Method, apparatus and computer program for providing user-specific information on a graphical user interface

• US 9,086,784 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ijs, Jari, Hakunti, Jussi, Tapiola, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Ruay
• Application Number:
  US13/588,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-277, 715700-867, 700701-866, 709201-229, 705 50- 79, 345 30-111, 345/619, 455/420, 382/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

User-specific information content packages are arranged into a sequence of selectable objects, wherein each user-specific information content package includes at least visual content, and wherein the sequence includes a first part of selectable objects waiting for to be displayed on a graphical user interface and a second part of selectable objects currently displayed on the graphical user interface. The selectable objects in the second part are caused to be displayed on the graphical user interface as a flow of selectable objects such that, while the selectable objects flow on the graphical user interface, at least one selectable object from the first part is moved to the second part and at least one selectable object from the second part is removed from the second part.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

arranging, by a processor, user-specific information content packages into a sequence of selectable objects, wherein a user-specific information content package in the sequence of selectable objects comprises at least visual content, and wherein the sequence of selectable objects comprises a first part and a second part, the first part including selectable objects waiting to be displayed on a graphical user interface, the second part including selectable objects that are currently displayed on the graphical user interface;

displaying the selectable objects of the second part of the sequence on the graphical user interface as a moving flow of selectable objects, such that, while the selectable objects flow on the graphical user interface, at least one selectable object from the first part of the sequence is moved into the second part of the sequence and is displayed on the graphical user interface and at least one selectable object from the second part is removed from the second part and is no longer displayed on the graphical user interface;

presenting at least one selectable object from the second part of the sequence that is being displayed on the graphical user interface in a more visually emphasized manner on the graphical user interface than other selectable objects from the second part that are simultaneously displayed on the graphical user interface;

allowing user selection of a selectable object from the second part of the sequence that is being displayed on the graphical user interface;

setting a threshold for an amount of selectable objects in the first part; and

initiating a process of receiving new selectable objects to be added to the first part when the amount of the selectable objects in the first part is less than the threshold amount.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one user-specific information content package from a server.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising prior to receiving user-specific information content packages from the server:

sending, to the server, user profile information.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

removing a selectable object from the second part of the sequence of selectable objects from the graphical user interface when a predetermined condition is reached.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein determining that the predetermined condition is reached comprises one or more of:

detecting that a selectable object from the second part of the sequence has reached a predetermined location on the graphical user interface;

or

determining that the selectable object is displayed in the more visually enhanced manner and has not been selected.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user-specific information content package comprises an address link to a source content, the method further comprising:

detecting a selection of a selectable object from the second part being displayed on the graphical user interface;

removing the selected selectable object from the second part of the sequence so that it is no longer displayed on the graphical user interface; and

opening the source content associated with the address link relating to the selected object.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user-specific information content package comprises an address, the method further comprising:

detecting a selection of a selectable object from the second part being displayed on the graphical user interface; and

initiating a sending of an indication to the address that the selectable object from the second part has been selected.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting a period of validity for a selectable object in one or more of the first part and the second part of the sequence; and

removing the selectable object from the sequence when the period of validity has expired.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting a priority for at least one selectable object in the first part; and

using the priority information as a basis for moving selectable objects from the first part to the second part of the sequence.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow of selectable objects in the second part is one or more of a continuous flow or a gradual flow and the selectable objects in the second part move in random directions on the graphical user interface.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a selectable object comprises an application.

12. A computer readable medium comprising program code configured to perform, when executed by an apparatus, the method of claim 1.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to;

arrange user-specific information content packages into a sequence of selectable objects, wherein each user-specific information content package comprises at least visual content, and wherein the sequence comprises a first part and a second part, the first part including selectable objects waiting to be displayed on a graphical user interface and the second part including selectable objects currently being displayed on the graphical user interface;

cause display of the selectable objects from the second part on the graphical user interface as a moving flow of selectable objects such that, while the selectable objects of the second part flow on the graphical user interface, at least one selectable object from the first part is moved to the second part and at least one selectable object from the second part is removed from the second part and is no longer displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein in at least one point of time at least one selectable object from the second part that is being displayed on the graphical user interface is more visually emphasized on the graphical user interface than any remaining selectable objects of the second part that simultaneously displayed on the graphical user interface;

allow user selection of a selectable object from the second part being displayed on the graphical user interface;

set a threshold for an amount of selectable objects in the first part of the sequence; and

initiate a process of receiving new selectable objects when the amount of the selectable objects in the first part of the sequence is less than the threshold amount.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory comprises program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:

receive at least one user-specific information content package from a server.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one memory comprises program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:

send, to the server, user profile information prior to receiving user-specific information content packages from the server.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory comprises program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:

remove a selectable object from the second part of the sequence so that the selectable object is not displayed on the graphical user interface when a predetermined condition is reached.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined condition comprises one or more of:

a location of the selectable object on the graphical user interface or determining that the selectable object is displayed in a more visually emphasized manner and has not been selected.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory comprises program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:

set a period of validity for a selectable object in the sequence; and

remove the selectable object from the sequence when the period of validity has expired.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one memory comprises program code, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:

set a priority for at least one selectable object in the first part of the sequence; and

use the priority information as a basis for moving selectable objects from the first part of the sequence to the second part of the sequence.