MULTI-FUNCTION BUTTON FOR WEARABLE DEVICE

• US 20170060646A1
• Filed: 08/24/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Komulainen, Olli
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A multi-function button is provided for a wearable device. A method includes associating, by at least one processor of the wearable device, operation of a button of a user interface of the wearable device with a quick-launch function of a computer program application stored in the wearable device, wherein operation of the button in a state where the computer program application is not being executed and where an icon identifying and enabling launch of the computer program application is not being displayed causes launch of the computer program application; and detecting, by the at least one processor while the computer program application is being executed, operation of the button and, in response to the detection, causing execution of a function of the computer program application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating, by at least one processor of a wearable device, operation of a button of a user interface of the wearable device with a quick-launch function of a computer program application stored in the wearable device, wherein operation of the button in a state where the computer program application is not being executed and where an icon identifying and enabling launch of the computer program application is not being displayed causes launch of the computer program application; and

detecting, by the at least one processor while the computer program application is being executed, operation of the button and, in response to the detection, causing execution of a function of the computer program application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, in an operating system executed by the at least one processor, a folder-based menu structure, wherein said icon of the computer program application is comprised inside at least one folder, wherein the quick-launch function enables the launch of the computer program application when contents of the folder are not being displayed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating system is Android Wear.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the button with a plurality of context-sensitive functions, each function associated with a different operational context of the wearable device;

determining a context in which the operation of the button has been detected; and

,

executing, as a response to the operation of the button, a function associated with the determined context.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the function comprises triggering start of a measurement mode of the wearable device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the function of the computer program application comprises activating at least one sensor of the wearable device and/or at least one sensor external to the wearable device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of the computer program application comprises causing transmission of a wireless communication signal to a cellular phone communicating with the wearable device, the wireless communication signal comprising a message triggering acceptance of an incoming voice call.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising while the computer program application is being executed:

entering a limited operation mode by deactivating at least one layer of an operating system of the wearable device, wherein a limited set of functions are available in the limited operation mode, and wherein the function is comprised in the limited set of functions.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the function bypasses said at least one deactivated layer and controls directly at least one device driver controlling hardware of the wearable device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer program application is for a primary purpose of the wearable device, and wherein the function of the computer program application is also for the primary purpose of the wearable device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the primary purpose is a physical activity measurement purpose.

12. An apparatus for a wearable device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

associating operation of a button of a user interface of the wearable device with a quick-launch function of a computer program application stored in the at least one memory, wherein operation of the button in a state where the computer program application is not being executed and where an icon identifying and enabling launch of the computer program application is not being displayed causes launch of the computer program application; and

detecting, while the computer program application is being executed, operation of the button and, in response to the detection, cause execution of a function of the computer program application.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to provide, in an operating system executed by the at least one processor, a folder-based menu structure, wherein said icon of the computer program application is comprised inside at least one folder, wherein the quick-launch function enables the launch of the computer program application when contents of the folder are not being displayed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the operating system is Android Wear.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:

providing the button with a plurality of context-sensitive functions, each function associated with a different operational context of the wearable device;

determining a context in which the operation of the button has been detected; and

,

executing, as a response to the operation of the button, a function associated with the determined context.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising triggering, in the function, start of a measurement mode of the wearable device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising activating, in the function of the computer program application, at least one sensor of the wearable device and/or at least one sensor external to the wearable device.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising causing, in the function of the computer program application, transmission of a wireless communication signal to a cellular phone communicating with the apparatus, the wireless communication signal comprising a message triggering acceptance of an incoming voice call.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations while executing the computer program application comprising:

entering a limited operation mode by deactivating at least one layer of an operating system of the wearable device, wherein a limited set of functions are available in the limited operation mode, and wherein the function is comprised in the limited set of functions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising bypassing, in the function, said at least one deactivated layer and controls directly at least one device driver controlling hardware of the wearable device.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer program application is for a primary purpose of the wearable device, and wherein the function of the computer program application is also for the primary purpose of the wearable device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the primary purpose is a physical activity measurement purpose.

23. A computer program product embodied on a non-transient distribution medium readable by a computer and comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, perform a method comprising:

associating operation of a button of a user interface of a wearable device with a quick-launch function of a computer program application stored in the wearable device, wherein operation of the button in a state where the computer program application is not being executed and where an icon identifying and enabling launch of the computer program application is not being displayed causes launch of the computer program application; and

detecting, while the computer program application is being executed, operation of the button and, in response to the detection, causing execution of a function of the computer program application.