Display of controllable attributes for a controllable item based on context

• US 9,015,610 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunter, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US13/277,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 715/767
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item. The focus item is displayed on an interface that includes a plurality of display positions. A context for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item and a set of controllable attributes associated with the controllable item are determined. The method dynamically determines an order of the set of controllable attributes based on the context. The context is used to prioritize the set of controllable attributes in the order. The set of controllable attributes is displayed in the order in at least a portion of the plurality of display positions.

Claims

1. A method of comprising:

determining focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item, the focus item being displayed on an interface that includes a plurality of display positions;

determining a context for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item;

determining a set of controllable attributes that are used to control attributes of the controllable item;

dynamically, by a computing device, determining an order of the set of controllable attributes based on the context, wherein the context is used to prioritize the set of controllable attributes in the order; and

displaying at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes in the order in at least a portion of the plurality of display positions, the at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes allowing control of the controllable item,

wherein the controllable item is a thermostat,

wherein the focus item comprises an icon on a display for the thermostat,

wherein the controllable attribute comprises a list including heat set and cool set,

wherein the context comprises an increase or decrease in ambient temperature, and

wherein the heat set is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority with a decrease in temperature and wherein the cool set is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority with an increase in temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein higher priority comprises first in a list.

3. A method of claim 1 comprising:

determining focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item, the focus item being displayed on an interface that includes a plurality of display positions;

determining a context for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item;

determining a set of controllable attributes that are used to control attributes of the controllable item;

dynamically, by a computing device, determining an order of the set of controllable attributes based on the context, wherein the context is used to prioritize the set of controllable attributes in the order; and

displaying at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes in the order in at least a portion of the plurality of display positions, the at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes allowing control of the controllable item,

wherein the controllable item is a security system,

wherein the focus item comprises an icon on a display for the security system,

wherein the controllable attribute comprises an arm and a disarm status,

wherein the context comprises whether the system is currently armed or disarmed, and

wherein the arm status is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority when the context is disarmed and wherein the disarm status is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority when the context is armed.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to be operable to:

determine focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item, the focus item being displayed on an interface that includes a plurality of display positions;

determine a context for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item;

determine a set of controllable attributes that are used to control attributes of the controllable item;

dynamically determine an order of the set of controllable attributes based on the context, wherein the context is used to prioritize the set of controllable attributes in the order; and

display at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes in the order in at least a portion of the plurality of display positions, the at least a portion of the set of controllable attributes allowing control of the controllable item.

wherein the controllable item is a thermostat,

wherein the focus item comprises an icon on a display for the thermostat,

wherein the controllable attribute comprises a list including heat set and cool set,

wherein the context comprises an increase or decrease in ambient temperature, and

wherein the heat set is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority with a decrease in temperature and wherein the cool set is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority with an increase in temperature.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4,

wherein the controllable item is a security system,

wherein the focus item comprises an icon on a display for the security system,

wherein the controllable attribute comprises an arm and a disarm status,

wherein the context comprises whether the system is currently armed or disarmed, and

wherein the arm status is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority when the context is disarmed and wherein the disarm status is prioritized and displayed at a higher priority when the context is armed.