Smartpad-stacking

• US 8,856,679 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Gimpl, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): IPAKCHI, MARYAM M
• Application Number:
  US13/627,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00673 Supports for light guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• 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 3/00 : Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 : Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 : Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 : Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 : Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 : by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 : Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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: G06F 3/04817 : using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 : Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 : for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 : Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 : Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: G06F 3/04897 : Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 : controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 : using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 : display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 : involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/00 : Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units program control for peripheral devices G06F13/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 : Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 : Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 1/00 : Hand manipulated computing devices planimeters G01B5/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/00 : Geometric image transformations in the plane of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/20 : Linear translation of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 : Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/00 : Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of datacathode-ray oscilloscopes G01R13/20; radar display arrangements G01S7/04; display of digital non-picture data in television systems H04N7/0255
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 : Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 : Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 : Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 : Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/34 : for rolling or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/373 : for modifying the size of the graphic pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 : for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 : Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0206 : Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 : Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 : Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 : for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 : Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 : of the wireless resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/046 : Surface mounting surface mounted components H05K3/341
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 : Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 : Metal casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 : Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1452 : Mounting of connectors; Switching; Reinforcing of back panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 : Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a display of a window on a smartpad, the smartpad displaying content from a multi-screen device on a single display comprising:

providing a windows stack, wherein at least a first window in the windows stack is in an active and displayed state on the single display of the smartpad, wherein at least a second window in the windows stack is in an inactive and not displayed state, wherein the inactive state is a state where a window that was opened and displayed is now behind an active window and not displayed, and wherein the second window is stored in memory as one of an image of the second window as it appeared in one of a last active state or an image representing the second window;

presenting, on the single display of the smartpad, the first window in the active and displayed state;

receiving a first user input on the smartpad, wherein the first user input includes a signal to uncover the second window and cover the first window;

discontinuing the presentation of the first window;

presenting, on the single display of the smartpad, the second window, wherein the second window is presented in a displayed state with an associated application on the multi-screen device being in a suspended state, wherein the presenting of the first window and the presenting of the second window are performed based on;

a docking of the multi-screen device with the smartpad, which includes transitioning from displaying content on the multi-screen device to displaying the content on the smartpad, and an orientation of the single display of the smartpad.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein while displayed in the inactive state, the second window is displayed as it appeared in a last active state or as an image representing the second window.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

putting the first window in an inactive and not displayed state, wherein the first window is stored in memory as one of;

an image of the first window as it appeared in one of a last active state when the user input the signal to uncover the second window and cover the first window was received, or as an image representing the first window.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

initiating operation of a timer at a time corresponding to the presenting of the second window.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

at an expiration of a predetermined time, as determined by the timer, placing the second window in an active and displayed state.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, prior to the expiration of the predetermined time, the second window remains in the inactive and displayed state.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein a third window in the windows stack is in an inactive and not displayed state, and wherein the third window is stored in memory as one of an image of the third window as it appeared in one of a last active state or as an image representing the third window, the method further comprising:

receiving a second user input, wherein the second user input includes a signal to uncover the third window and cover the second window;

discontinuing the presentation of the second window;

presenting, using the first screen, the third window, wherein the third window is presented in a displayed state with an associated application being in a suspended state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, during the presentation of the second window between at least the receipt of the first user input and the receipt of the second user input, the second window remains in the displayed state with the associated application being in a suspended state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a third window in the windows stack is in an active and displayed state, the method further comprising:

presenting the third window in the active and displayed state.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third window remains in the active and displayed state during discontinuation of the presentation of the first window and presentation of the second window.

11. A smartpad, comprising:

a first screen, wherein the first screen includes a first touch sensitive display;

memory;

a processor in communication with the first screen and the memory;

a dock adapted to receive a multi-screen device; and

application programming stored in the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the application programming is operable to;

maintain at least a first set of windows, wherein the at least a first set of windows is stored in the memory, wherein the first set of windows includes a plurality of windows, wherein at least a first window in the first set of windows is in one of an active and displayed state or an inactive and displayed state, wherein at least a second window in the first set of windows is in an inactive and not displayed state, wherein the inactive state is a state where a window that was opened and displayed is now behind an active window and not displayed, and wherein the second window is stored in memory as one of an image of the second window as it appeared in one of a last active state or an image representing the second window;

present the first window in the one of the active and displayed state or the inactive and displayed state using the first screen of the smartpad;

receive a first user input on the smartpad, wherein the first user input includes a signal to present the second window and discontinue the presentation of the first window;

in response to the first user input, discontinue the presentation of the first window and present the second window in a displayed state using the first screen of the smartpad with an associated application on the multi-screen device being in a suspended state, wherein the presenting of the first window and the presenting of the second window are performed based on;

a docking of the multi-screen device with the smartpad, which includes transitioning from displaying content on the multi-screen device to displaying the content on the smartpad, and an orientation of the single display of the smartpad.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second window is presented in the form of the image stored in memory for at least a first period of time.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the application programming is further operable to continue to implement a timer, wherein after the expiration of the first period of time the second window is activated and is presented in an active and displayed state.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of windows in the first set of windows includes a third window, wherein the application programming is further operable to:

receive a second user input, wherein the second user input includes a signal to present the third window and discontinue the presentation of the second window, wherein the second user input is received while the second window is presented in the inactive and displayed state;

in response to the second user input, discontinue the presentation of the second window and present the second window in an inactive and displayed state.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the application programming is further operable to maintain a second set of windows, wherein the second set of windows is stored in memory, wherein the second set of windows includes a third window, wherein the third window is in an active and displayed state, and wherein the third window is presented in the active and displayed state for at least a portion of a time that the first window is displayed by the first screen and for at least a portion of a time that the second window is displayed by the first screen.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor to execute a method for controlling a user interface of a device, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions to emulate the display of a multi-screen device on a single screen device upon completion of a docking event, which includes transitioning from displaying content on the multi-screen device to displaying the content on the single screen device;

instructions to maintain a first set of windows, wherein at least a first window is maintained in the first set of windows as an active and displayed window, and wherein at least a second window is maintained in the first set of windows as an inactive and not displayed window;

instructions to present the first window on a first screen of the device in the active and displayed state;

instructions to receive a first user interface event, wherein the first user interface event directs the second window to be placed in a displayed state; and

instructions to, in response to the first user interface event directing the second window to be placed in a displayed state, place the first window in an inactive and not displayed state and to present the second window on the screen of the single screen device in a displayed state with an associated application on the multi-screen device being in a suspended state, wherein the instructions to present the first window and instructions to present the second window are performed based on;

the docking of the multi-screen device with the single screen device and an orientation of the single display on the single screen device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein in the inactive and displayed state the second window is presented as an image of the window in a last active state.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the computer executable instructions further comprising:

instructions to maintain a second set of windows, wherein at least a third window is maintained in the second set of windows as an active and displayed window, and wherein at least a fourth window is maintained in the second set of windows as a not displayed window with an associated application being in a suspended state;

instructions to present the third window on another portion of the screen of the device in an active and displayed state;

instructions to receive a second user interface event, wherein the second user interface event directs the fourth window to be placed in a displayed state;

instructions to, in response to the second user interface event directing the fourth window to be placed in a displayed state, place the third window in a not displayed state with an associated application being in a suspended state, and to present the fourth window on the second portion of the screen of the device in a displayed state with the associated application being in a suspended state.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein, for at least a first period of time, the second window is presented on the screen of the device in the displayed state with an associated application being in a suspended state and the fourth window is presented on a second portion of the screen of the device in the displayed state with an associated application being in a suspended state.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first user interface event is received before the second user interface event, and wherein after the first period of time, and for at least a second period of time, the second window is presented in an active and displayed state and the fourth window is displayed in the displayed state with the associated application being in a suspended state.