SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMLINING USER INTERACTION WITH ELECTRONIC CONTENT

• US 20090300511A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Inventors: Havoc Pennington, Robert Sanford, Fischer, Donald Francis, Behar, Yves, Edahiro, Naoya, Hibmacronan, Christopher, Bambacus, Chris, Chuang, John, Morenstein, Joshua, Tang, Aaron, Hayes, Jenea Boshart, Kuo, Daniel, Guyot, Noah Bruce, Day, Matthew David, Fore, David Livingstone
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

Various aspects and embodiments are directed to a graphical user interface that organizes interface elements into views of computer content for presentation to a user. Different views of are used to provide an interface that is responsive to configurations of the device and responsive to activity being performed by the user. Aspects include permitting the user to transition the device from one configuration to another during its use, for example from easel to laptop modes. Further the elements that comprise the graphical user interface are configured to present a summarized view of available actions and content, in order to simplify user interaction. The different views present different organizations of the interface elements and in some example display only certain ones of the modes of content in order to reduce the number of options a user must navigate to accomplish an objective. According to another aspect, methods and systems for streamlining user interaction with computer content are provided. In some embodiments, streamlining includes pre-configuring a user device based on received information. Other embodiments include presenting consistent visual representations used to navigated to views that present computer content.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for interpreting on-line executable operations into streamlined operations, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving electronic content through a communication interface;

presenting electronic content to a user through a graphical user interface;

permitting selection of at least one executable operation provided within the electronic content through the graphical user interface, wherein the at least one the executable operation includes at least one of a download operation, a save operation, and a print operation;

identifying at least one executable operation that performs a local access operation; and

transforming the at least one executable operation into a remote access operation, in response to identification of the at least one executable operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local access operation is configured to request local storage of electronic content.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the local access operation is further configured to request storage to a local mass media storage device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local access operation includes executable instructions that cause a computer system to download electronic content to local memory including a mass storage device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein transforming the at least one executable operation into a remote access operation includes redirecting the executable operation into a request for access to remote storage.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising an act of identifying a remote service stored in at least one of a device profile and a user profile.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of configuring access to a remote service, wherein the act of configuring access to a remote service includes an act of establishing an account name and password for the remote service as part of at least one of a device profile and a user profile.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the remote service includes at least one of a computer based content storage service, a photo management service, a document management service, an audio file management service, a video management service, a web development service, an email service, a code storage service, social networking service, and an online service which includes remote storage capabilities.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts of:

identifying a type of electronic content that is the object of the local access operation; and

selecting a remote service based at least in part on the identification of the electronic content.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts of:

providing a remote service profile; and

identifying a file type associated with the remote service.

11. The method according to claim 10, includes an act of providing a default remote service profile, wherein the default remote service profile is associated with all file content types, and is further associated with a data storage capability.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of associating a computer based operation with a remote service, wherein the computer based operation includes at least one operation of file storage, photo management, photo distribution, document management, document distribution, social networking communication, social networking management, social networking display, audio file management, audio distribution, audio file display, audio file playback, video management, video display, video playback, video distribution, web development, web page display, web page communication, email management, email distribution, email reading, email communication, code management, code storage, code maintenance, and an online operation which includes remote storage.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein transforming the at least one executable operation into a remote access operation, in response to identification of the at least one executable operation includes the acts of:

accessing at least one of a device profile, a remote profile, and a user profile; and

identifying at least one remote service based on at least one of the requested at least one executable operation and a file type referenced by the executable operation.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising acts of:

selecting at least one remote service;

redirecting the at least one executable operation to the remote service.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of selecting at least one remote service includes acts of:

displaying the at least one remote service to the user in an interface; and

permitting selection of the at least one remote service by the user through the interface.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of accessing a size threshold for the at least one executable operation that performs a local access operation, wherein accessing the size threshold includes an act of accessing at least one of a user profile, a device profile, a remote service profile, and a default profile to obtain a files size limitation.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the act of transforming the at least one executable operation into a remote access operation includes:

creating a navigational link to content associated with the at least one executable operation; and

transmitting the navigational link through an electronic message instead of performing the at least one executable operation, in response to a determination that the size threshold has been exceeded.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein selection of the at least one executable operation includes at least one of resolving computer focus on the at least one executable operation and hovering over a visual indicator of the at least one executable operation.

19. A streamlined computer device, the device comprising:

a communication component configured to receive electronic content;

a display component configured to render electronic content to a user;

an I/O component configured to permit selection, by the user, of at least one executable operation provided within the electronic content through the graphical user interface, wherein the at least one the executable operation includes at least one of a download operation, a save operation, and a print operation;

a transformation component, including at least one software module and at least one hardware element, configured to identify at least one executable operation that performs a local access operation, wherein the transformation component is further adapted to redirect the at least one executable operation into to a remote service, in response to identification of the at least one executable operation.

31. The streamlined device of claim 19, wherein the streamlined device further comprises a portable computer configurable between a plurality of display modes including a closed mode, a laptop mode and an easel mode, wherein the portable computer comprises:

the display component including a display screen;

a base;

a hinge assembly at least partially housed within the base and configured to pivotably couple the display component to the base;

wherein the display component is rotatable about a longitudinal axis running along an interface between the display component and the base;

wherein, in the closed mode, the display screen is disposed substantially against the base;

wherein rotating the display component about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the laptop mode; and

wherein rotating the display component about the longitudinal axis beyond approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the easel mode.

32. The portable computer of claim 31, wherein the single axis is a longitudinal axis running along an interface between the display component and the base;

and wherein the display component is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

33. The portable computer of claim 32, further comprising a display orientation module configured to control an orientation of the content displayed on the display screen;

wherein the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen is configurable among a plurality of orientations relative to the longitudinal axis.

34. The portable computer of claim 33, wherein the plurality of orientations comprises a first orientation relative to the longitudinal axis and a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis;

and

wherein when display orientation module is configured to automatically display the content in the first orientation when the portable computer is configured into the laptop mode and in the second orientation when the portable computer is configured into the easel mode.

35. The portable computer of claim 33, wherein the plurality of display modes further comprises a flat mode in which the display component is disposed at an angle of approximately 180 degrees, measured about the longitudinal axis, relative to the base.

36. The portable computer of claim 35, wherein the plurality of orientations comprises a first orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, and a third orientation relative to the longitudinal axis;

and

wherein, in the flat mode, the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen is configurable among the first, second and third orientations responsive to a user input.

37. The portable computer of claim 36, wherein the second orientation is 90 degrees relative to the first orientation;

and

wherein the third orientation is 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

38. The portable computer of claim 33, further comprising a mode sensor configured to detect a degree of rotation of the display component relative to the base and to provide information representative of the degree of rotation;

and

wherein the display orientation module is configured to automatically adjust the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen responsive to the information from the mode sensor.

39. The portable computer of claim 38, wherein the display orientation module is configured to:

automatically display the content in a first orientation relative to the longitudinal axis responsive to the information indicating that the degree of rotation of the display component is less than approximately 180 degrees relative to the base; and

automatically display the content in a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis responsive to the information indicating that the degree of rotation of the display component is greater than approximately 180 degrees relative to the base;

wherein the second orientation is at approximately 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

40. The portable computer of claim 33, further comprising a mode sensor configured to detect a current display mode of the portable computer;

and

wherein the display orientation module selects the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen from one of the plurality of orientations relative to the longitudinal axis responsive to the current display mode detected by the mode sensor.

41. The portable computer of claim 32, wherein plurality of display modes further comprises a closed mode;

and

wherein, in the closed mode, the display screen is disposed substantially against the base.

42. The portable computer of claim 41, wherein rotating the display component about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the laptop mode;

and

wherein rotating the display component about the longitudinal axis beyond approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the easel mode.

43. The portable computer of claim 42, wherein the display component is rotatable about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 320 degrees from the closed mode.

44. The portable computer of claim 32, wherein the longitudinal axis comprises multiple parallel axes;

and

wherein the hinge assembly is configured to permit rotation of the display component about any of the multiple parallel axes to configure the portable computer between the plurality of display modes.

45. The portable computer of claim 32, further comprising a scroll wheel disposed at least partially within the base and rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the scroll wheel configured to permit a user to control at least one of operating parameters of the portable computer and the content displayed on the display screen.

46. The portable computer of claim 45, further comprising a first navigation button disposed on one of the base and the display component and configured to permit the user to manipulate selected content displayed on the display screen.

47. The portable computer of claim 46, wherein the display screen is configured to display at least one of a plurality of modes of content;

and

wherein the navigation button is configured to permit the user to select for display one of the plurality of modes of content.

48. The portable computer of claim 46, wherein the first navigation button is user-accessible in each of the laptop mode and the easel mode.

49. The portable computer of claim 46, further comprising a second navigation button;

wherein the first navigation button is disposed on a major surface of the base; and

wherein the second navigation button is disposed on a minor surface of the base.

50. The portable computer of claim 45, wherein the scroll wheel is configured to permit the user to select a mode of content for display on the display screen.

51. The portable computer of claim 45, wherein the scroll wheel is configured to permit the user to control a volume of sound played by the portable computer.

52. The portable computer of claim 45, further comprising a hinge assembly at least partially housed within the base and configured to rotatably couple the display component to the base.

53. The portable computer of claim 52, wherein the scroll wheel is disposed at least partially within the hinge assembly.

54. The portable computer of claim 31, further comprising:

a foot disposed along at least a portion of the base and configured to support the portable computer when in the easel mode.

20. A method for pre-configuring a streamlined device, the method comprising:

permitting submission of an order for a streamlined device;

requesting a data mining operation be performed on a computer system of a recipient of the streamlined device;

identifying a home computer for the recipient of the streamlined device;

executing, automatically, the data mining operation on the recipient'"'"'s home computer system, in response to permission; and

configuring the streamlined device, according to information obtained from the data mining operation.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising an act of communicating, over a computer based communication network, an executable file configured to perform the data mining operation and wherein the executable file is communicated to a home computer of an intended recipient of the streamlined device.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of requesting a data mining operation be performed, includes an act of obtaining at least one of browsing history, web page bookmark information, system configuration, system communication, accessed online service providers, and account information for service providers.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of configuring the streamlined device, according to information obtained from the data mining operation, includes an act of generating a visual representation of electronic content with mappings to at least one of the web locations indicated by mined information.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of configuring the streamlined device, according to information obtained from the data mining operation, includes an act of generating at least one visual representation of electronic content with mappings to web content selected based on demographic information indicated by the mined data.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of configuring the streamlined device, according to information obtained from the data mining operation, includes an act of generating at least one of a web card, channel card, and system card associated with at least one of a web bookmark location, a frequently accessed web site, and a recently accessed web site.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of configuring the streamlined device, according to information obtained from the data mining operation, includes an act of configuring the streamlined device with network settings obtained from the recipient'"'"'s computer system, wherein the network settings include information associated with a configured wireless network.

27. The method according to claim 20, further comprising an act of evaluating data received in response to the data mining operation.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein evaluating includes acts of:

analyzing referenced web content; and

generating a visual representation appropriate to map to the referenced web content, wherein the visual representation comprises at least one of a web card and channel card.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the evaluating includes an act of identifying web services accessed from the recipient'"'"'s computer, and configuration includes:

generation of visual representations that map to the identified web service; and

storing the visual representations on the streamlined device.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform the method for configuring a streamlined device for out of the box operation of claim 20.