Electronic device for selecting an application based on sensed orientation and methods for use therewith

• US 20090225026A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheba, Yaron
• Application Number:
  US12/074,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device for selecting an application based on sensed orientation and methods for use therewith are provided. In one embodiment, an electronic device is provided comprising a display device, an orientation sensor, a memory storing a plurality of applications, and circuitry in communication with the display device, orientation sensor, and memory. The circuitry is operative to select one of the plurality of applications based on an orientation sensed by the orientation sensor. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display device;

an orientation sensor;

a memory storing a plurality of applications, wherein at least one of the applications is operative to output a display on the display device; and

circuitry in communication with the display device, orientation sensor, and memory, wherein the circuitry is operative to select one of the plurality of applications based on an orientation sensed by the orientation sensor.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a user input element in communication with the circuitry, wherein user manipulation of the user input element causes the circuitry to enter a mode of operation in which the circuitry is operative to select one of the plurality of applications based on the orientation sensed by the orientation sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface for a same application.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor operative to sense when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on the display device, wherein the circuitry is further operative to generate a graphical user interface near the location.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a display device;

an orientation sensor;

a memory storing a plurality of applications, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface on the display device for a same application;

a user input element; and

circuitry in communication with the display device, orientation sensor, memory, and user input element, wherein the circuitry is operative to, after receiving a signal indicating manipulation of the user input element, select one of the plurality of applications based on an orientation sensed by the orientation sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

13. The electronic device of claim 9 further comprising a proximity sensor operative to sense when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on the display device, wherein the circuitry is further operative to generate a graphical user interface near the location.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 further comprising a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a display device;

an orientation sensor;

a proximity sensor operative to sense when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on the display device;

a memory storing a plurality of applications; and

circuitry in communication with the display device, orientation sensor, proximity sensor, and memory, wherein the circuitry is operative to;

select one of the plurality of applications based on an orientation sensed by the orientation sensor; and

generate a graphical user interface near the location on the display device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 further comprising a user input element in communication with the circuitry, wherein user manipulation of the user input element causes the circuitry to enter a mode of operation in which the circuitry is operative to select one of the plurality of applications based on the orientation sensed by the orientation sensor.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface for a same application.

21. The electronic device of claim 15 further comprising a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.

22. A method for selecting an application in an electronic device, the method comprising:

sensing an orientation of an electronic device with an orientation sensor in the electronic device; and

selecting one of a plurality of applications stored in a memory of the electronic device based on the orientation sensed by the orientation sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising, prior to the sensing and selecting acts:

receiving user manipulation of a user input element of the electronic device, wherein the received user manipulation of the user input element enables the electronic device to perform the sensing and selecting acts.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface for a same application.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

sensing when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on a display device of the electronic device; and

generating a graphical user interface near the location.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.

30. A method for selecting an application in an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving user manipulation of a user input element of an electronic device;

sensing an orientation of the electronic device with an orientation sensor in the electronic device; and

selecting one of a plurality of applications stored in a memory of the electronic device based on the orientation sensed by the orientation sensor, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface for a same application.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

34. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

sensing when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on a display device of the electronic device; and

generating a graphical user interface near the location.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.

36. A method for selecting an application in an electronic device, the method comprising:

sensing an orientation of an electronic device with an orientation sensor in the electronic device;

selecting one of a plurality of applications stored in a memory of the electronic device based on the orientation sensed by the orientation sensor;

sensing when a user'"'"'s finger is in proximity to a location on a display device of the electronic device; and

generating a graphical user interface near the location.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising, prior to the sensing and selecting acts:

receiving user manipulation of a user input element of the electronic device, wherein the received user manipulation of the user input element enables the electronic device to perform the orientation sensing and selecting acts.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of applications are predetermined.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of applications are chosen by a user of the electronic device.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of the following applications:

a digital audio player application, a telephony application, a web browser application, and a digital video player application.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of applications do not merely provide a different graphical user interface for a same application.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing formed to indicate an orientation of the electronic device.