System and method for functional elements

• US 9,075,495 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kautto-Koivula, Kaisa, Huhtaniemi, Marita, Lhdesmki, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/748,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,976 Days
• Field of Search: 715/744, 715/733, 715763-765, 715761-763, 715734-736, 715851-855, 715/817, 719/315, 719/316
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods whereby, for example, one or more functional elements can be established and/or employed. Such functional elements might serve a number of purposes. For instance, such functional elements might be employable in interoperating with devices, software, and/or the like, in working with entities, and/or the like. Such functional elements may, for example, be arrangeable in an associative and/or hierarchical manner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining to provide a user interface corresponding to one or more unit control elements, wherein the user interface is employable in control of a unit;

accepting generic commands;

determining to output commands understood by said unit;

monitoring circumstances regarding use, in control of the unit, of one or more of the unit control elements;

determining to employ the monitored circumstances in establishing a group comprising one or more of said unit control elements; and

determining to establish one or more hierarchical links between a hierarchical element and the unit control elements of said group,

wherein the monitored circumstances comprise one or more of times of usages, durations of usages, and locations of usages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored circumstances comprise geographical locations of usages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said unit control elements were linked by user action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said unit control elements were automatically linked.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said unit control elements are employable in interoperation with one or more devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one or more interface software modules are employed in the interoperation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said unit control elements are employable in interoperation with one or more pieces of software.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein one or more interface software modules are employed in the interoperation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of said unit control elements allow for user interaction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to display the hierarchical element and the elements of said group.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to employ the monitored circumstances in archiving one or more of said unit control elements.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

determine to provide a user interface corresponding to one or more unit control elements, wherein the user interface is employable in control of a unit;

accept generic commands;

determine to output commands understood by said unit;

monitor circumstances regarding use, in control of the unit, of one or more of the unit control elements;

determine to employ the monitored circumstances in establishing a group comprising one or more of said unit control elements; and

determine to establish one or more hierarchical links between a hierarchical element and the unit control elements of said group,

wherein the monitored circumstances comprise one or more of times of usages, durations of usages, and locations of usages.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the monitored circumstances comprise geographical locations of usages.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more of said unit control elements were linked by user action.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more of said unit control elements were automatically linked.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more of said unit control elements are employable in interoperation with one or more devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one or more interface software modules are employed in the interoperation.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more of said unit control elements are employable in interoperation with one or more pieces of software.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one or more interface software modules are employed in the interoperation.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more of said unit control elements allow for user interaction.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine to display the hierarchical element and the elements of said group.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine to employ the monitored circumstances in archiving one or more of said unit control elements.

23. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for causing determination to provide a user interface corresponding to one or more unit control elements, wherein the user interface is employable in control of a unit;

code for causing acceptance of generic commands;

code for causing determination to output commands understood by said unit;

code for causing monitoring circumstances regarding use, in control of the unit, of one or more of the unit control elements;

code for causing determination to employ the monitored circumstances in establishing a group comprising one or more of said unit control elements; and

code for causing determination to establish one or more hierarchical links between a hierarchical element and the unit control elements of said group,

wherein the monitored circumstances comprise one or more of times of usages, durations of usages, and locations of usages.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input output interface operatively connected to the at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

determine to provide a user interface corresponding to one or more unit control elements, wherein the user interface is employable in control of a unit;

accept generic commands;

determine to output commands understood by said unit;

monitor circumstances regarding use, in control of the unit, of one or more of the unit control elements;

determine to employ the monitored circumstances in establishing a group comprising one or more of said unit control elements; and

determine to establish one or more hierarchical links between a hierarchical element and the unit control elements of said group,

wherein the monitored circumstances comprise one or more of times of usages, durations of usages, and locations of usages.