Customizing a User Interface Having a Plurality of Top-Level Icons Based on a Change in Context

• US 20130283185A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Mock, Wayne E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.

Claims

1. A method of customizing a first user interface based on context, comprising:

displaying the first user interface, wherein the first user interface comprises a first plurality of icons at a top level based on a first context;

determining a change of context to a second context;

automatically modifying the first user interface based on the second context, wherein the modified first user interface comprises a second plurality of icons at the top level based on the second context.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input to the first user interface to select a first icon in the first user interface, wherein the first icon corresponds to a first activity, wherein said determining the change in context is based on said receiving the user input to the first user interface to select the first icon;

invoking the first activity based on the user input to select the first icon, wherein said automatically modifying is performed after said invoking.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first activity comprises entering a presentation mode, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on the presentation mode.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first activity comprises playing a video, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on playing the video.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first activity comprises entering a videoconference, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on the videoconference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises moving at least a subset of the first plurality of icons from the top level to a lower level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises removing at least a subset of the first plurality of icons from the top level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises adding one or more icons to the top level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises moving one or more icons from a lower level to the top level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a videoconferencing unit, wherein the first user interface relates to videoconferencing.

11. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for customizing a first user interface based on context, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

display the first user interface, wherein the first user interface comprises a first plurality of icons at a top level based on a first context;

determine a change of context to a second context;

automatically modify the first user interface based on the second context, wherein the modified first user interface comprises a second plurality of icons at the top level based on the second context.

12. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input to the first user interface to select a first icon in the first user interface, wherein the first icon corresponds to a first activity, wherein said determining the change in context is based on said receiving the user input to the first user interface to select the first icon;

invoke the first activity based on the user input to select the first icon, wherein said automatically modifying is performed after said invoking.

13. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 12, wherein the first activity comprises entering a presentation mode, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on the presentation mode.

14. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 12 wherein the first activity comprises playing a video, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on playing the video.

15. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 12, wherein the first activity comprises entering a videoconference, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface is based on the videoconference.

16. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises moving at least a subset of the first plurality of icons from the top level to a lower level.

17. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises removing at least a subset of the first plurality of icons from the top level.

18. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises adding one or more icons to the top level.

19. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 11, wherein said automatically modifying the first user interface comprises moving one or more icons from a lower level to the top level.

22. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a videoconferencing unit at a participant location;

at least one display coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one display is configured to provide video corresponding to other participant locations during a videoconference;

at least one audio output coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio output is configured to provide audio corresponding to the other participant locations during the videoconference;

at least one video input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one video input is configured to capture video of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;

at least one audio input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio input is configured to capture audio of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;

wherein the videoconference unit is configured to;

display the first user interface on the at least one display, wherein the first user interface comprises a first plurality of icons at a top level based on a first context;

determine a change of context to a second context;

automatically modify the first user interface based on the second context, wherein the modified first user interface comprises a second plurality of icons at the top level based on the second context.