Mobile device interface with dual windows

• US 8,600,446 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Chiang, Ching-Liang, Chiang, Chi-Pang, Tai, Chih-Wei, Chen, Chao-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHARU, MANPREET S
• Application Number:
  US12/239,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/414.1, 455/415, 715/788
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile device having a user interface supporting multiple windows is disclosed. The user interface is suitable for use in any device having a handheld form factor, such as a mobile phone or mobile Internet device. The user interface includes two windows that are displayed on the mobile device'"'"'s screen. The mobile device may be configured to switch between a single window mode and a dual window mode. The device may also be configured to launch applications in either mode. It may be configured to switch between modes automatically or in response to a user command. The windows may also be re-oriented in response to a change in the device'"'"'s orientation or to a user'"'"'s command.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a form factor suitable for handheld use;

a display screen carried by the housing;

a touch-sensitive input component configured to receive user input to the mobile communication device based on gestures on the touch-sensitive input component;

a storage component configured to store a mobile application;

a processor configured to execute the mobile application;

a first window control component associated with a first application and configured to control a first interface displayed on a first portion of the display screen and to respond to inputs directed to the first portion of the display screen, wherein the first interface displayed on the first portion of the display screen is configured to simultaneously display the first application and receive user input;

a second window control component associated with a second application and configured to control a second interface displayed on a second portion of the display screen and to respond to inputs directed to the second portion of the display screen, wherein the second interface displayed on the second portion of the display screen is configured to simultaneously display the second application and receive user input; and

a coordinator component configured to generate a command from the first application to the second application in response to a user gesture to the touch-sensitive input component indicating an interaction between the first portion of the display screen and the second portion of the display screen, to provide the command from the first application to the second application, and to selectively enable or disable the first window control component and the second window control component to switch the mobile communication device between a single window mode and a dual window mode;

wherein when the mobile communication device is in the dual window mode, the mobile communication device simultaneously displays the first interface and the second interface.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the coordinator component is configured to switch the mobile communication device to the single window mode when the second mobile application is deactivated.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the coordinator component is configured to switch between the single window mode and the dual window mode in response to a user command received from the touch-sensitive input component.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the second window control component is inactive when the mobile communication device is in the single window mode.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input component includes a touch-sensitive screen.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the size of the first portion of the display screen is equal to the size of the second portion of the display screen.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the display screen and the second portion of the display screen are square.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the coordinator is further configured to switch the mobile communication device to the dual window mode in response to a command gesture received through the touch-sensitive screen.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the touch-sensitive input component includes a touch-sensitive screen,

the coordinator is further configured to switch the mobile communication device in the dual window mode in response to a command gesture received through the touch-sensitive screen, and

the first window control component is further configured to display a control menu at a location on the display corresponding to the location of the command gesture on the touch-sensitive screen.

10. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a form factor suitable for handheld use;

a display screen carried by the housing, wherein the display screen is capable of displaying one or more windows;

a touch-sensitive component;

an interface management component configured to selectively vary the number of windows,

wherein each of the windows is displayed on a portion of the display screen, is associated with a separate application, and can be independently controlled, and

wherein each of the windows is configured to simultaneously display the respective associated separate application and receive user input;

an input component configured to receive user input from the touch-sensitive component corresponding to a user gesture indicating an interaction between a first window displayed by the display screen and corresponding to a first application and a second window displayed by the display screen and corresponding to a second application,

wherein the interface management component is further configured to generate a command from the first application to the second application corresponding to the user gesture and to provide the command from the first application to the second application; and

wherein when the mobile communication device is in a multiple window mode, the mobile communication device simultaneously displays the first window and the second window.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the display screen can display either one or two windows.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein:

the mobile communication device is capable of running a plurality of mobile applications simultaneously; and

the interface management component is further configured to display an interface for a different mobile application in each of the one or more windows.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the interface management component is configured to change the number of displayed windows in response to a user command.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein:

the first application is a contacts application, the display including a contact list item having an associated telephone number; and

the second application is a telephone dialing application, wherein the user gesture is dragging the contact list item from the first window to the second window and wherein the telephone dialing application is configured to dial the associated telephone number in response to the command.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein:

the first application is a contacts application, the display including a contact list item having an associated telephone number; and

the second application is a telephone dialing application,

wherein the user gesture is dragging the contact list item from the first window to the second window and wherein when a telephone call with a first remote device is in progress, the telephone dialing application is configured to initiate a conference call including the first remote device and the associated telephone number in response to the command.

16. A mobile communication device, comprising:

housing having a form factor suitable for handheld use;

display screen carried in the housing;

means for receiving user input corresponding to user gestures on a touch-sensitive component of the mobile communication device;

first control means for controlling an interface associated with a first application displayed on a first window on a first portion of the display screen;

second control means for controlling an interface associated with a second application, separate from the first application displayed, on a second window on a second portion of the display screen, wherein the second control means is capable of controlling the display screen simultaneously with the first control means;

means for simultaneously displaying the first application and receiving user input on the first window;

means for simultaneously displaying the second application and receiving input on the second window; and

means for coordinating the activity of the first control means and the second control means to receive user input from the means for receiving corresponding to a user gesture indicating an interaction between the first window and the second window, to generate a command from the first application to the second application corresponding to the user gesture, to provide the command from the first application to the second application and to selectively enable or disable the first control means and the second control means to switch the mobile communication device between a single window mode and a dual window mode;

wherein when the mobile communication device is in the dual window mode, the mobile communication device simultaneously displays the first window and the second window.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving user input is configured to send commands directed to the first window to the first control means and to send commands directed to the second window to the second control means.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the means for coordinating is configured to switch the mobile communication device between the single window mode and the dual window mode in response to a user command.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the means for coordinating is configured to change the size, location, or orientation of the first window of the display screen.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the means for coordinating is configured to automatically change the size, location, or orientation in response to a change in the orientation of the mobile communication device.

21. A method for controlling a user interface of a mobile communication device having a form factor suitable for handheld use, comprising:

accepting a first input requesting a change in a user interface that is capable of displaying one or more windows on a display screen of the mobile communication device;

determining whether the requested change directs the user interface to display a single window interface or a multiple window interface;

displaying the single window interface or the multiple window interface according to the determination;

when displaying the multiple window interface, displaying a first window associated with a first application on a first portion of the display screen, and a second window associated with a second application on a second portion of the display screen separate from the first application, wherein the first window is configured to simultaneously display the first application and receive user input, and wherein the second window is configured to simultaneously display the second application and receive user input;

receiving user input corresponding to a user gesture on a touch-sensitive component of the mobile communication device and indicating an interaction between the first window and the second window;

generating a command from the first application to the second application based on the user input corresponding to the user gesture on the touch-sensitive component; and

providing the command from the first application to the second application;

wherein when the mobile communication device is in the multiple window interface, the mobile communication device simultaneously displays the first window and the second window.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein accepting an input further comprises:

launching a mobile application; and

receiving configuration information associated with the application requesting the change in the user interface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the user interface is initially displaying a single window interface of a first mobile application; and

the input is a command to open a second mobile application and display the multiple window interface having two windows.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the user interface is initially displaying a multiple window interface with an interface of a first mobile application displayed in all of the windows; and

the input is a command to display a single window interface.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the user interface is initially displaying the multiple window interface with two windows;

the input is a command to close the first mobile application; and

the determination is to display the single window interface with the interface of the second mobile application displayed.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing the method of claim 21.