User interface for different displays

• US 7,812,786 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Etelapera, Esa
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US11/039,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/3.1, 345/659, 345/649, 455/566, 715/798, 715/802, 715/825, 715/861, 715/858, 715/788, 713/100
• US Class Current: 345/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for adjusting a graphical user interface for at least two displays, wherein due to an activation of at least one of at least two displays the graphical user interface is informed about the characteristics of said at least one activated display whereby the graphical user interface is refreshed according to said characteristics. This invention also relates to a display system, to a device, to a graphical user interface and to a computer program product.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a graphical user interface displaying graphical interface content on a display within an electronic device having two displays;

activating an other display of said two displays;

said other display informing the graphical user interface about the characteristics of said other display,

in response to the activation of said other display, refreshing the graphical user interface content and dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content for said other display on the basis of characteristics of said other display;

displaying the changed layout on said other display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said other display informing said graphical user interface about the characteristics of said other display relates to at least one of the following display feature;

size, shape, presentation capabilities, interaction capabilities.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said

two displays are of different size.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

deactivating said display in response to the activation of said other display.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

presenting the graphical user interface content on both of the two displays.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

informing said graphical user interface about display resolution, display size or form factor.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

informing a user interface framework and an application belonging to said graphical user interface about display resolution, display size or form factor.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

refreshing a user interface application belonging to said graphical user interface on the basis of a type of the user interface application.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two displays comprise at least two displays of the electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for an application selected from the group of:

word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, browser, message editor, and the layout of the graphical user interface content comprises application specific content.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for an application that is configured to display one or more tabulated columns, and wherein dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content for said other display comprises displaying a number or amount of columns on the basis of characteristics of said other display.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the application is a telephone application.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content comprises displaying tabulated columns horizontally or vertically on the basis of characteristics of said other display.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for an application that is configured to display a single column list view, and wherein the amount of content to be displayed in the column on the graphical user interface content is set on the basis of characteristics of said other display.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the application is a telephone application.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for an application comprising a grid view, and wherein dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content for said other display comprises placing a number of objects horizontally on the basis of said characteristics of said other display.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the grid view is a desktop.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for a PDA application, and wherein dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content for said other display comprises filling “

empty space”

with content.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said content comprises non-functional content comprising one or more of application specific graphics, and status information.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said content provides for pen shortcuts.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the PDA application comprises an application selected form the group of:

a voice recorder application; and

an image application.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is for a dual pane application, and wherein:

displaying said graphical user interface content on said display comprises displaying a single pane; and

dynamically changing the layout of the graphical user interface content for said other display comprises changing the layout of the graphical user interface content such that is configured to display two panes.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the dual pane application is an application selected from the group of:

a calendar application, a message center, a contact manager, and a file manager.

24. Apparatus for an electronic device, the device comprising two displays;

wherein said apparatus is configured to;

display graphical user interface content on one of the two displays;

receive information relating to an activation of an other of said two displays;

receive information relating to characteristics of said other display from said other display;

wherein, in response to said activation of said other display, the apparatus is configured to refresh the graphical user interface content for said other display and dynamically change the layout of the graphical user interface content on the basis of the characteristics of said other display; and

display said changed layout on said other display.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said characteristics relate to at least one of the following display features:

size, shape, presentation capabilities, interaction capabilities.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to present said graphical user interface content on both of the displays.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus is a processor.

28. An electronic device comprising:

two displays; and

the apparatus according to claim 24.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein said one display has a viewing area of a size different from said other display.

30. The device according to claim 28, further comprising means for communication.

31. The device according to claim 28, further comprising PDA functionality.

32. The electronic device according to claim 28, wherein the two displays comprise at least two displays of the electronic device.

33. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the two displays comprise at least two displays of the electronic device.

34. A memory for a single electronic device having two displays and a graphical user interface useable for each of said two displays to display graphical user interface content, said memory comprising computer readable instructions for execution by a processor of said single electronic device configured to cause said single electronic device to:

receive information on an activation of one of the displays,

receive information relating to characteristics of said activated display from said activated display, and,

in response to the activation of said activated display, to refresh the graphical user interface content and dynamically change a layout of the graphical user interface content for said activated display according to characteristics of said activated display.

35. The memory according to claim 34, wherein said one display has a viewing area of a size different from one other of said two displays.

36. The memory according to claim 34, further comprising computer readable instructions configured to present said graphical user interface content on both of the displays.

37. The memory according to claim 34, wherein the two displays comprise at least two displays of the electronic device.

38. A memory for a single electronic device having two displays and a graphical user interface useable for each of said two displays displaying graphical interface content, said memory comprising computer readable instructions for execution by a processor of said single electronic device configured, in response to an activation of one of the displays, to cause said single electronic device to:

cause said activated display to inform the graphical user interface about characteristics of said activated display, and

refresh the graphical user interface content and dynamically change the layout of the graphical user interface content for said activated display based on characteristics of said activated display.

39. The memory according to claim 38, further comprising computer readable instructions configured to receive information on said activation of said activated display.

40. The memory according to claim 38, further comprising computer readable instructions configured to receive information about the characteristics of said activated display.

41. The memory according to claim 38, wherein said characteristics relate to at least one of the following display features:

size, shape, presentation capabilities, interaction capabilities.

42. The memory according to claim 38, wherein the two displays comprise at least two displays of the electronic device.