Accessible contextual controls within a graphical user interface

• US 9,990,105 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: D'Argenio, Michael J., Katai, Lonnie Hiroshi, Bain, Alice Yuan, Frazier, Kristopher T., Fish, William Andrew, Sodon, Richard E., Yu, Jennifer, Soo, Sheryl, Markel, Janette, Kight, Harry Lawson, Haskin, Andrew Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kawsar, Abdullah Al
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsiao, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/325,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A user device may provide a graphical user interface which presents content navigation objects, where each content navigation object may be associated with a content item and is presented within a portion of the graphical user interface. The user device may detect an action that corresponds to a content navigation object, and determine whether the detected action is a command to display content options that may be contextually related to the content item associated with the content navigation object. The user device may display the content options by altering the appearance of the content navigation object, receive an action selecting the content option from the displayed content options, and conceal the content options after the action for selecting the content option has been received.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, on a mobile user device, a graphical user interface that presents a plurality of content navigation objects,

wherein each content navigation object is associated with a content item and is presented within a portion of the graphical user interface,

wherein each content navigation object is displayed as a representation of the associated content item for identification of the content item by a user,

wherein the associated content item is a contact stored in memory,

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a first plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when a current time is within a particular time span, and

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a second plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when the current time is not within the particular time span;

detecting an action that corresponds to a content navigation object from the first or second plurality of content navigation objects displayed at the current time;

determining that the detected action is a command to display content options, wherein the content options are contextually related to the content item associated with the content navigation object, and wherein each content navigation object has a plurality of content options;

determining particular content options to display from the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object based on metadata associated with the content item and state information of the mobile user device,

wherein the metadata includes information identifying whether the contact associated with the content item is a work contact or not a work contact, and

wherein the state information of the mobile user device includes the current time, and wherein determining the particular content options to display includes;

determining first particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact,

determining second particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

determining third particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact, and

determining fourth particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

wherein each particular content option from the determination is distinct from each other;

displaying the particular content options by altering the appearance of the content navigation object without displaying all of the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object;

receiving an action selecting a content option from the displayed particular content options; and

concealing the particular content options after the action for selecting the content option has been received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the action that corresponds to a content navigation object further comprises:

decoding a command received by at least one of a touch-screen display, a mouse, a track-pad, a keyboard, at least one camera, a voice command from a microphone, or a gesture recognition device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the action that corresponds to a content navigation object further comprises:

determining that the detected action is a command to launch a default application related to the content item associated with the content navigation object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a graphical user interface that presents a plurality of content navigation objects comprises:

generating a graphical representation for each content navigation object based on its associated content item;

rendering the graphical representations of the content navigation objects as selectable tiles; and

arranging the selectable tiles on a display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an action that corresponds to the content navigation object comprises:

determining that a display received a touch in an area on the display corresponding to the content navigation object; and

determining whether the detected action is a touch command to display content options.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the detected action is a touch command further comprises:

determining that the touch includes any touch gesture comprising at least one of a slide action, one or more taps, or a drawing of a geometric shape in proximity to the content navigation object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the particular content options by altering the appearance of the content navigation object comprises:

determining particular content options which contextually relate to the content item associated with the content navigation object; and

altering the appearance of the content navigation object from a first state to a second state in accordance with the action, wherein the altering includes at least one of displacing, rotating, flipping, morphing, or changing a size, aspect, color or transparency of the content navigation object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein altering the appearance of the content navigation object comprises:

sliding the content navigation object from a first position to a second position in accordance with a slide action.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the particular content options which contextually relate to the content item comprises:

identifying particular content options corresponding to selectable actions appropriate for the content item, wherein the selectable actions include at least one of saving or downloading the content item, deleting the content item, editing the content item, forwarding the content item over at least one of an e-mail, a short message service (SMS), or a social network, launching an application, printing the content item, or storing the content item in a cloud server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the particular content options corresponding to selectable actions appropriate for the content item comprises:

identifying relationships based on pre-defined conditions related to the metadata.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an action selecting a content option comprises determining that a display received a touch in an area on the display corresponding to the selected content option;

and

wherein concealing the particular content options after the action for selecting the content option has been received comprises returning the content navigation object to a state corresponding to a state prior to receiving the touch.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the graphical user interface comprises:

identifying a plurality of contact items, wherein a contact item is a content item relating to contact information;

determining at least one contextual relationship between the identified contact items; and

presenting a group of contact navigation objects based on determining at least one contextual relationship between the identified contact items, wherein the contact navigation objects are content navigation objects associated with the identified contact items.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a plurality of contact items comprises:

determining a group of contact items that are associated with a common communications application, wherein the common communications application includes at least one of a phone application, voice communications over network protocols, including a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application, a Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) application, a Voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (VoATM) application, a video conferencing application, a text messaging application, a multimedia messaging application, or a voice mail application.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a plurality of contact items comprises:

generating the plurality of contact items from at least one of information stored on the mobile user device or information received from a data center.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining at least one contextual relationship between the identified contact items comprises:

accessing metadata associated with the identified contact items;

determining the state information of the mobile user device; and

analyzing at least one of the metadata or the state information for conditions defining a contextual relationship.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein accessing metadata associated with the identified contact items comprises:

obtaining metadata identifying at least one of a personal relationship status, a business relationship status, a family relationship status, a location status, a temporal status, or a content source status associated with each of the identified contact items.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the state information of the mobile user device comprises:

obtaining information provided by the mobile user device which includes at least one of time information, position information, velocity information, or information produced by a sensor including at least one of a camera or a microphone.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein determining at least one contextual relationship between the identified contact items comprises:

defining conditions based on prior usage history, wherein prior usage history includes at least one of logs of communications applications or address books, wherein the address books are stored on at least one of the mobile user device or a data center.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein each contact navigation object includes at least one of a graphical or text representation identifying the contact information, the method further comprising:

determining that a display received a touch in an area on the display corresponding to a first contact navigation object from the group of contact navigation objects; and

detecting an action that corresponds to the first contact navigation object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein detecting the action that corresponds to the first contact navigation object further comprises:

determining that the detected action is a command to launch a default communications application related to the content item associated with the first contact navigation object.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining whether the detected action is a command to display content options, wherein the content options are contextually related to the content item associated with the first contact navigation object;

moving the first contact navigation object from a first position to a second position in accordance with the action; and

displaying content options which contextually relate to the contact item associated with the first contact navigation object.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying content options corresponding to selectable actions appropriate for the contact item,

wherein the selectable actions include at least one of deleting the contact item, editing the contact item, indicating the contact item is a favorite, printing the contact item, forwarding the contact item, or storing the contact item in a cloud server, and

wherein the selectable actions include at least one of launching an alternative to a default communications application associated with the content navigation object, wherein the alternative application includes at least one of an e-mail application, a short message service (SMS) application, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) application, a social networking application, an instant messaging (IM) application, a video conferencing application, voice communications application over any protocol, including a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application, Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) application, or a Voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (VoATM) application.

23. A mobile user device, comprising:

a display;

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the memory and the display, configured to execute the instructions stored in memory to;

provide a graphical user interface that presents a plurality of content navigation objects,

wherein each content navigation object is associated with a content item and is presented within a portion of the graphical user interface,

wherein each content navigation object is displayed as a representation of the associated content item for identification of the content item by a user,

wherein the associated content item is a contact stored in memory,

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a first plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when a current time is within a particular time span, and

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a second plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when the current time is not within the particular time span,

detect an action that corresponds to a content navigation object from the first or second plurality of content navigation objects displayed at the current time,

determine that the detected action is a command to display content options, wherein the content options are contextually related to the content item associated with the content navigation object, and wherein each content navigation object has a plurality of content options,

determine particular content options to display from the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object based on metadata associated with the content item and state information of the mobile user device,

wherein the metadata includes information identifying whether the contact associated with the content item is a work contact or not a work contact, and

wherein the state information of the mobile user device includes the current time, and

wherein, when determining the particular content options to display, the processor is further configured to;

determine first particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact,

determine second particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

determine third particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact, and

determine fourth particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

wherein each particular content option from the determination is distinct from each other,

display the particular content options by altering the appearance of the content navigation object without displaying all of the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object,

receive an action selecting a content option from the displayed particular content options, and

conceal the content options after the action for selecting the content option has been received.

24. The mobile user device of claim 23, wherein the mobile user device comprises one of a tablet computer, a smart phone, a video or portable gaming system, a music player, or a global positioning system (GPS) unit.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

provide, on a mobile user device, a graphical user interface that presents a plurality of content navigation objects,

wherein each content navigation object is associated with a content item and is presented within a portion of the graphical user interface,

wherein each content navigation object is displayed as a representation of the associated content item for identification of the content item by a user,

wherein the associated content item is a contact stored in memory,

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a first plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when a current time is within a particular time span, and

wherein the plurality of content navigation objects includes a second plurality of content navigation objects that are displayed when the current time is not within the particular time span;

detect an action that corresponds to a content navigation object from the first or second plurality of content navigation objects displayed at the current time;

determine that the detected action is a command to display content options, wherein the content options are contextually related to the content item associated with the content navigation object, and wherein each content navigation object has a plurality of content options;

determine particular content options to display from the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object based on metadata associated with the content item and state information of the mobile user device, wherein the metadata includes information identifying whether the contact associated with the content item is a work contact, wherein the state information of the mobile user device includes the current time, and wherein the instructions further include instructions that cause the processor to;

determine first particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact or not a work contact,

determine second particular content options to display when the current time is within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

determine third particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is a work contact, and

determine fourth particular content options to display when the current time is not within the particular time span and the contact is not a work contact,

wherein each particular content option from the determination is distinct from each other;

display the particular content options by altering the appearance of the content navigation object without displaying all of the plurality of content options associated with the content navigation object;

receive an action selecting a content option from the displayed particular content options; and

conceal the content options after the action for selecting the content option has been received.