System and method for adjusting presentation of text and images on an electronic device according to an orientation of the device

• US 8,139,026 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guertin, Aaron M
• Application Number:
  US11/461,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-172, 340/689, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer

Abstract

The invention relates to a system, method and device for controlling the display of elements n a screen on an electronic device, according to an orientation of the device. In the system, a graphics management system for elements displayed in a screen on a display on an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: a sensor; an movement detection module connected to the sensor providing an orientation signal registering a notable signal from the sensor; and a graphical user interface (GUI) adjustment module to determine a new layout for the elements being displayed on the display utilizing orientation data provided by the movement detection module. The sensor may provide orientation data indicating a new orientation of the device. Also, the GUI adjustment module may provide the new layout by shifting a position of one or more of the elements in the screen to reflect the new orientation of the device.

Claims

1. A graphics management system for an icon and an element relating to said icon displayed in a screen on a display of an electronic device, comprising:

a sensor providing movement data indicating a new movement of said device;

an movement detection module connected to said sensor providing a movement signal registering a notable signal from said sensor; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) adjustment module determining a new layout for said icon and said element being displayed on said display utilizing movement data provided by said movement detection module, said GUI adjustment module providing instructions to

map the icon into a three dimensional model having a base layer associated with a plane of the display for the icon;

map the element in a second layer in the model, wherein the second layer is either above or below the base layer;

for the new layout, move the element in the second layer to mimic a notable detected movement of the portable electronic device, while maintaining a position of the icon in the base layer; and

display the icon and the element on the display of the portable electronic device using their map locations in the model.

2. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said shift is implemented only if said detected movement is within a predetermined movement range.

3. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said sensor provides positional pitch data about said new movement.

4. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said sensor further provides positional yaw data about said new movement.

5. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said element in said screen is reverted to a default arrangement when a predetermined amount of time has passed with no notable further movement.

6. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said sensor is an accelerometer.

7. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said new layout comprises a shift of an icon in said screen reflecting said new movement.

8. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said shift is implemented only if said detected movement is within a predetermined movement range.

9. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said new layout comprises changing perspective view for said icon in said screen reflecting said new movement.

10. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said icon is represented as a three-dimensional object in said display model and the depth of said icon is shown from a perspective reflecting said notable detected movement.

11. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said GUI adjustment module maintains a position of said icon in said GUI when said element is moved.

12. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said GUI adjustment module further provides instructions to:

map a second element in the model located in a third layer that is either above or below the base layer; and

move the second element in the third layer to mimic said notable detected movement of the portable electronic device.

13. The graphics management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said element is a background element for said icon; and

said second layer is below said base layer.

14. A method for displaying an icon and an element relating to said icon in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

mapping the icon into a three dimensional model having a base layer associated with a plane of the display for the icon;

mapping the element in a second layer in the model, wherein the second layer is above or below the base layer;

moving the element in the second layer to mimic a notable detected movement of the portable electronic device, while maintaining a position of the icon in the base layer; and

displaying the icon and the element on the display of the portable electronic device using their map locations in the model.

15. The method for displaying an icon and an element relating to said icon in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of a portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising reverting said screen to a default orientation arrangement for said element when a predetermined amount of time has passed with no notable further changes in orientation.

16. The method for displaying an icon and a background element relating to said icon in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of a portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

mapping a second element in the model located in a third layer that is either above or below the base layer; and

moving the second element in the third layer to mimic said notable detected movement of the portable electronic device.

17. The method for displaying an icon and a background element relating to said icon in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of a portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said element is a background element for said icon; and

said second layer is below said base layer.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a sensor;

a display for displaying an icon and an element associated with said icon in a graphical user interface (GUI) on said display;

an movement detection module connected to said sensor providing an orientation signal registering a notable signal from said sensor; and

a GUI adjustment module providing instructions to

map the icon into a three dimensional model having a base layer associated with a plane of the display for the icon;

map the element in a second layer in the model, wherein the second layer is either above or below the base layer;

move the element in the second layer to mimic a notable detected movement of the portable electronic device, while maintaining a position of the icon in the base layer; and

display the icon and the element on the display of the portable electronic device using their map locations in the model.

19. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said sensor is an accelerometer detecting a change in pitch in orientation of said device.

20. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said GUI adjustment module shifts the element in its layer by a predetermined number of pixels in response to said orientation data.

21. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said element is a background element for said icon; and

said second layer is below said base layer.