INFORMATION APPARATUS THAT INCLUDES A TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN INTERFACE FOR MANAGING OR REPLYING TO E-MAILS

• US 20190303100A1
• Filed: 06/18/2019
• Published: 10/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Granted Patent: US 10,915,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 : Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 : Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 : Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 : Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 : Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 : Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 : Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 : for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

An information apparatus that supports a touch sensitive screen for managing e-mails is disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include a graphical user interface, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and applications for playing audio/video content. The information apparatus includes an operating system software and support for installation of new applications. In one example, a user of the information apparatus may reply to an e-mail by selecting an item over the touch sensitive screen. The user may scroll down or up an email using the touch sensitive screen. In other examples, the user may further select an item or functional control via the touch sensitive screen to output, synchronize, stream, transmit, play, print, display, or mirror at least part of digital content from the information apparatus to one or more output devices over air.

Claims

1. An information apparatus supporting a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with a user, the information apparatus being a portable and wireless information apparatus, and the information apparatus including one or more applications that are installed or preinstalled in the information apparatus, the one or more applications having access to digital content, and the one or more applications include at least one of an e-mail application, a messaging application, a digital imaging application, an audio application, a video application, a document creation application, or an Internet browsing application, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the information apparatus further includes;

operating system software supporting an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate at least one of said e-mail application, said messaging application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, or said Internet browsing application interfacing with device management applications in the information apparatus;

a touch sensitive screen,

one or more processors,

memory or storage for storing at least a portion of digital content received by the one or more applications, and

wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication, the wireless communication circuitry being operable to;

couple the information apparatus, using the wireless communication circuitry, to a wireless local area network;

wirelessly connect, via the wireless communication circuitry and over the wireless local area network, by the one or more applications of the information apparatus to one or more servers over a network for accessing the digital content; and

wherein the one or more applications include at least an e-mail application and the e-mail application includes;

a graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application and over the touch sensitive screen, that includes at least an inbox,

a reply function control or item displayed on the touch sensitive screen, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen for replying to an e-mail, and

the e-mail application being further operable to;

receive, by the email application and via the wireless communication circuitry, one or more emails, the one or more emails are available in the inbox;

display, by the email application, over the touch sensitive screen, content of an email from among the one or more emails received by the email application;

receive, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, an input from the user to scroll down or up the content of the email displayed on the touch sensitive screen;

receive from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of the reply function control or item displayed on the touch sensitive screen for replying to the email from among the one or more emails received by the email application; and

wherein the information apparatus is a portable and wireless information apparatus that is at least one of a smart phone, an information pad, a digital pad, an e-book, an Internet appliance, or a digital camera, individually or in any combination, and the information apparatus is operable to further allow the user to install additional applications for running on the operating system software to further expand functionalities of the information apparatus.

2. The information apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information apparatus is further operable to:

wirelessly establish, using the wireless communication circuitry, radio frequency wireless communication between the information apparatus and one or more wireless output devices that are available in the wireless local area network, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the information apparatus;

receive, via the touch sensitive screen, an input from the user to transmit or output at least part of the digital content from the information apparatus;

pass the at least part of the digital content, from at least one of said e-mail application, said digital imaging application, said audio application, said video application, said messaging application, said document creation application, or said Internet browsing application, individually or in any combination, to an output manager included in the information apparatus for transmission or output of the at least part of the digital content from the information apparatus to the one or more wireless output devices, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the object model or the application programming interface (API) supported by the operating system software included in the information apparatus; and

wirelessly transmit or output, via the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus and over the wireless local area network, output data, related, at least in part, to the digital content, to the one or more wireless output devices for output of the at least part of the digital content accessed by the one or more applications of the information apparatus.

3. The information apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone interface;

a speaker for outputting sound; and

a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user with the microphone interface,

and wherein the e-mail application in the information apparatus is further operable to receive from the user, using the voice activated command function, a request to reply to an e-mail from among the one or more emails received by the email application; and

wherein the information apparatus is operable to support voice activated commands from the user to reply to the e-mail.

4. The information apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information apparatus is further operable to:

provide to the user, via the touch sensitive screen, one or more items related to one or more wireless output devices for selection by the user, the one or more wireless output devices being available for outputting or playing at least part of the digital content;

receive, from the user via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, a selection of an item related to a wireless output device selected from among the one or more items, related to the one or more wireless output devices, that are provided for the user selection; and

establish, via the wireless communication circuitry, a radio frequency wireless connection between the information apparatus and the selected wireless output device to wirelessly transfer the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device, wherein the selected wireless output device is at least one of a television, a display device, an audio output device, a printer, an output controller externally connectable to a television device, or a projector, individually or in any combination.

5. The information apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus includes one or more chips or chipsets, the one or more chips or chipsets are compatible, at least partly, with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications for establishing the radio frequency wireless connection.

6. The information apparatus of claim 4, wherein the information apparatus is further operable to:

obtain, by the information apparatus, authentication information or security information; and

wherein based, at least in part, on having successfully obtained the authentication information or the security information, the information apparatus is further operable to enable the information apparatus to wirelessly discover or wirelessly access services provided by the selected wireless output device.

7. The information apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information apparatus includes a digital camera for taking pictures or for capturing video, and the information apparatus is further operable to:

capture, using the digital camera, image data or video data;

provide, on the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, one or more items that are related to one or more wireless output devices that are available for service in the wireless local area network, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the information apparatus;

receive, from the user and via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of an item related to a selected wireless output device from among the one or more items that are provided on the touch sensitive screen for the user selection; and

wirelessly transfer, via the wireless communication circuitry and over the wireless local area network, at least part of the image data or the video data taken by the digital camera of the information apparatus, to the selected wireless output device.

8. A method of managing e-mails from an information apparatus, the information apparatus being a portable and wireless computing device and supporting a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with a user, and the information apparatus comprising:

a digital capturing device for capturing image data or video data,

a touch sensitive screen,

one or more processors,

memory or storage, and

wireless communication circuitry that includes a radio frequency controller and an antenna for establishing radio frequency wireless communication; and

wherein the information apparatus further including;

one or more applications, stored at least partly in the memory or storage of the information apparatus, the one or more applications with access to digital content and include at least one of an e-mail application, a messaging application, a digital imaging application, an audio application, a video application, a document creation application, or an Internet browsing application, individually or in any combination; and

operating system software in the information apparatus, the operating system software allowing the user to install additional applications in the information apparatus that are implemented for running on the operating system software to further expand functionalities of the information apparatus, and the operating system software supporting an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate operation of at least one of said e-mail application, said messaging application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, or said Internet browsing application interfacing with device management applications in the information apparatus; and

wherein the one or more applications include at least an e-mail application and the e-mail application includes;

a graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application and over the touch sensitive screen, the graphical user interface includes;

an inbox showing one or more messages,

a reply function control or reply item displayed on the touch sensitive screen, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen for replying to an e-mail,

a delete function control or delete item displayed on the touch sensitive screen, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen for deleting an e-mail; and

wherein the method comprises;

coupling the information apparatus, using the wireless communication circuitry, to a wireless local area network for accessing one or more servers over a network;

receiving, by the e-mail application and via the wireless communication circuitry, one or more e-mails;

showing, on the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, availability of the one or more e-mails in the inbox of the e-mail application;

displaying, on the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, content of an e-mail from among the one or more e-mails that are available in the inbox;

receiving from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, an indication of scrolling up or down the content of the e-mail; and

receiving from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, a selection of the reply function control or reply item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for replying to the e-mail displayed on the touch sensitive screen;

wherein the information apparatus is operable to reply at least to the e-mail, from among the one or more e-mails received by the e-mail application, via a selection of the reply function control or reply item displayed on the touch sensitive screen; and

wherein the method further comprises receiving from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, a selection of the delete function control or delete item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for deleting at least one e-mail from among the one or more e-mails received by the e-mail application; and

wherein the information apparatus is at least one of a smart phone, an information pad, a digital pad, an e-book, an Internet appliance, or a digital camera, individually or in any combination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information apparatus further includes a microphone interface, a speaker for outputting sound, and a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user via the microphone interface, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the user and via the voice activated command function, a request to reply to an e-mail from among the one or more e-mails received by the e-mail application, and wherein the information apparatus is operable to support voice activated commands from the user to reply to an e-mail.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing, using the digital capturing device, image data or video data;

providing, on the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, one or more items that are related to one or more wireless output devices that are available in the wireless local area network, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the information apparatus;

receiving, from the user and via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of an item related to a selected wireless output device from among the one or more items that were provided on the touch sensitive screen for the user selection;

wirelessly transferring, via the wireless communication circuitry and over the wireless local area network, at least part of the image data or the video data taken by the digital capturing device of the information apparatus, to the selected wireless output device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

passing, by the email application, at least part of the digital content, accessed by the e-mail application, to an output manager in the information apparatus, for managing transfer of the at least part of the digital content to one or more wireless output devices, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the application programming interface (API) provided by the operating system software included in the information apparatus, wherein the one or more wireless output devices are distinct devices from the information apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus includes one or more chips or chipsets, and wherein the one or more chips or chipsets are compatible, at least partly, with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications for establishing radio frequency wireless communication with at least the one or more wireless output devices, the radio frequency wireless communication being at least one of a short range wireless communication or a wireless local area network communication, and

wherein the coupling of the information apparatus to a wireless local area network uses, at least in part, a chip or chipset included in the wireless communication circuitry that is compatible, at least partly, with a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

wirelessly discovering, over the radio frequency wireless communication and via the wireless communication circuitry, the one or more wireless output devices that are available for service;

providing to the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, one or more items, related to the one or more wireless output devices, for selection by the user, the one or more wireless output devices being available for outputting or playing at least part of the digital content;

receiving, from the user via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, a selection of an item related to a selected wireless output device from among the one or more items that are provided for the user selection; and

establishing, via the wireless communication circuitry, a radio frequency wireless connection between the information apparatus and the selected wireless output device for transfer of the at least part of the digital content from the information apparatus to the selected wireless output device, wherein the selected wireless output device is at least one of a television, a display device, an audio output device, a printer, an output controller externally connectable to a television device, or a projector, individually or in any combination.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining, by the information apparatus, authentication information or security information; and

enabling the information apparatus to wirelessly discover or wirelessly access the service provided by the selected wireless output device based, at least in part, on having successfully obtained the authentication information or the security information.

15. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded therein software or firmware executable by one or more processors at an information apparatus for managing e-mails at the information apparatus, the information apparatus supporting a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with a user, the information apparatus being a mobile and wireless information apparatus, and the information apparatus including one or more applications that are either installed or pre-installed, the one or more applications including:

an e-mail application,

a messaging application,

a digital imaging application,

an audio application,

a video application,

a document creation application,

an Internet browsing application; and

operating system software supporting an application programming interface (API) to facilitate at least one of said e-mail application, said messaging application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, or said Internet browsing application interfacing with device management applications in the information apparatus, and

wherein the information apparatus is operable to allow the user to install additional applications for running on the operating system software to further expand functionalities of the information apparatus, the information apparatus including at least;

a touch sensitive screen,

memory or storage for storing at least a portion of digital content, and

wireless communication circuitry that includes one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication, the wireless communication circuitry being operable for coupling the information apparatus, using the wireless communication circuitry, to a wireless local area network; and

wherein the e-mail application includes;

a graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application and over the touch sensitive screen, that includes an inbox;

a done function control or done item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen;

a reply function control or reply item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen for replying to an e-mail; and

a delete function control or delete item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for user selection over the touch sensitive screen for deleting an e-mail; and

wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to;

receive, by the e-mail application and via the wireless communication circuitry, one or more e-mails;

display, on the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, content of at least an e-mail from among the one or more e-mails;

receive from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, an indication of scrolling up or down the content of the e-mail displayed on the touch sensitive screen;

receive from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of the delete function control or the delete item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for deleting at least one e-mail from among the one or more e-mails;

receive from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of the done function control or the done item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application; and

receive from the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, selection of the reply function control or the reply item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application, for replying to an e-mail from among the one or more e-mails,

wherein the software or the firmware is executable by the one or more processors of the information apparatus to initiate the reply to the e-mail in response to the selection of the reply function control or the reply item displayed on the graphical user interface, provided by the e-mail application on the touch sensitive screen; and

wherein the information apparatus is at least one of a smart phone, an information pad, a digital pad, an e-book, an Internet appliance, or a digital camera, individually or in any combination.

16. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 15, wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to:

pass, by the e-mail application, at least part of the digital content accessed by the e-mail application, from the e-mail application to an output manager included in the information apparatus, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the application programming interface (API) provided by the operating system software included in the information apparatus; and

transfer, via the output manager included in the information apparatus, the at least part of the digital content accessed by the e-mail application, to one or more wireless output devices, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the information apparatus.

17. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 15, wherein the information apparatus further includes:

a microphone interface,

a speaker for outputting sound, and

a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user over the microphone interface, and

wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to receive from the user, via the microphone interface and using the voice activated command function, a request to reply to an e-mail, and wherein the information apparatus supports voice activated commands from the user to reply to the e-mail.

18. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 16, wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to:

interact with the user, via an interface that includes a voice activated command function, and wherein the interaction includes showing an e-mail from the inbox over the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus to the user.

19. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 15, wherein at least one wireless communication unit of the one or more wireless communication units, is compatible, at least partly, with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications for establishing the wireless communication;

and wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to;

obtain, at the information apparatus, authentication information or security information; and

wirelessly discover or wirelessly access, using the at least one wireless communication unit, services provided by one or more wireless output devices based, at least in part, on having successfully obtained the authentication information or the security information at the information apparatus, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the information apparatus.

20. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the software or the firmware, by the one or more processors of the information apparatus, causes the information apparatus to:

provide to the user, via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, one or more items related to the one or more wireless output devices for selection by the user, the one or more wireless output devices being available for outputting or playing digital content, accessed by the one or more applications from the information apparatus;

receive, from the user via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, a selection of an item related to a selected wireless output device from among the one or more items that are provided for the user selection; and

wirelessly transfer, using the at least one wireless communication unit, at least part of the digital content, accessed by the one or more applications, from the information apparatus to the selected wireless output device; and

wherein the selected wireless output device is at least one of a television, a display device, an audio output device, a printer, an output controller externally connectable to a television device, or a projector, individually or in any combination.