Persistent event-management access in a mobile communications device

• US 8,640,040 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lundy, Michael T., Van Orden, Mathew Jay, Annan, Brandon Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US12/058,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 715/830, 715/772
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• 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 method, system, and medium are provided for presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input. An illustrative method includes presenting a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen and transitioning to a second screen. The predetermined region is persistently viewable during and after the transition between the first and second screens. Incident to receiving touch input to the predetermined region, a listing of a set of statuses of events is presented on the display.

Claims

1. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input, the method comprising:

on the user interface, presenting the persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen that presents a first set of information,

(A) wherein the predetermined region includes one or more configuration-state dynamic icons and a new-event dynamic icon,

(B) wherein each of the configuration-state dynamic icons indicates a state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and

(C) wherein the new-event dynamic icon generically indicates an occurrence of a new event without specifying a particular type of event,

(D) wherein the predetermined region is capable of being interacted with by way of a touch input such that receiving a touch input to the predetermined region causes a first area and a second area to be presented in addition to the predetermined region,

(E) wherein the first area includes a display of detailed information related to the one or more configuration-state dynamic icons that indicate a state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and

(F) wherein the second area includes a display of a listing of a set of statuses of events that have occurred at the mobile device including the new event;

while presenting the predetermined region, transitioning to a second screen that presents a second set of information such that the predetermined region is persistently viewable during and after the transitioning; and

incident to receiving a touch input to the predetermined region, presenting the first area and the second area on the display.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a touchscreen for receiving user input, wherein the user input comprises a touch action.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the listing is no longer presented incident to receiving an additional touch input by way of the same predetermined region.

4. The media of claim 3, further comprising presenting the second set of information in the same manner as it was prior to presenting the listing.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein the second set of information is associated with a functional aspect of the mobile communications device.

6. The media of claim 5, wherein presenting the listing comprises superimposing the listing over the second set of information such that the functional aspect is not affected.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein the persistently viewable predetermined region comprises an area of the touchscreen that is adapted for receiving touch input.

8. The media of claim 1, wherein the listing comprises one or more items indicating whether one or more new events has occurred such that further information associated with the one or more new events is viewable by way of touch interaction with the items.

9. The media of claim 1, wherein an occurrence of an event is new when the occurrence of the event has not been indicated in any manner other than the indication provided by the listing.

10. The media of claim 1, wherein the events include one or more of the following:

an email, a voicemail, an instant message, or an alert.

11. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input, the method comprising:

providing a set of screens that present options that a user can invoke to cause information to be provided to the mobile communications device, wherein one of the set of screens is displayed at any given time;

presenting the persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input across each of the set of screens such that the predetermined region is never unavailable when any of the set of screens is presented, wherein the predetermined region includes one or more configuration-state dynamic icons and a new-event dynamic icon, wherein each of the configuration-state dynamic icons indicates a state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and wherein the new-event icon indicates an occurrence of a new event; and

wherein the predetermined region is capable of receiving a touch input such that a first area and a second area are presented on a display of the mobile communications device incident to receiving the touch input to the predetermined region,

(A) wherein the first area includes a display of detailed information related to the one or more configuration-state dynamic icons that indicate the state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and

(B) wherein the second area includes a display of a listing of a set of statuses of events that have occurred at the mobile device including the new event.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein a screen comprises one or more designated areas that receive touch input, wherein the designated areas are associated with one or more features provided by the mobile communications device.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein a feature provided by the mobile communications device comprises an application.

14. The media of claim 13, wherein a touch input received by the persistently visible predetermined region is not associated with the application.

15. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input, the method comprising:

presenting the persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen of the mobile communications device, wherein the predetermined region includes one or more configuration-state dynamic icons, wherein each of the dynamic icons indicates a state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and a new-event dynamic icon that indicates an occurrence of a new event;

transitioning from the first screen to a second screen, wherein the predetermined region is persistently visible from the second screen in the same manner as it was on the first screen; and

incident to receiving a single touch action by way of the predetermined region, presenting a first area and a second area, wherein the first area includes a display of detailed information related to the one or more configuration-state dynamic icons that indicate a state associated with a configuration of the mobile communications device, and wherein the second area includes a dynamically updateable list comprising at least one item that conveys a status of at least one event that occurs at the mobile device, such that, when the event experiences a change from a first state to a second state, the change is reflected in the list, and wherein the at least one event includes the new event.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the single touch action comprises one instance of contact such that the list is superimposed over the second screen without transitioning away from the second screen.

17. The media of claim 15, further comprising discontinuing presentation of the list incident to receiving a single touch action by way of the predetermined region such that the second screen is displayed in the same manner as it was prior to presenting the list.

18. The media of claim 15, wherein the at least one item is capable of being interacted with by touch input such that information associated with the change is viewable incident to receiving touch input associated with the item.