USER INTERFACE

• US 20170262158A1
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: WEBB, Gareth
• Granted Patent: US 10,331,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A user interface system including a display and a control module. The control module displays a plurality of active tiles in an active area of the display, and displays a plurality of inactive tiles in an inactive area of the display. An inactive tile selected by a user is moved to the active area, and an application associated with the selected tile is activated. An active tile having a priority level that is lower than a priority level of the selected tile is moved to the inactive area. In the active area, the tile having the lower priority level is replaced with the selected tile having the higher priority level. The inactive tiles of the inactive area are arranged in order of decreasing priority.

Claims

1. A user interface system comprising:

a display; and

a control module configured to;

display a plurality of active tiles in an active area of the display;

display a plurality of inactive tiles in an inactive area of the display;

assign a priority level to each one of the active tiles and the inactive tiles;

activate an inactive tile selected by a user by moving the selected tile to the active area and activating an application associated with the selected tile, the selected tile having a first priority level;

deactivate an active tile having a second priority level that is lower than the first priority level by moving the active tile with the second priority level to the inactive area;

replace in the active area the active tile having the second priority level with the selected tile having the first priority level; and

arrange the inactive tiles of the inactive area in order of decreasing priority level.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured for installation in a vehicle.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to assign any one of the tiles with the following functionality:

navigation system functionality;

audio system functionality;

video system functionality;

telecommunications system functionality;

weather information functionality;

personal calendar functionality;

restaurant information functionality, or system setting functionality.

4. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to activate the inactive tile selected by the user when the user touches an area of the display corresponding to location of the inactive tile in the inactive area.

5. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of active tiles displays an interface for a navigation system application, a music system application, a weather application, a calendar application, a restaurant finder application, a video application, or a telephone application.

6. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of inactive tiles includes a label indicating functionality available for use by the user when any one of the plurality of inactive tiles are activated.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to assign the priority level based on frequency of use.

8. The user interface system of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to arrange the most frequently used active tile at an upper left corner of the active area, and arrange the most frequently used inactive tile at a left side of the inactive area.

9. The user interface system of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to arrange the most frequently used active tile at an upper right corner of the active area, and arrange the most frequently used inactive tile immediately adjacent a center line of the inactive area on a right side of the center line.

10. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a reset button;

wherein the control module is configured to position the plurality of active tiles and the plurality of inactive tiles at predetermined positions when the reset button is actuated.

11. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display is a touchscreen.

12. A method for controlling a user interface comprising:

displaying a plurality of active tiles in an active area of the display;

displaying a plurality of inactive tiles in an inactive area of the display;

assigning a priority level to each one of the active tiles and the inactive tiles;

activating an inactive tile selected by a user by moving the selected tile to the active area and activating an application associated with the selected tile, the selected tile having a first priority level;

deactivating an active tile having a second priority level that is lower than the first priority level by moving the active tile with the second priority level to the inactive area;

replacing in the active area the active tile having the second priority level with the selected tile having the first priority level; and

arranging the inactive tiles of the inactive area in order of decreasing priority level;

wherein the method is performed by a control module connected to the display.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising assigning any one of the tiles with the following functionality:

navigation system functionality;

audio system functionality;

video system functionality;

telecommunications system functionality;

weather information functionality;

personal calendar functionality;

restaurant information functionality, or system setting functionality.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating the inactive tile selected by the user in response to the inactive tile being touched by the user on the display;

wherein the display is a touchscreen.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing each one of the inactive tiles with a label indicating functionality available for use by the user when any one of the plurality of inactive tiles are activated.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the control module assigns the priority levels based on frequency of use.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control module arranges the most frequently used active tile at an upper left corner of the active area, and arranges the most frequently used inactive tile at a left side of the inactive area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the control module arranges the most frequently used active tile at an upper right corner of the active area, and arranges the most frequently used inactive tile immediately adjacent a center line of the inactive area on a right side of the center line.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein upon selection of an active tile by a user the control module enlarges the active tile to fill the entire active area of the display.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising arranging the plurality of active tiles and the plurality of inactive tiles in accordance with a predetermined arrangement upon selection of a reset selector by a user.