.

22. The computer program as in claim 21, where the command UI represents at least one of soft controls and physical controls.

23. The computer program as in claim 21, where the supercontext comprises a context.

24. The computer program as in claim 21, where the command structure defines a hierarchy of commands.

25. The computer program as in claim 22, where the command UI is associated with command placement rules that are responsive to the device configuration.

26. The computer program as in claim 24, where the command structure is comprised of a prioritized command placement list that comprises placement hints each comprised of a command ID and the placement hints in priority order.

27. The computer program as in claim 26, where the command placement manager places commands on the UI according to placement list priority subject to priorities associated with a placement rule list that comprises part of the device configuration.

28. The computer program as in claim 1, where the device is comprised of a wireless communication device.

29. A device comprising a user interface (UI) comprised of a display and a user input comprised of at least one control, a data processor for running at least one application, and a UI command placement manager responsive to an instance of a UI command specification, comprised of a prioritized list of commands, to assign said at least one control to a command in accordance with information defining a device configuration.

30. The device as in claim 29, where a command comprises command properties comprised of an ID property that uniquely identifies the command, a Type property that is descriptive of an intent of the command, and a Labels property that is descriptive of a command name to be displayed on the display.

31. The device as in claim 30, where the command property is further comprised of at least one of a Sub-labels property that is descriptive of another version of the command name used by the command placement manager when the command is placed in a group that has a title;

a Graphics property that is descriptive of a graphical representation of the command; and

a Shortcut property that defines a mechanism for a user to initiate the command by a shortcut.

32. The device as in claim 30, where the command Type property is comprised of at least one of a Type that specifies that the command is used to provide a positive response;

a Type that specifies that the command is used to provide a negative response;

a Type that specifies that the command is used for opening a selected item;

a Type that specifies that the command is used to destroy data;

a Type that specifies that the command is used to operate a selected item a Type that specifies that the command is used to create an item;

a Type that specifies that the command is used to return a user to a logically previous screen of a UI display;

a Type that specifies that the command is used to exit an associated application a Type that specifies that the command is used to stop a currently running process or operation; and

a Type that specifies that the command is used to request help.

33. The device as in claim 29, where the command placement manager is comprised of one of a command structure or a modified command structure comprised of a hierarchy of commands, a command UI that represents at least one of soft controls and physical controls, and a supercontext that comprises a context.

34. The device as in claim 33, where the command UI is associated with command placement rules that are responsive to the device configuration, and where the command structure is comprised of a prioritized command placement list that comprises placement hints each comprised of a command ID and the placement hints in priority order.

35. The device as in claim 34, where the command placement manager places commands on the UI according to placement list priority subject to priorities associated with a placement rule list.

36. The device as in claim 29, where the device is comprised of a wireless communication transceiver.

37. A method to operate a user interface (UI), comprising:

providing a UI-related prioritized command specification that is associated with an application; and

when the application is executed, mapping individual UI commands from the command specification to UI resources based on at least information conveyed by the commands, a context descriptive of a UI state of the application, and on information describing a configuration of a device that comprises the UI.

38. A method as in claim 37, where the UI resources comprise at least one of a soft button set, a hard button set, a touch button set, a toolbar and a menu.

39. A user interface (UI) manager, comprising means, responsive to a prioritized command specification that is associated with an application, for mapping individual UI commands from the command specification to UI resources based on at least information conveyed by the commands, a context descriptive of a UI state of the application, and on information describing a configuration of a device that comprises the UI, where a command comprises command properties comprised of at least an ID property that uniquely identifies the command and a Type property that is descriptive of an intent of the command.

40. A UI manager as in claim 39, where the UI resources comprise at least one of a soft button set, a hard button set, a touch button set, a toolbar and a menu, and where said UI manager is embodied in a device comprising communication means.