Method and apparatus for providing motion activated updating of weather information

• US 9,225,817 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Goodwin, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/139,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,752 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

An approach provides updating of weather information on a mobile device. Motion of a mobile device is detected, wherein the mobile device is configured to execute a weather application for presenting weather information to a user. Update of the weather information is retrieved in response to the detected motion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting motion of a mobile device, by the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to execute a weather application for presenting weather information to a user;

receiving input from the user;

determining whether the input is provided during the motion; and

retrieving an update of the weather information in response to the detected motion and a determination that the input is provided during the motion.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input is provided by the user via a hard button or a soft button on the mobile device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weather application includes a weather widget.

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

presenting the update of the weather information to the user via the weather application.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the weather information is presented on a display of the mobile device, the display being on an exterior of the mobile device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the motion involves shaking the mobile device either laterally, vertically, or a combination thereof.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring the motion to output a value of the motion;

comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold; and

declaring detection of the motion if the measured value satisfies the predetermined threshold.

8. A tangible computer-readable storage device including one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute a weather application for presenting weather information to a user;

a motion detector configured to detect motion of a mobile device; and

a user interface configured to receive input from the user,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine whether the input is provided during the motion, and

initiate retrieval of updated weather information if the input is provided during the motion.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the input is provided by the user via a hard button or a soft button on the mobile device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the weather application includes a weather widget.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display configured to present the update of the weather information to the user via the weather application.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display is on an exterior of the mobile device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motion involves shaking the mobile device either laterally, vertically, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motion detector is configured to measure the motion to output a value of the motion, the processor being further configured to compare the measured value with a predetermined threshold, and to declare detection of the motion if the measured value satisfies the predetermined threshold.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a request, over a wireless network, to update weather information from a weather widget resident on a mobile device,

wherein the request is initiated based upon detection of motion of the mobile device, by the mobile device, concurrently with user input via the mobile device.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

forwarding the request to a weather service system;

receiving the update from the weather service system; and

transmitting the update to the mobile device or presentation of the update to a user via the weather widget.

18. A tangible computer-readable storage device including one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 16.