Formatting ticker content in a handheld wireless telecommunication device

• US 8,219,925 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Othmer, Konstantin, Stocklein, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US12/825,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/738, 715/740, 715744-749, 715/764, 715/765, 715/774, 715/781, 715/784, 715/786, 715/789, 715/864, 715/866, 715/205, 715/243, 715/273, 715/835, 715/275, 715/269, 715/255, 715/256, 709/201, 709/203, 709/204, 709217-219, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/422.1, 345/169
• US Class Current: 715/774
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0243 Comparative campaigns
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Tickers are populated with location-based information that is selected according to the geographic location of communication devices. The location of a communication device is identified based on a GPS system, proximity to transmitters in a wireless network, user input, or using other techniques. Location-appropriate content is obtained either in real-time from the network or from a local data store at the communication device. In general location-based, context-aware content can be displayed on tickers associated with a variety of communication devices, including mobile communication devices and “immobile” or stationary personal computers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a handheld wireless telecommunication device that includes a display device, the handheld wireless telecommunication device being configured to;

obtain information indicating a first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

display a ticker item of a scrolling user interface on the display device of the handheld wireless telecommunication device according to a display format based on a distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and a destination location, the destination location having been chosen at least in part from the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

a font based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

a color of a font based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

an animation based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless telecommunication device is further configured to:

obtain information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modify the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless telecommunication device is further configured to:

obtain information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modify the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location and a speed of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless telecommunication device is further configured to:

obtain information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modify the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location, a speed of the handheld wireless telecommunication device, and a direction of movement of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless telecommunication device is further configured to:

obtain information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modify the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location and a direction of movement of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein the scrolling user interface on the display device of the handheld wireless telecommunication device is a ticker.

10. A method comprising:

obtaining, at a handheld wireless telecommunication device that includes a display device, information indicating a first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

displaying a ticker item of a scrolling user interface on the display device of the handheld wireless telecommunication device according to a display format based on a distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and a destination location, the destination location having been chosen at least in part from the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

a font based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

12. The method as in claim 10, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

a color of a font based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein the display format based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location includes:

an animation based on the distance between the first geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

14. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modifying the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location.

15. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modifying the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location and a speed of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

16. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modifying the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location, a speed of the handheld wireless telecommunication device, and a direction of movement of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

17. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining information indicating a second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device; and

modifying the display format of the ticker item based on a distance between the second geographic location of the handheld wireless telecommunication device and the destination location and a direction of movement of the handheld wireless telecommunication device.

18. The method as in claim 10, wherein the scrolling user interface on the display device of the handheld wireless telecommunication device is a ticker.