Method and system to implement a quasi-user interface for applications on an electronic device

• US 9,632,692 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Puthenveettil, Dipin Kollencheri
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowenberger, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US14/335,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20150058760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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

Abstract

A method and system to implement a quasi-user interface to manage application state transitions by activating quasi-states on an electronic device is disclosed. The method allows a user to maintain the activated quasi-states for an application for the duration determined by the presence of an object within the proximity on the electronic device. The quasi-state activated applications can be switched between a quasi-state and a non-quasi-state supported on the electronic device. Further, the method deactivates the quasi-states and the quasi-user interface when the object is lifted away from the proximity of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method to implement a quasi-user interface for at least one application on an electronic device, the method comprising:

activating a quasi-state in response to detecting a user-action performed on said electronic device, wherein said quasi-state is maintained for a duration determined based on a presence of an object within proximity of a display of said electronic device;

in response to activating of said quasi-state, switching a foreground state of a first application to a quasi-background state, and displaying a device access application in a quasi-foreground state;

in response to selection of a second application via said device access application, switching said quasi-foreground state of said device access application to a background state and displaying said second application to said quasi-foreground state;

deactivating said quasi-state when the object is lifted away from said proximity of said display; and

in response to deactivating of said quasi-state, switching said quasi-background state of said first application to said foreground state and switching said quasi-foreground state of said second application to said background state.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising invoking said quasi-user interface for an application of said electronic device when said quasi-state is activated.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein said user-action comprises a gesture performed over an application user interface of said electronic device.

4. An apparatus configured to implement a quasi-user interface for at least one application on an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit further comprising at least one processor;

at least one memory comprising computer program code;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the program code to cause the apparatus to;

activate a quasi-state in response to detecting a user-action performed on said electronic device, wherein said quasi-state is maintained for a duration determined based on a presence of an object within proximity of a display of said electronic device;

in response to activating of said quasi-state, switch a foreground state of a first application to a quasi-background state, and display a device access application in a quasi-foreground state;

in response to selection of a second application via said device access application, switch said quasi-foreground state of said device access application to a background state and display said second application to said quasi-foreground state;

deactivate said quasi-state when the object is lifted away from said proximity of said display; and

in response to deactivating of said quasi-state, switch said quasi-background state of said first application to said foreground state and switch said quasi-foreground state of said second application to said background state.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to cause the apparatus to invoke said quasi-user interface for an application of said electronic device when said quasi-state is activated.

6. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said user-action comprises a gesture performed over an application user interface of said electronic device.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code that, when executed by at least one processor, causes an electronic device to:

activate a quasi-state in response to detecting a user-action performed on said electronic device, wherein said quasi-state is maintained for a duration determined based on a presence of an object within proximity of a display of said electronic device;

in response to activating of said quasi-state, switch a foreground state of a first application to a quasi-background state, and display a device access application in a quasi-foreground state;

in response to selection of a second application via said device access application, switch said quasi-foreground state of said device access application to a background state and display said second application to said quasi-foreground state;

deactivate said quasi-state when the object is lifted away from said proximity of said display; and

in response to deactivating of said quasi-state, switch said quasi-background state of said first application to said foreground state and switch said quasi-foreground state of said second application to said background state.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 7, further comprising program code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the electronic device to invoke a quasi-user interface for an application of said electronic device when said quasi-state is activated.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 7, wherein said user-action comprises a gesture performed over an application user interface of said electronic device.