Email client display transitions between portrait and landscape in a smartpad device

• US 9,189,773 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Webber, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): DRAGOESCU, CLAUDIA B
• Application Number:
  US13/299,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/761
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• 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 3/017 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/0488 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 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/38 with means for controlling the display position
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface for an email application are provided. More particularly, a change in the operating mode of a multiple virtual display smartpad device from a multiple virtual display operating mode to a single virtual display operating mode, or from a single virtual display operating mode to a multiple virtual display operating mode, can be determined. Moreover, a change in the operating mode can effect a change in a presentation of a user interface associated with an email application. More particularly, a presentation of a user interface can be retained, where the number of virtual displays of the device in view of the user is changed, provided a user interface for the email application remains in view of the user after the change in operating mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a device comprising a first display and a second display;

providing a smartpad device, wherein the device is inserted into the smartpad device, wherein the smartpad device includes a display functionally separated into a first portion and a second portion, and wherein a display in the first portion is associated with the first display and a display in the second portion is associated with the second display;

in a first display mode and while the device is docked into the smartpad device, presenting at least a first user interface for an email application on the first portion of the smartpad device, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a landscape orientation and displaying content on the first portion, and wherein the second portion is unavailable to a user;

receiving an input from the user into the display of the smartpad device, wherein the input includes making the second portion available to the user;

determining orientations of the device and the smartpad based on input from an accelerometer on the device;

the smartpad device determining a second display mode at least based on the determined orientations, wherein the second display mode includes displaying content on both the first portion and the second portion;

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the smart pad device is in a second display mode, the smartpad device presenting the first user interface on the first portion;

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the device is in a second display mode, the smartpad device presenting a second user interface on the second portion, wherein the second user interface is also associated with the email application;

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to change at least one of a size, an orientation, a position or an aspect ratio of at least one user interface object in the first user interface or the second user interface; and

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to at least one of open a new child window, expand the email application program window across both displays, expand a keyboard across both virtual displays, or maintain the email application program window in the set virtual display portion and show other content from another application or the desktop in the other virtual display portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface present different content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second user interface is a child window of the first user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the email application remains in a single application mode in the second display mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the email application mode is one of first run experience mode, application settings mode, email accounts mode, combined inbox mode, email detail mode, or compose email mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first user interface includes one or more of an annunciator bar, a header bar, a text tab bar, a content area, or an action menu bar.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second input from the user, wherein the input includes a change in an orientation of the smartpad device to or from a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation, wherein the second input from the user is the user rotating the smartpad device;

and, in response to the second input, presenting a third user interface on the first portion and a fourth user interface on the second portion, wherein the third user interface and the fourth user interface correspond with a pre-determined email application mode in accordance with the change in the orientation of the smartpad device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third user interface is displayed for a first email application mode and the fourth user interface is displayed for a second email application mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

executing the email application;

receiving a manifest;

setting a display binding for the email application based on the first display mode; and

providing the display binding to the email application.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

setting a second display binding in response to the change in display orientation; and

providing the second display binding to the email application to present the second user interface.

11. A smartpad device, comprising:

a dock operable to accept the insertion of a device, wherein the device comprises a first display and a second display;

a display comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is associated with the first display and the second portion is associated with the second display;

a memory; and

a processor;

wherein the smartpad device and the device are configured to;

in a first display mode and while the device is docked into the smartpad device, present at least a first user interface for an email application on the first portion of the smartpad device, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a landscape orientation and displaying content on the first portion, and wherein the second portion is unavailable to a user;

receive an input from the user into the display of the smartpad device, wherein the input includes making the second portion available to the user;

determine orientations of the device and the smartpad based on input from an accelerometer on the device;

determine a second display mode at least based on the determined orientations, wherein the second display mode includes displaying content on both the first portion and the second portion;

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the smartpad device is in a second display mode, the smartpad device presents the first user interface on the first portion;

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the device is in a second display mode, the smartpad device presents a second user interface on the second portion, wherein the second user interface is also associated with the email application;

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to change at least one of a size, an orientation, a position or an aspect ratio of at least one user interface object in the first user interface or the second user interface; and

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to at least one of open a new child window, expand the email application program window across both displays, expand a keyboard across both virtual displays, or maintain the email application program window in the set virtual display portion and show other content from another application or the desktop in the other virtual display portion.

12. The device of claim 11, the email application program further operable to present only the first user interface in the second display mode, when the email application program is in a second application mode.

13. The device of claim 12, the email application program further operable to present the first user interface in the first virtual display and the second virtual display in the second display mode, when the email application program is in a third application mode.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface have different orientations in the second display mode.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor to execute a method for providing a user interface for an email application in a smartpad device, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions to dock with a device comprising a first display and a second display;

instructions to determine a configuration for the smartpad device, wherein the configuration includes at least a first portion and a second portion of a smartpad display, and wherein a first display in the first portion is associated with the first display and a second display in the second portion is associated with the second display;

instructions to present, in a first display mode and while the device is docked into the smartpad device, at least a first user interface for an email application on the first portion of the smartpad device, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a landscape orientation and displaying content on the first portion, and wherein the second portion is unavailable to a user;

instructions to receive an input from the user into the display of the smartpad device, wherein the input includes making the second portion available to the user;

instructions to determine orientations of the device and the smartpad based on input from an accelerometer on the device;

instructions to determine a second display mode for the smartpad device at least based on the determined orientations, wherein the second display mode includes displaying content on both the first portion and the second portion;

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the smartpad device is in a second display mode, instructions for the smartpad device to present the first user interface on the first portion; and

in response to making the second portion available to the user and the determination that the device is in a second display mode, instructions for the smartpad device to present a second user interface on the second portion, wherein the second user interface is also associated with the email application;

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to change at least one of a size, an orientation, a position or an aspect ratio of at least one user interface object in the first user interface or the second user interface; and

wherein when changing to the second display mode the email application program on the smartpad display is further operable to at least one of open a new child window, expand the email application program window across both displays, expand a keyboard across both virtual displays, or maintain the email application program window in the set virtual display portion and show other content from another application or the desktop in the other virtual display portion.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein both the first user interface and the second user interface are associated with the email application.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to receiving the first display binding;

instructions to alter a mode for the email application; and

in response to altering the mode, instructions to generate the second user interface for the altered mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first user interface is an email detail view.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second user interface is a combined inbox view.