Indicating States of Native Applications in Application Launcher

• US 20170153800A1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Quixey, Inc.
• Inventors: HARRISON, Brent, GLOVER, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 10,209,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A mobile computing device that is configured to: display an icon for a native application via an application launcher, the icon comprises a first image, the application launcher being configured to launch the native application into a first state upon receiving a user selection of the first image; receive a data object that includes information regarding a second state of the native application, the information comprises: an access mechanism that provides access to the second state; and a second image that corresponds with the second state; display the second image in association with the icon, the second image being displayed in conjunction with the first image; launch the native application into the first state in response to the user selection corresponding with the first image; and launch the native application into the second state in response to the user selection corresponding with the second image.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a transceiver;

a touchscreen display;

sensors;

a memory that stores a native application installed on the mobile computing device and an application launcher that launches the native application; and

a computing processor that executes computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

display an icon corresponding with the native application via the application launcher, the icon comprises a first image, the application launcher being configured to launch the native application into a first state upon receiving a user selection of the first image;

receive, via the transceiver, a data object that includes information regarding a second state of the native application, the information comprises;

an access mechanism that provides access to the second state; and

a second image that corresponds with the second state;

display the second image in association with the icon, the second image being displayed in conjunction with the first image;

configure the application launcher to launch the native application into the second state, via the access mechanism, upon receiving a user selection of the second image;

receive a user selection of the icon;

determine whether the user selection of the icon corresponds with the first image or the second image;

launch the native application into the first state in response to the user selection corresponding with the first image; and

launch the native application into the second state in response to the user selection corresponding with the second image.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein receiving the data object comprises receiving the data object in response to:

retrieving, from the memory, an application identifier (ID) that identifies the native application;

transmitting the application ID, via the transceiver, to a server; and

receiving the data object from the server.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein receiving the data object comprises receiving the data object in response to:

capturing contextual data that indicates a context of the mobile computing device; and

transmitting the contextual data via the transceiver.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 3, wherein capturing the contextual data comprises retrieving sensor measurement values recorded by the sensors.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein displaying the second image comprises:

reducing a size of the first image; and

displaying the second image in an area of the icon that was previously occupied by the first image.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 5, wherein the reduced size of the first image and a size of the second image are about equal.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein displaying the second image comprises overlaying the second image onto a portion of the first image.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 7, wherein the second image is overlaid towards a corner of the first image.

9. A mobile computing device comprising:

a transceiver;

a touchscreen display;

sensors;

a memory that stores;

a native application comprising an application identifier (ID) that identifies the native application;

an application launcher that launches the native application; and

a computing processor that executes computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

display an icon corresponding with the native application via the application launcher, the application launcher being configured to launch the native application into a first state upon receiving a press of the icon;

retrieve the application ID of the native application from the memory;

transmit the application ID via the transceiver;

receive, in response to transmitting the application ID, a data container that includes information regarding a second state of the native application, the information comprises;

a preview of the second state, the preview comprises a text string that corresponds with the second state and/or an image that corresponds with the second state; and

an access mechanism that provides access to the second state;

display an indication in association with the icon, the indication indicating that the second state of the native application can be accessed by pressing and holding the icon;

display the preview of the second state upon detecting a press-and-hold of the icon; and

launch the native application into the second state via the access mechanism upon detecting a press of the preview.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein displaying the indication comprises:

retrieving a symbol from the memory; and

overlaying the symbol onto the icon.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein displaying the indication comprises:

retrieving a formatting style from the memory; and

applying the formatting style to the icon.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein displaying the preview comprises displaying the preview adjacent to the icon.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the icon comprises a first image and a first caption;

and wherein displaying the preview comprises displaying a second image and/or a second caption associated with the second state of the native application.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein displaying the preview comprises displaying a portion of the information displayed by the second state of the native application.

15. A mobile computing device comprising:

a transceiver;

sensors;

a memory that stores a native application installed on the mobile computing device and an application launcher that launches the native application;

a touchscreen display that displays an icon corresponding with the native application via the application launcher, the application launcher being configured to launch the native application into a first state upon receiving a user selection of the first image;

means for determining a second state of the native application;

means for indicating the second state in the application launcher; and

a computing processor that executes computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

receive a user input to launch the native application into the second state; and

launch the native application into the second state upon receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for determining the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

retrieve, from the memory, an application identifier (ID) that identifies the native application;

transmit the application ID via the transceiver; and

receive, in response to transmitting the application ID, a data object that includes information regarding the second state of the native application.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for determining the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

capture contextual data that indicates a context of the mobile computing device;

send the contextual data via the transceiver; and

receive, in response to transmitting the contextual data, a data container that includes information regarding the second state of the native application.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for determining the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

capture contextual data that indicates a context of the mobile computing device;

compare the contextual data with rules associated with states of the native application; and

select the second state of the native application based on the comparison.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for determining the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

monitor current application usage;

compare current application usage with historical application usage; and

select the second state of the native application based on the comparison.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the icon comprises a first caption and a first image;

and

wherein the means for indicating the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

determine a second caption and/or a second image that corresponds with the second state of the native application;

replace the first caption with the second caption and/or replace the first image with the second image; and

link the icon to the second state by configuring the application launcher to launch the native application into the second state upon detecting a user selection of the icon.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the icon comprises a first caption and a first image;

and

wherein the means for indicating the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

determine a second caption and/or a second image that corresponds with the second state of the native application;

modify the icon by overlaying the second image or the second caption onto the first image; and

link a portion of the icon to the second state by configuring the application launcher to launch the native application into the second state upon detecting a user selection of the second image or the second caption.

22. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the icon comprises a first image;

and

wherein the means for indicating the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to;

determine a second image that corresponds with the second state of the native application;

reduce a size of the first image;

display the second image in an area of the icon that was previously occupied by the first image; and

link the second image to the second state by configuring the application launcher to launch the native application into the second state upon detecting a user selection of the second image.

23. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for indicating the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

retrieve a symbol from the memory;

overlay the symbol onto the icon; and

configure the application launcher to display a preview of the second state upon detecting a press-and-hold of the icon.

24. The mobile computing device of claim 23, wherein receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state comprises receiving a user selection of the preview.

25. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the means for indicating the second state comprises the computing processor executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computing processor, cause the computing processor to:

replace the icon with a folder icon that corresponds with a folder;

place the icon for the first state and a second icon in the folder; and

link the second icon to the second state by configuring the application launcher to launch the native application into the second state upon detecting a press of the second icon.

26. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state comprises detecting a press of the icon when the icon is linked to the second state.

27. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state comprises detecting a press of a portion of the icon that is linked to the second state.

28. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state comprises:

detecting a press-and-hold of the icon; and

detecting a press of a preview of the second state.

29. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein receiving the user input to launch the native application into the second state comprises:

detecting a press of a folder icon corresponding with a folder that includes the icon for the first state and a second icon for the second state; and

detecting a press of the second icon.

30. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein launching the native application into the second state comprises invoking an access mechanism that provides access to the second state.