METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTUITIVE MULTITASKING

• US 20130174049A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Townsend, Karl, Haitani, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 10,248,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for intuitive multitasking. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes causing a first user interface associated with a first device, a first application, or a first view of a single application to be presented, the first user interface defining an initial user interface area. The method further includes causing a second user interface associated with a second device, a second application, or a second view of the single application to be presented, the second user interface being at least partially within the initial user interface area. The method may also include causing the first user interface to be presented concurrent with the second user interface so as to define a resized user interface area that is smaller than the initial user interface area and is at least partially within the initial user interface area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a first user interface to be presented, the first user interface defining an initial user interface area;

receiving an indication to present a second user interface;

causing the second user interface to be presented, the second user interface being presented at least partially within the initial user interface area; and

causing the first user interface to be presented concurrent with the second user interface so as to define a resized user interface area that is smaller than the initial user interface area and is at least partially within the initial user interface area;

wherein the first user interface is associated with a first device, a first application, or a first view of a single application, and the second user interface is associated with a second device, a second application, or a second view of the single application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input via the first user interface;

controlling the first device, the first application, or the first view of the single application with the user input received via the first user interface;

receiving user input via the second user interface; and

controlling the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application with the user input received via the second user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting to transfer content to the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application; and

in response to receiving the user input, permitting the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application to access the content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting to transfer content to the first device, the first application, or the first view of the single application; and

in response to receiving the user input, permitting the first device, the first application, or the first view of the single application to access the content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial user interface area extends from a first edge to a second edge and, in an instance in which the first and second user interfaces are displayed concurrently, the first and second user interfaces abut at a transitional edge between the first and second edges, and further wherein receiving the indication to present the second user interface comprises receiving user input defining a location of the transitional edge.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining one or more permitted locations for the transitional edge; and

in an instance in which the transitional edge is not located at one of the permitted locations, relocating the location of the transitional edge to one of the permitted locations;

wherein the one or more permitted locations are determined based on one or more rendering capabilities.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to present the second user interface comprises receiving the indication from the first device or the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a display, and further comprising causing the first and second user interfaces to be presented by the display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a change in orientation of the first device and, in response to receiving the indication, performing at least one of;

causing the orientation of the first user interface to be modified, or causing the orientation of the second user interface to be modified.

10. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing program code instruction therein, the at least one memory and program code instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

cause a first user interface to be presented, the first user interface defining an initial user interface area;

receive an indication to present a second user interface;

cause the second user interface to be presented, the second user interface being presented at least partially within the initial user interface area; and

cause the first user interface to be presented concurrent with the second user interface so as to define a resized user interface area that is smaller than the initial user interface area and is at least partially within the initial user interface area;

wherein the first user interface is associated with a first device, a first application, or a first view of a single application and the second user interface is associated with a second device, a second application, or a second view of the single application.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive user input via the first user interface;

control the first device, the first application, or the single application with the user input received via the first user interface;

receive user input via the second user interface; and

control the second device, the second application, or the single application with the user input received via the second user interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive user input requesting to transfer content to the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application; and

in response to receiving the user input, permit the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application to access the content.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive user input requesting to transfer content to the first device, the first application, or the first view of the single application; and

in response to receiving the user input, permit the first device, the first application, or the first view to access the content.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the initial user interface area extends from a first edge to a second edge and, in an instance in which the first and second user interfaces are displayed concurrently, the first and second user interfaces abut at a transitional edge between the first and second edges, and further wherein receiving the indication to present the second user interface comprises receiving user input defining a location of the transitional edge.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more permitted locations for the transitional edge; and

in an instance in which the transitional edge is not located at one of the permitted locations, relocate the location of the transitional edge to one of the permitted locations;

wherein the one or more permitted locations are determined based on one or more rendering capabilities.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein receiving the indication to present the second user interface comprises receiving the indication from the first device or the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first device comprises a display, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to cause the first and second user interfaces to be presented by the display.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive an indication of a change in orientation of the first device and, in response to receiving the indication, perform at least one of;

cause the orientation of the first user interface to be modified, or cause the orientation of the second user interface to be modified.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code portions therein, the computer program code portions being configured to, upon execution, cause an apparatus to at least:

cause a first user interface to be presented, the first user interface defining an initial user interface area;

receive an indication to present a second user interface;

cause the second user interface to be presented, the second user interface being presented at least partially within the initial user interface area; and

cause the first user interface to be presented concurrent with the second user interface so as to define a resized user interface area that is smaller than the initial user interface area and is at least partially within the initial user interface area;

wherein the first user interface is associated with one of a first device, a first application, or a first view of a single application and the second user interface is associated with a second device, a second application, or a second view of the single application.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer program code portions are further configured to, upon execution, cause the apparatus to:

receive user input via the first user interface;

control the first device, the first application, or the first view of the single application with the user input received via the first user interface;

receive user input via the second user interface; and

control the second device, the second application, or the second view of the single application with the user input received via the second user interface.