Application adaptive mobile terminal

• US 8,237,664 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wuthnow, Mark, Mahler, Roger, Klenzak, Megan, Swanbufg, Scott Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERKOULOVA, OLGA VLADIMIROVNA
• Application Number:
  US11/634,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345156-169, 345/854, 345/685, 345/790, 345/857, 345/863, 345/8, 345/115, 345/123, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/411, 178/18.01, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 715/856, 715/864, 715/810, 715/781
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A user interface is presented for mobile devices that provides for efficient and logical movement between applications on the mobile device. Multiple applications may be used simultaneously and interactively. Such uses and data are stored on the device and re-presented to the user at subsequent uses to provide efficiencies in commonly used functions, applications, and contacts.

Claims

1. A user interface for a mobile device, the user interface comprising:

a virtual template area, the virtual template area including a region defined as a universal home, the universal home including a plurality of start-up objects;

an object positioned in a particular spot in the virtual template area, the object being a software bundle of variables and related methods; and

a screening window that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein upon positioning the screening window on the object in the virtual template area, the object may be activated;

wherein the activated object spawns a second activated child object and communicates usage information to and receives usage information from the second activated child object, the second activated child object interacting with a plurality of child objects, the interaction resulting in new usage information that pertains to the activated object,

wherein the new usage information is transmitted to the activated object and stored in a user profile for a user, and

wherein the mobile device includes a home key set by the user as an object home for a user-defined starting place on a map object, the home key returning the user to the user-defined starting place on the map object upon being activated.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various particular spots in the virtual template area.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of object functions are activated simultaneously.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone.

5. A mobile device, comprising:

a virtual template area, the virtual template area including a region defined as a universal home, the universal home including a plurality of start-up objects;

a home key set by a user as an object home for a user-defined starting place on a map object, the home key returning the user to the user-defined starting place on the map object upon being activated;

an object positioned in a particular spot in the virtual template area; and

a screening window that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein upon positioning the screening window on the object in the virtual template area, the object may be activated;

wherein the activated object spawns a second activated child object and communicates usage information to and receives usage information from the second activated child object, the second activated child object interacting with a plurality of child objects, the interaction resulting in new usage information that pertains to the activated object, and

wherein the new usage information is transmitted to the activated object and stored in a user profile for the user.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various particular spots in the virtual template area.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least two of the plurality of object functions are activated simultaneously with the ability to interact with other activated objects.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a mechanical input receiver for the user to use to move the screening window over an object.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes buttons on a bezel on the mobile device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes tactile buttons on a screen on the mobile device.

11. The device of claim 8, whereas the mechanical input receiver includes a set of software enabled hotkeys.

12. The device of claim 5, further comprising an information repository for collection of data from previous user interactions and re-presentation of the collected data at subsequent interactions.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a handset;

a virtual template area on the handset, the virtual template area including a region defined as a universal home, the universal home including a plurality of start-up objects;

a home key set by a user as an object home for a user-defined starting place on a map object, the home key returning the user to the user-defined starting place on the map object upon being activated;

an object positioned in the virtual template area, the object being a software bundle of variables and related methods; and

a screening window on the handset that traverses across the virtual template area;

wherein upon positioning the screening window on the object in the virtual template area, the object may be activated by the user;

wherein the activated object spawns a second activated child object and communicates usage information to and receives usage information from the second activated child object, the second activated child object interacting with a plurality of child objects, the interaction resulting in new usage information that pertains to the activated object, and

wherein the new usage information is transmitted to the activated object and stored in a user profile for the user of the activated object.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of objects positioned at various particular spots in the virtual template area.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least two of the plurality of object functions are activated simultaneously with the ability to interact with other activated objects.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a mechanical input receiver for the user to use to move the screening window over an object.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes buttons on a bezel on the mobile device.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the mechanical input receiver includes tactile buttons on a screen on the mobile device.

19. The device of claim 16, whereas the mechanical input receiver includes a set of software enabled hotkeys.

20. The device of claim 13, further comprising an information repository for collection of data from previous user interactions and re-presentation of the collected data at subsequent interactions.