Method and System for Auto Switching Applications Based on Device Orientation

• US 20150378520A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandrasekaran, Arthanari
• Granted Patent: US 9,817,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A system and method are presented for automatically switching to different applications, settings, or GUIs based on orientation of a mobile device. The system provides a user with the ability to maximize screen “real estate,” limit the number of user inputs required to perform a particular action, and to maximize efficiency when using a mobile device. In some examples, the system allows a user to access multiple applications or user menus by changing the mobile device'"'"'s orientation from a first orientation to a second orientation. The system may also allow the user to establish which actions take place upon changing the mobile device'"'"'s orientation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting, by an output module, a first graphical user interface of a first application on a display of a mobile device that is in a first orientation;

sensing, by a sensor module, a change in orientation of the mobile device from the first orientation to a second orientation;

accessing a settings database to determine which action to take; and

performing, by a switching module, a first action based on the change in orientation of the mobile device and on the settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is outputting, by the output module, a second application different than the first application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second application is output on a display other than the display of the mobile device based on the change in orientation of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is enabling remote display of the first application on a display other than the display of the mobile device based on the change in orientation of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in orientation is caused by a rotation of the mobile device by approximately 90 degrees in at least one axis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two different applications are output, by the output module, based on the orientation of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action comprises outputting, in the second orientation, a list of selectable applications that can be opened by a user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of selectable applications comprises applications that are already open on the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action comprises outputting, in the second orientation, one or more user menus comprising selectable user commands.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more user menus are not specific to the application running in the first orientation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action comprises advancing or rewinding a media file playing on or via the mobile device.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code which when executed causes a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

13. A system having comprising:

an output module configured to output a first graphical user interface of a first application on a display of a mobile device that is in a first orientation;

a sensor module comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a change in orientation of the mobile device from the first orientation to a second orientation;

a switching module comprising at least one processor configured to;

access a settings database to determine which action to take; and

perform a first action based on the change in orientation of the mobile device and on the settings database.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first action is outputting, by the output module, a second application different than the first application.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second application is output on a display other than the display of the mobile device based on the change in orientation of the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first action is enabling remote display of the first application on a display other than the display of the mobile device based on the change in orientation of the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the change in orientation is caused by a rotation of the mobile device by approximately 90 degrees in at least one axis.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein at least two different applications are output, by the output module, based on the orientation of the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first action comprises outputting, in the second orientation, a list of selectable applications that can be opened by a user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the list of selectable applications comprises applications that are already open on the mobile device.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the first action comprises outputting, in the second orientation, one or more user menus comprising selectable user commands.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more user menus are not specific to the application running in the first orientation.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the first action comprises advancing or rewinding a media file playing on or via the mobile device.