SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION-BASED USER INTERFACE FEATURES ON A COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20120200586A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lima, Jose de Souza, Chen, Le
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/582
• 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: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for operating a mobile computing device is disclosed. Each of a plurality of applications that are stored or installed in the mobile computing device is associated with a corresponding design scheme. A user interface feature is displayed on the display of the mobile computing device. The user interface feature is present independent of the operation of the plurality of applications. A change in the state of an application is detected and the appearance of the user interface feature is affected based on the design scheme associated with the application that is changed in state.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computing device, the method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme, the plurality of applications including a developer-provided third party application;

displaying a user interface feature, the user interface feature being present independent of the operation of the plurality of applications;

wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with the corresponding design scheme includes enabling a developer of the third party application to generate a design scheme for the user interface feature;

detecting a change in a state of the third-party application; and

affecting an appearance of the displayed user interface feature based on the design scheme associated with the third-party application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme includes assigning each of the plurality of applications to a particular pattern, shading and/or color.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme includes assigning each of the plurality of applications to a particular color or hue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being launched.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being brought into focus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being used.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface feature is a status bar that is provided as a persistent feature independent of applications in use.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein affecting the appearance of the displayed user interface feature includes automatically altering a design scheme of the displayed user interface feature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein automatically altering the design scheme of the displayed user interface feature includes altering a particular pattern, shading, color, and/or hue of the displayed user interface feature.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein affecting an appearance of the displayed user interface feature includes affecting the appearance of the displayed user interface feature based on the design scheme for the user interface generated by the developer.

11. The system for operating a computing device, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

associate each of a plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme, the plurality of applications including a developer-provided third party application;

display a user interface feature, the user interface feature being present independent of the operation of the plurality of applications;

wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with the corresponding design scheme includes enabling a developer of the third party application to generate a design scheme for the user interface feature;

detect a change in a state of the third-party application; and

affect an appearance of the displayed user interface feature based on the design scheme associated with the third-party application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme includes assigning each of the plurality of applications to a particular pattern, shading and/or color.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein associating each of the plurality of applications with a corresponding design scheme includes assigning each of the plurality of applications to a particular color or hue.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being launched.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being brought into focus.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a change in the state of the third-party application includes detecting a first application being used.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the user interface feature is a status bar that is provided as a persistent feature independent of applications in use.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein affecting the appearance of the displayed user interface feature includes automatically altering a design scheme of the displayed user interface feature.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein automatically altering the design scheme of the displayed user interface feature includes altering a particular pattern, shading, color, and/or hue of the displayed user interface feature.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein affecting an appearance of the displayed user interface feature includes affecting the appearance of the displayed user interface feature based on the design scheme for the user interface generated by the developer.