Apparatus and method for creative wallpaper

• US 9,619,140 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Clausen, William Stryker
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): SILVERMAN, SETH ADAM
• Application Number:
  US13/712,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 715763, 715766, 715770, 715778, 715781, 715230-233
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An apparatus and method for creative wallpaper are provided. The method includes presenting a first desktop environment in which icons, menus, applications, or functions can be located and invoked, presenting an uncoverer for revealing a second desktop environment in which icons, menus, applications, or functions can be located and invoked, and if the uncoverer is selected and executed, progressively removing the first desktop environment to reveal the second desktop environment underneath.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a portion of a desktop wallpaper to function as an application window or icon, the method comprising:

selecting a creative wallpaper mode which enables creating directly on the desktop wallpaper;

while in the creative wallpaper mode, using a cutout function to delineate, as an enclosed area, and cut out the portion of the desktop wallpaper at a location on the desktop wallpaper according to a first user input, while the desktop wallpaper is displayed as an image which remains in the background behind all displayed visual output;

selecting, according to a second user input, a content comprising a function, application, or data; and

inserting the selected content into the enclosed area of the cut out portion of the desktop wallpaper,

wherein a shape of the cut out portion of the desk top wallpaper and the location of the cut out portion on the desktop wallpaper are determined based on the first user input,

wherein the cut out portion of the desktop wallpaper thereafter functions as the application window or icon with respect to the inserted selected content such that selecting the cut out portion then performs the function if the selected content is the function, launches the application if the selected content is the application, and outputs the data if the selected content is the data, and

wherein the selecting of the creative wallpaper mode comprises marking according to the first user input of manipulating a stylus, a mouse, a touch, or another input device in a non-selectable area of the desktop wallpaper.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cut out portion of the desktop wallpaper functioning as the window or icon comprises linking the enclosed area to another function, application, or data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation of the cutout function comprises selecting a predetermined input of a mouse, stylus, or menu.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation of the cutout function comprises delineating the enclosed area in an area of the desktop wallpaper where no other selectable icon, menu, or other function is currently located.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the creative wallpaper mode which further enables marking directly on the desktop wallpaper; and

marking directly on the desktop wallpaper according to a third user input of manipulating the stylus, the mouse, the touch, or the other input device,

wherein the marked desktop wallpaper is thereafter displayed as the image which remains in the background behind all displayed visual output.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the marking directly on the desktop wallpaper is stored independently of an image of the desktop wallpaper.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein an image is saved of the desktop wallpaper with the marking thereon included as part of the image.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the selection of the creative wallpaper mode comprises selecting a predetermined input of the mouse, the stylus, or a menu.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosed area comprises one of a predetermined shape and a free form shape drawn by a user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosed area comprises one of a predetermined size and a size configured by a user.

11. A method of configuring a portion of a desktop wallpaper to function as a selectable window or icon, the method comprising:

activating a creative wallpaper mode related to the configuring which enables creating directly on the desktop wallpaper; and

while in the creative wallpaper mode related to the configuring, configuring the selectable window or icon, the configuring comprising;

generating the selectable window or icon comprising an enclosed size and shape determined according to a first user input;

locating the selectable window or icon at a point on the desktop wallpaper according to a second user input;

selecting, according to a third user input, a content that will be executed or output upon selection of the selectable window or icon; and

inserting the content to be executed or output within the enclosed size and shape of the selectable window or icon,

wherein the configured selectable window or icon thereafter comprises a part of the desktop wallpaper which remains in the background behind all displayed visual output, and

wherein the selecting of the creative wallpaper mode comprises marking according to the first user input of manipulating a stylus, a mouse, a touch, or another input device in a non-selectable area of the desktop wallpaper.

12. A computer device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a display screen,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

enter a creative wallpaper mode which enables creating directly on the desktop wallpaper;

receive, while in the creative wallpaper mode, an input of a cutout function to delineate, as an enclosed area, and cut out a portion of a desktop wallpaper at a location on the desktop wallpaper according to a first user input, while displaying the desktop wallpaper on the display screen as an image which remains in background behind all displayed visual output;

receive a second user input selecting a content comprising a function, application, or data; and

insert the selected content into the enclosed area of the cut out portion of the desktop wallpaper,

wherein a shape of the cut out portion of the desk top wallpaper and the location of the cut out portion on the desktop wallpaper are determined based on the first user input,

wherein the cut out portion of the desktop wallpaper is configured to function thereafter as an application window or icon with respect to the inserted selected content such that selecting of the cut out portion then causes the at least one processor to perform the function if the selected content is the function, launch the application if the selected content is the application, and output the data if the selected content is the data, and

wherein the entering of the creative wallpaper mode is in response to marking according to the first user input of manipulating a stylus, a mouse, a touch, or another input device in a non-selectable area of the desktop wallpaper.