TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING INTERFACES BASED ON USER CIRCUMSTANCES

• US 20090228815A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dellinger, Richard R., Finkelstein, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US12/045,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20090228815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An apparatus may include a user interface and a profile management module. The user interface receives a user-selected operational mode. This operational mode may be selected from a personal mode and a work mode. The profile management module causes information to be presented to the user through the user interface in accordance with the user-selected operational mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a user interface to receive a user-selected operational mode, the user-selected operational mode from a personal mode and a work mode; and

a profile management module to cause information to be presented to the user through the user interface in accordance with the user-selected operational mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile management module is to restrict the display of unread e-mail when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile management module is to restrict the display of tasks when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile management module is to restrict the display of calendar entries when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile management module is to limit visibility of work-related applications when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage medium to store profile information corresponding to the personal mode, and profile information corresponding to the work mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein, when the user-selected mode is the personal mode, the profile management module is to alert the user of increased numbers of incoming work-related e-mails.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

when the user-selected mode is the personal mode, the profile management module is to alert the user of upcoming work-related calendar events.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a user selection of an operational mode, wherein the user-selected operational mode is from a personal mode and a work mode;

presenting information to the user in accordance with the user-selected operational mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of unread e-mail when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of tasks when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of calendar entries when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said presenting comprises limiting visibility of work-related applications when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving a user selection of an operational mode;

presenting information to the user in accordance with the user-selected operational mode;

wherein said presenting comprises de-emphasizing work-related information when the user-selected operational mode is a personal mode.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of unread e-mail when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of tasks when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said presenting comprises restricting the display of calendar entries when the user-selected operational mode is the personal mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a storage medium to store profile information corresponding to the personal mode.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a user interface to receive a user-selected operational mode; and

a profile management module to cause information to be presented to the user through the user interface in accordance with the user-selected operational mode;

wherein the profile management module is to de-emphasize work-related information when the user-selected operational mode is a personal mode.

20. An article comprising a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to:

receive a user selection of an operational mode;

present information to the user in accordance with the user-selected operational mode;

wherein said presenting comprises de-emphasizing work-related information when the user-selected operational mode is a personal mode.