Continuity of application across devices

• US 9,990,129 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Lawrence Y., Coffman, Patrick L., Federighi, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, JENNIFER N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Molina, Hugo
• Application Number:
  US14/641,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 715740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4856 resumption being on a different machine, e.g. task migration, virtual machine migration G06F9/5088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

At an electronic device, detecting a compatible external device, where the external device is executing or has executed a first application. The detection may be made wirelessly. The electronic device also receives usage information regarding the first application from the external device. Display an affordance for user selection based on the received information. When the affordance is selected, launch a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application. In some examples, the second application is a different version of the first application. Launching the second application may additionally include bringing the second application to the same state as the first application. For example, if e-mail is being drafted on the external device, the electronic device may launch an e-mail editor showing the draft. In this way, a user can seamlessly transition from the use of one electronic device to another electronic device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device in a user-interface locked state, cause the electronic device to:

detect, via wireless communication, an external device, wherein the external device is executing or has executed a first application;

receive, from the external device, usage information indicating usage of the first application on the external device;

in response to detecting the external device and receiving the usage information, display an affordance on a screen of the electronic device in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the user-interface locked state;

detect user selection of the displayed affordance; and

in response to detecting the user selection;

unlock the electronic device; and

launch a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

ceasing to display the affordance after a predetermined amount of time.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first application was used on the external device within a predetermined amount of time prior to the current time.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first application and the second application have at least one application feature in common.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a user interface screen of the first application.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a position in a navigation hierarchy of the first application.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a location in a document displayed in the first application.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to whether a feature of the first application is active.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the usage information indicates a state of the first application, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

invoking the state in the second application on the electronic device.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first application and the second application are versions of the same application.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

receiving, by the electronic device, application data of the first application; and

displaying the application data via the second application.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the application data represents a portion of a message displayed by the first application, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

displaying the portion of the message in the second application.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the application data represents a portion of a web-page, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

displaying the portion of the web-page via the second application.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one application feature is accessible only from one of the first application and the second application.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first application performs at least one application feature, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

displaying an affordance for invoking, wirelessly from the second application executing on the electronic device, an application feature of the first application executing on the external device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a swipe from the displayed affordance.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

determining whether a distance of the swipe exceeds a threshold distance; and

launching the second application only if it is determined that the distance of the swipe exceeds the threshold distance.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the distance of the swipe does not exceed the threshold distance, bouncing the displayed affordance.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, launching a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, bouncing the displayed affordance to indicate how to launch the application; and

launching the second application only if a swipe of the displayed affordance is detected.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, displaying instruction text informing the user to swipe the displayed affordance.

22. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device in a user-interface locked state;

detecting, via wireless communication, an external device, wherein the external device is executing or has executed a first application;

receiving, from the external device, usage information indicating usage of the first application on the external device;

in response to detecting the external device and receiving the usage information, displaying an affordance on a screen of the electronic device in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the user-interface locked state;

detecting user selection of the displayed affordance; and

in response to detecting the user selection;

unlocking the electronic device; and

launching a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

ceasing to display the affordance after a predetermined amount of time.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first application was used on the external device within a predetermined amount of time prior to the current time.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first application and the second application have at least one application feature in common.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a user interface screen of the first application.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a position in a navigation hierarchy of the first application.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a location in a document displayed in the first application.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to whether a feature of the first application is active.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the usage information indicates a state of the first application, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

invoking the state in the second application on the electronic device.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the first application and the second application are versions of the same application.

32. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving, by the electronic device, application data of the first application; and

displaying the application data via the second application.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the application data represents a portion of a message displayed by the first application, the method further comprising:

displaying the portion of the message in the second application.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the application data represents a portion of a web-page, the method further comprising:

displaying the portion of the web-page via the second application.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one application feature is accessible only from one of the first application and the second application.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the first application performs at least one application feature, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

displaying an affordance for invoking, wirelessly from the second application executing on the electronic device, an application feature of the first application executing on the external device.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a swipe from the displayed affordance.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

determining whether a distance of the swipe exceeds a threshold distance; and

launching the second application only if it is determined that the distance of the swipe exceeds the threshold distance.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the distance of the swipe does not exceed the threshold distance, bouncing the displayed affordance.

40. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, the method further comprising:

in response to detecting the tap, launching a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, the method further comprising:

in response to detecting the tap, bouncing the displayed affordance to indicate how to launch the application; and

launching the second application only if a swipe of the displayed affordance is detected.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

in response to detecting the tap, displaying instruction text informing the user to swipe the displayed affordance.

43. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while the electronic device is in a user-interface locked state, detecting, via wireless communication, an external device, wherein the external device is executing or has executed a first application;

receiving, from the external device, usage information indicating usage of the first application on the external device;

in response to detecting the external device and receiving the usage information, displaying an affordance on a screen of the electronic device in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is in the user-interface locked state;

detecting user selection of the displayed affordance; and

in response to detecting the user selection;

unlocking the electronic device; and

launching a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

44. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

ceasing to display the affordance after a predetermined amount of time.

45. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the first application was used on the external device within a predetermined amount of time prior to the current time.

46. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the first application and the second application have at least one application feature in common.

47. The electronic device of claim 46, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a user interface screen of the first application.

48. The electronic device of claim 46, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a position in a navigation hierarchy of the first application.

49. The electronic device of claim 46, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to a location in a document displayed in the first application.

50. The electronic device of claim 46, wherein the state of the first application corresponds to whether a feature of the first application is active.

51. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the usage information indicates a state of the first application, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

invoking the state in the second application on the electronic device.

52. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the first application and the second application are versions of the same application.

53. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

receiving, by the electronic device, application data of the first application; and

displaying the application data via the second application.

54. The electronic device of claim 53, wherein the application data represents a portion of a message displayed by the first application, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

displaying the portion of the message in the second application.

55. The electronic device of claim 53, wherein the application data represents a portion of a web-page, and the method further comprising:

displaying the portion of the web-page via the second application.

56. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein at least one application feature is accessible only from one of the first application and the second application.

57. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the first application performs at least one application feature, and wherein launching the second application comprises:

displaying an affordance for invoking, wirelessly from the second application executing on the electronic device, an application feature of the first application executing on the external device.

58. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, and wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a swipe from the displayed affordance.

59. The electronic device of claim 58, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

determining whether a distance of the swipe exceeds a threshold distance; and

launching the second application only if it is determined that the distance of the swipe exceeds the threshold distance.

60. The electronic device of claim 59, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the distance of the swipe does not exceed the threshold distance, bouncing the displayed affordance.

61. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, launching a second application on the electronic device, the second application corresponding to the first application.

62. The electronic device of claim 43, wherein the electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive display, wherein the user selection of the displayed affordance is a tap on the displayed affordance, and wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, bouncing the displayed affordance to indicate how to launch the application; and

launching the second application only if a swipe of the displayed affordance is detected.

63. The electronic device of claim 62, wherein the one or more programs further comprises instructions for:

in response to detecting the tap, displaying instruction text informing the user to swipe the displayed affordance.