Windows position control for phone applications

• US 10,237,394 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Gimpl, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US14/822,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0222 Foldable in two directions, i.e. using a two degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface for a phone application are provided. More particularly, a change in the display mode of a multiple screen device can be determined. More particularly, a presentation of a user interface for a call log of a phone application can be retained after receiving a flick in an off-screen gesture area of the device. However, a second, child window is provided in a second screen in response to receiving the flick. The second, child window provides detail information about a phone call selected in the call log.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a device having at least first and second screens connected by a hinge, wherein the first screen includes a first display and a first off-screen gesture area and the second screen includes a second display and a second off-screen gesture area, wherein the device executes a phone application, and wherein the phone application is in a call log mode;

in a first display mode, displaying a first user interface for the phone application on a first display, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a portrait orientation and displaying the first user interface on the first display and a desktop on the second display, wherein the first user interface is a call log, wherein the call log provides information about previous phone calls or voicemails, and wherein an entry associated with a previous call has focus in the call log;

receiving a gesture input from a user in the first off-screen gesture area of the first screen, wherein the input includes a change in the display for the phone application;

determining that the gesture input requires a change to a second display mode;

changing to the second display mode; and

in response to the gesture input and the determination that the device is in the second display mode;

presenting the call log on the first display; and

while presenting the call log on the first display, presenting a second user interface, associated with the phone application, on the second display, wherein the second user interface is a call detail window associated with the call log mode, and wherein the call detail window provides information about the entry that has focus in the call log.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface present different content, wherein the second user interface is a child window of the first user interface, wherein the phone application remains in a single application mode during the change to present the first and second user interfaces to the user, and wherein the phone application is in a first application mode of two or more application modes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the call log has two or more entries, wherein each entry is associated with a person or entity associated with a received or made call.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each entry is organized by a time of a most recent call received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, in selecting an entry in the call log, the call detail window provides information about a call received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the call detail window shows details for two or more phone calls received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gesture input is one of a flick or drag.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the flick or drag occurs in the first off-screen gesture area and the entry in the call log has focus when the gesture is made.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

executing the phone application;

receiving a manifest from the phone application at to a multi-display management module, wherein the manifest is a data structure that indicates capabilities of the phone application;

the multi-display management module setting a display binding for the phone application based on the first display mode, wherein the display binding includes one or more setting to indicate how the phone application is to be displayed; and

providing the display binding to the phone application to present the first user interface in accordance with the display binding.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the multi-display management module setting a second display binding in response to the input; and

providing the second display binding to the phone application to present the first and second user interface in accordance with the display binding.

11. A device comprising:

a first screen comprising a first display and a first off-screen gesture area;

a second screen connected with the first screen by a hinge, the second screen comprising a second display area and a second off-screen gesture area;

a processor; and

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

execute a phone application in a call log mode,

in a first display mode, display a first user interface for the phone application on the first display, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a portrait orientation and displaying the first user interface on the first display and a desktop on the second display, wherein the first user interface is a call log, wherein the call log provides information about previous phone calls or voicemails, and wherein an entry associated with a previous call has focus in the call log;

receive a gesture input from a user in the first off-screen gesture area of the first screen, wherein the input includes a change in the display for the phone application;

determine that the gesture input requires a change to a second display mode;

change to the second display mode; and

in response to the gesture input and the determination that the device is in the second display mode;

present the call log on a first display; and

while presenting the call log on the first display, present a second user interface, associated with the phone application, on the second display, wherein the second user interface is a call detail window associated with the call log mode, and wherein the call detail window provides information about the entry that has focus in the call log.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface present different content, wherein the second user interface is a child window of the first user interface, wherein the phone application remains in a single application mode during the change to present the first and second user interfaces to the user, and wherein the phone application is in a first application mode of two or more application modes.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the call log has two or more entries, wherein each entry is associated with a person or entity associated with a received or made call.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein each entry is organized by a time of a most recent call received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein, in selecting an entry in the call log, the call detail window provides information about a call received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the call detail window shows details for two or more phone calls received from or made to the person or entity associated with the entry.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the gesture input is one of a flick or drag.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the flick or drag occurs in the first off-screen gesture area and the entry in the call log has focus when the gesture is made.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

executing the phone application;

receiving a manifest from the phone application at to a multi-display management module, wherein the manifest is a data structure that indicates capabilities of the phone application;

the multi-display management module setting a display binding for the phone application based on the first display mode, wherein the display binding includes one or more setting to indicate how the phone application is to be displayed; and

providing the display binding to the phone application to present the first user interface in accordance with the display binding.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

the multi-display management module setting a second display binding in response to the input; and

providing the second display binding to the phone application to present the first and second user interface in accordance with the display binding.

21. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

execute a phone application in a call log mode on a device having at least first and second screens connected by a hinge, wherein the first screen includes a first display and a first off-screen gesture area and the second screen includes a second display and a second off-screen gesture area;

in a first display mode, display a first user interface for the phone application on a first display, wherein the first display mode includes displaying content in a portrait orientation and displaying the first user interface on the first display and a desktop on the second display, wherein the first user interface is a call log, wherein the call log provides information about previous phone calls or voicemails, wherein an entry associated with a previous call has focus in the call log;

receive a gesture input from a user in the first off-screen gesture area of the first screen, wherein the input includes a change in the display for the phone application;

determine that the gesture input requires a change to a second display mode;

change to the second display mode; and

in response to the gesture input and the determination that the device is in the second display mode;

present the call log on the first display; and

while presenting the call log on the first display, present a second user interface, associated with the phone application, on the second display, wherein the second user interface is a call detail window associated with the call log mode, and wherein the call detail window provides information about the entry that has focus in the call log.