Dock-specific display modes

• US 8,250,278 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Erick, Ganesh, Jaikumar, Chan, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGLIC, RYAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/250,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 710/304
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A mobile computing device is determined to have electrically coupled by physical contact with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power for charging the mobile computing device. The docking system is determined to be a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking systems. A first user interface profile that corresponds to the first type of docking system is selected from among a plurality of user interface profiles. Each of the plurality of user interface profiles corresponds to a respective type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems. The first user interface profile is presented by the mobile computing device in response to selection of the first user interface profile.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a mobile computing device has electrically coupled by physical contact with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power for charging the mobile computing device;

determining that the docking system is a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking systems;

selecting a first user interface profile that corresponds to the first type of docking system from among a plurality of user interface profiles, each of the plurality of user interface profiles corresponding to a respective type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, the first user interface profile in response to selecting the first user interface profile; and

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, a first configuration user interface as part of the first user interface profile,

wherein the first configuration user interface is a user interface with which a user of the mobile computing device is able to select one or more settings that cause the mobile computing device to (i) transmit to the docking system audio signals that a particular application program on the mobile computing device generates while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system, and (ii) mute audio signals that one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking station,

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to audibly output audio signals that the one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is not electrically coupled with the docking station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the docking system is the first type of docking system includes receiving, via a physical electrical connection between the docking system and the mobile computing device, an electrical signal from the docking system that identifies the docking system as the first type of docking system in distinction to other of the plurality of types of docking systems.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of types of docking systems receives the electrical signal over a same electrical interface configuration.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the received electrical signal is a serially transmitted digital signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration user interface is presented in distinction to other configuration user interfaces that correspond to other of the plurality of user interface profiles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration user interface is an initial user interface that can receive user input that is specific to the first user interface profile upon determining that the mobile computing device has electrically coupled with the docking system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the first configuration user interface is performed in response to determining that the mobile computing device has not electrically coupled with the docking system before;

the method further comprising;

receiving user input, with the first configuration user interface, for activating wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system; and

storing an indication that wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system is to be activated when the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the mobile computing device has electrically coupled with the docking system a subsequent time;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, the first user interface profile without presenting the first configuration user interface as part of the first user interface profile; and

establishing wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system based on the stored indication and without receiving user input subsequent to determining that the mobile computing device has electrically coupled with the docking system the subsequent time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stored indication indicates that:

(i) the mobile computing device is to transmit to the docking system an audio signal that the mobile computing device receives from another party during a telephone call, and (ii) that the mobile computing device is to receive from the docking system an audio signal that the mobile computing device is to transmit to the other party during the telephone call.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the particular application program is a media player application program.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface profile includes a display of a desktop background display that changes at least in part based on a geographical position of the mobile computing device, wherein a desktop background display is a display that is presented as a backdrop to multiple graphical interface elements that, when selected, each invoke a respective application program from a plurality of application programs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of application programs were downloaded to the mobile computing device from an application store that allows users to select, from a collection of application programs that were authored by various third-party entities, application programs to download.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the desktop background display includes a display of a map that changes, as the geographical position of the mobile device changes, to consistently identify a geographical position of the mobile computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein another user interface profile from the plurality of user interface profiles includes a display of a desktop background display that does not change based at least in part on the geographical position of the mobile computing device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface profile indicates that a default display of information on the mobile computing device is to appear in a landscape display mode when the first user interface profile is presented.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a second user interface profile from the plurality of user interface profiles indicates that a default display of information on the mobile computing device is to appear in a portrait display mode when the second user interface profile is presented.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface profile indicates that a physical button of the mobile computing device is to be deactivated while the mobile computing device is presenting the first user interface profile, and wherein a second user interface profile from the plurality of user interface profiles indicates that the physical button is to be active while the mobile computing device is presenting the second user interface profile.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the first configuration user interface include a first setting that causes the docking system to output audio from a telephone conversation and a second setting that causes the docking system to output audio from a media player application program.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the first configuration user interface enables the user to activate use of the docking system to audibly output a telephone ringer and alarm audio, but silences at least some other audio events that would otherwise be audibly output by the telephone if the telephone were not electrically coupled with the docking system.

20. One or more computer-readable storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices, perform operations comprising:

determining that a mobile computing device has electrically coupled by physical contact with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power for charging the mobile computing device;

determining that the docking system is a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking systems;

selecting a first user interface profile that corresponds to the first type of docking system from among a plurality of user interface profiles, each of the plurality of user interface profiles corresponding to a respective type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, the first user interface profile in response to selecting the first user interface profile;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, a first configuration user interface as part of the first user interface profile,

wherein the first configuration user interface is a user interface with which a user of the mobile computing device is able to select one or more settings that cause the mobile computing device to (i) transmit to the docking system audio signals that a particular application program on the mobile computing device generates while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system, and (ii) mute audio signals that one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking station,

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to audibly output audio signals that the one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is not electrically coupled with the docking station.

21. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 20, wherein determining that the docking system is the first type of docking system includes the mobile computing device communicating with the docking system via a physical electrical connection.

22. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 21, wherein communicating with the docking system includes a transmission of a serial digital signal.

23. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 20, wherein the particular application program is a media player application program.

24. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 20, wherein presenting the first configuration user interface is performed in response to the mobile computing device determining that the mobile computing device has not electrically coupled with the docking system before;

the operations further comprising;

receiving user input, with the first configuration user interface, for activating wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system; and

storing an indication that wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system is to be activated when the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system.

25. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a mobile computing device has electrically coupled by physical contact with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power for charging the mobile computing device;

determining that the docking system is a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking system;

selecting a first configuration user interface that corresponds to the first type of docking system from among a plurality of configuration user interfaces, each of the plurality of configuration user interfaces corresponding to a respective type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems;

determining that the mobile computing device has not electrically coupled with the docking system before;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, the first configuration user interface;

receiving user input, with the first configuration user interface, for activating wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system,

wherein the first configuration user interface is a user interface with which a user of the mobile computing device is able to select one or more settings that cause the mobile computing device to (i) transmit to the docking system audio signals that a particular application program on the mobile computing device generates while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system, and (ii) mute audio signals that one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking station,

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to audibly output the audio signals that the one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is not electrically coupled with the docking station;

storing an indication that wireless communication is to be activated when the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system;

determining that the mobile computing device has electrically coupled with the docking system a subsequent time;

presenting, by the mobile computing device for display, a user interface that corresponds to the docking system without presenting the first configuration user interface; and

establishing wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system based on the stored indication.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein determining that the docking system is the first type of docking system includes the mobile computing device communicating with the docking system via a physical electrical connection.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein communicating with the docking system includes a transmission of a serial digital signal.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the particular application program is a media player application program.

29. A computer-implemented system comprising:

a dock detector that is programmed to (i) determine that a mobile computing device has electrically coupled for charging with a docking system that is adapted to supply electrical power to the mobile computing device, and (ii) determine that the docking system is a first type of docking system from a plurality of types of docking system;

a repository of electronically stored user interface profiles that specify different schemes for presentations of information with the mobile computing device, each user interface profile corresponding to a type of docking system from the plurality of types of docking systems;

a user interface selector that is programmed to select a first user interface profile from the repository of user interface profiles based on the selected first user interface profile corresponding to the first type of docking system, the first user interface profile being selected for use by the mobile computing device in response to the dock detector determining that the mobile computing device has electrically coupled with the docking system and that the docking system is the first type of docking system; and

display and input managers that are programmed to (a) present a first configuration user interface as part of the first user interface profile, (b) receive user input, with the first configuration user interface, selecting one or more settings that cause the mobile computing device to (i) transmit to the docking system audio signals that a particular application program on the mobile computing device generates while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system, and (ii) mute audio signals that one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking station,

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to audibly output the audio signals that the one or more other application programs on the mobile computing device generate while the mobile computing device is not electrically coupled with the docking station.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the dock detector is programmed to determine that the docking system is the first type of docking system using a communication between the docking system and the mobile computing device via a physical electrical connection.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the communication includes a transmission of a serial digital signal.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the particular application program is a media player application program.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein:

the dock detector is further programmed to determine that the mobile computing device has not electrically coupled with the docking system before; and

the display and input managers are further programmed to;

present the first configuration user interface in response to the dock detector determining that the mobile computing device has not electrically coupled with the docking system before,

receive user input, with the first configuration user interface, for activating wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system, and

cause to be stored an indication that wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system is to be activated when the mobile computing device is electrically coupled with the docking system.