METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY ORIENTATION

• US 20100007603A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kirkup, Kevin Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/172,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

An approach provides controlling of display orientation in a mobile device. Motion of a mobile device having a plurality of displays is detected, wherein each of the displays is configured to present an image. Orientation of one or more of the images is changed on the displays in response to the detected motion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting motion of a mobile device having a plurality of displays, wherein each of the displays is configured to present an image; and

changing orientation of one or more of the images on the displays in response to the detected motion.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining occurrence of an event; and

selectively updating the orientation of the images according to the event.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the event includes either a call, a text message, or an e-mail.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the images are associated with a common application or a common user interface, the common application including a video stream.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user for a configuration option relating to how the change of orientation is triggered with respect to the motion or how the images are presented at different orientation positions.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the configuration option includes a time interval threshold associated with a duration by which a new orientation remains prior to triggering a change in orientation.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the motion involves rotating the mobile device, and the orientations of the images are preserved with respect to a user.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a detector configured to detect motion of a mobile device having a plurality of displays, wherein each of the displays is configured to present an image; and

a control module configured to change orientation of one or more of the images on the displays in response to the detected motion.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control module is further configured to determine occurrence of an event, and to selectively update the orientation of the images according to the event.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the event includes either a call, a text message, an e-mail, a user-defined event, a keypress event, or a software event.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the images are associated with a common application or a common user interface, the common application including a video stream.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an interface configured to prompt a user for a configuration option relating to how the change of orientation is triggered with respect to the motion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the configuration option includes a time interval threshold associated with a duration by which a new orientation remains prior to triggering a change in orientation.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the motion involves rotating the mobile device, and the orientations of the images are preserved with respect to a user.

15. A mobile device comprising:

a plurality of displays, wherein each of the displays is configured to present an image; and

a processor configured to detect motion of the mobile device, and to change orientation of one or more of the images on the displays in response to the detected motion.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine occurrence of an event, and to selectively update the orientation of the images according to the event.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the event includes either a call, a text message, an e-mail, a user-defined event, a keypress event, or a software event.

18. A device according to claim 15, wherein the images are associated with a common application or a common user interface, the common application including a video stream.

19. A device according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt a user for a configuration option relating to how the change of orientation is triggered with respect to the motion.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the configuration option includes a time interval threshold associated with a duration by which a new orientation remains prior to triggering a change in orientation.

21. A device according to claim 15, wherein the motion involves rotating the mobile device, and the orientations of the images are preserved with respect to a user.