DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING USER INTERFACES FROM A TEMPLATE

• US 20140365895A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: MAGAHERN, Charles, HUANG, Szu Wen, PAULSON, Nicholas J., ALSINA, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/291,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

An electronic device is configured to receive a first request to display a user interface of a first third-party application on a respective display that is in communication with the device. The device is further configured to, in response to receiving the request, obtain a first user-interface template configured to be used by a plurality of third-party applications, and request, from the first application, one or more values for populating the first template. The device is also configured to receive, from the first application, while the first application is running on the device, a first set of values for populating the first template; populate the first template with the first set of values; generate a first user interface for the first application using the first template populated with the first set of values; and send information to the respective display that enables the first user interface to be displayed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform:

receiving a first display request to display a user interface of a first third-party application on a respective display that is in communication with the electronic device;

in response to receiving the first display request;

obtaining a first user-interface template that is configured to be used by a plurality of third-party applications; and

requesting, from the first third-party application, one or more values for populating the first user-interface template;

receiving, from the first third-party application, while the first third-party application is running on the electronic device, a first set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the first set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating a first user interface for the first third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the first set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform:

while the first user-interface for the first third-party application is displayed on the respective display, receiving, from an input device for the respective display a respective input that corresponds to selection of an option in the first user interface; and

in response to receiving the respective input, providing information to the first third-party application running on the electronic device that enables the first third-party application to respond to selection of the option in the first user interface;

receiving, from the first third-party application, the response to selection of the option from the first third-party application; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the response to selection of the option to be provided to the user.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform:

while the first user interface for the first third-party application is displayed on the respective display;

receiving information indicative of a selection of a respective option in the first user interface; and

in response to receiving the information indicative of the selection of the respective option in the first user interface;

obtaining a second user-interface template, different from the first user-interface template; and

requesting, from the first third-party application, one or more values for populating the second user-interface template;

receiving, from the first third-party application, while the first third-party application is running on the electronic device, a second set of values for populating the second user-interface template;

populating the second user-interface template with the second set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating a second user interface for the first third-party application by using the second user-interface template populated with the second set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the second user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform:

after sending the information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display;

receiving a second display request to display a user interface for a second third-party application, different from the first third-party application, on the respective display;

in response to receiving the second display request, requesting, from the second third-party application, one or more values for populating the first user-interface template;

receiving, from the second third-party application, while the second third-party application is running on the electronic device, a third set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the third set of values received from the second third-party application;

generating a second user interface for the second third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the third set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the second user interface for the second third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

5. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the device includes a plurality of processes including a first third-party application process for running the first third-party application and a set of one or more intermediation processes for relaying information between the respective display and the first-third party application process;

the request for the one or more values for populating the first user-interface template is generated by an intermediation process from the set of one or more intermediation processes; and

the first user interface is generated by an intermediation process from the set of one or more intermediation processes.

6. The medium of claim 1, wherein one or more of the values in the first set of values are retrieved from a remote source by the first third-party application in response to the request for one or more values for populating the first user-interface template.

7. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the respective display is a display in a vehicle information display system that is visible from a driver seat of a vehicle; and

the first user-interface template is one of a plurality of predetermined user-interface templates that are configured to be used to generate user interfaces for the first third-party application on the respective display that prevents distraction of the driver.

8. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first user-interface template is used by a plurality of different third-party applications including the first third-party application and a second third-party application;

populating the first user-interface template with values received from a respective third-party application includes inserting values identified by the respective third-party application as belonging to a first class of values in a predefined region at a predefined font size in a user interface that is provided to the respective display; and

for the first user-interface template;

the first third-party application identifies a first type of information as the first class of values; and

the second third-party application identifies a second type of information, different from the first type of information, as the first class of values.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein, for the first user-interface template:

the first third-party application identifies the names of remotely-generated content stations as the first class of values; and

the second third-party application identifies the names of predetermined playlists as the first class of values.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein, for the first user-interface template:

the first third-party application identifies the names of content that can be streamed to the device as the first class of values; and

the second third-party application identifies the names of content stored on the device as the first class of values.

11. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

values at the first third-party application are arranged in a tree structure that includes a plurality of nodes that have predetermined properties and a tree relationship with one or more other nodes in the tree structure; and

the request for one or more values for populating the first user-interface template includes one or more of;

a request to return values that correspond to a list of child nodes of a respective node of the plurality of nodes;

a request to return values that correspond to a list of properties of a respective node of the plurality of nodes;

a request to provide content that is represented by the respective node;

a request to provide a list of nodes that match a search query; and

a request to provide a list of actions specific to the first third-party application that can be taken while providing access to content associated with the first third-party application.

12. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first third-party application is a media presentation application;

the device includes a first-party application that is a media presentation application;

the first party application includes a first-party user interface that has a plurality of selectable affordances for requesting performance of media presentation operations and one or more content presentation regions at respective locations in the first-party user interface; and

generating the first user interface for the first third-party application includes generating a user interface that includes selectable affordances and one or more content presentation regions that correspond in function and location to the selectable affordances and content presentation regions of the first-party user interface.

13. The medium of claim 1, after sending the information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display:

receiving, from the first third-party application, an updated first set of values for populating the first user-interface template; and

in response to receiving the updated first set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the updated first set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating an updated first user interface for the first third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the updated first set of values; and

providing information to the respective display that enables the updated first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

14. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the device includes a digital personal assistant process with voice recognition capabilities; and

wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform;

determining the capabilities of the first third-party application based on responses from the first third-party application to a plurality of requests to the first third-party application for values associated with populating user-interface templates for user interfaces for the respective display;

generating an index of the capabilities of the first third-party application; and

providing voice access to the capabilities of the first third-party application via the digital personal assistant process.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to perform:

detecting that a predetermined condition has been met; and

in response to detecting that the predetermined condition has been met;

re-determining the capabilities of the first third-party application; and

re-generating the index of the capabilities of the first third-party application.

16. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory;

receiving a first display request to display a user interface of a first third-party application on a respective display that is in communication with the electronic device;

in response to receiving the first display request;

obtaining a first user-interface template that is configured to be used by a plurality of third-party applications; and

requesting, from the first third-party application, one or more values for populating the first user-interface template;

receiving, from the first third-party application, while the first third-party application is running on the electronic device, a first set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the first set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating a first user interface for the first third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the first set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a first display request to display a user interface of a first third-party application on a respective display that is in communication with the electronic device;

in response to receiving the first display request;

obtaining a first user-interface template that is configured to be used by a plurality of third-party applications; and

requesting, from the first third-party application, one or more values for populating the first user-interface template;

receiving, from the first third-party application, while the first third-party application is running on the electronic device, a first set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the first set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating a first user interface for the first third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the first set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while the first user-interface for the first third-party application is displayed on the respective display, receiving, from an input device for the respective display a respective input that corresponds to selection of an option in the first user interface; and

in response to receiving the respective input, providing information to the first third-party application running on the electronic device that enables the first third-party application to respond to selection of the option in the first user interface;

receiving, from the first third-party application, the response to selection of the option from the first third-party application; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the response to selection of the option to be provided to the user.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while the first user interface for the first third-party application is displayed on the respective display;

receiving information indicative of a selection of a respective option in the first user interface; and

in response to receiving the information indicative of the selection of the respective option in the first user interface;

obtaining a second user-interface template, different from the first user-interface template; and

requesting, from the first third-party application, one or more values for populating the second user-interface template;

receiving, from the first third-party application, while the first third-party application is running on the electronic device, a second set of values for populating the second user-interface template;

populating the second user-interface template with the second set of values received from the first third-party application;

generating a second user interface for the first third-party application by using the second user-interface template populated with the second set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the second user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after sending the information to the respective display that enables the first user interface for the first third-party application to be displayed on the respective display;

receiving a second display request to display a user interface for a second third-party application, different from the first third-party application, on the respective display;

in response to receiving the second display request, requesting, from the second third-party application, one or more values for populating the first user-interface template;

receiving, from the second third-party application, while the second third-party application is running on the electronic device, a third set of values for populating the first user-interface template;

populating the first user-interface template with the third set of values received from the second third-party application;

generating a second user interface for the second third-party application using the first user-interface template populated with the third set of values; and

sending information to the respective display that enables the second user interface for the second third-party application to be displayed on the respective display.