User Interface Elements Positioned For Display

• US 20100103098A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gear, Gavin M., Miller, Michael C., Luengen, Ross N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041

Abstract

User interface elements positioned for display is described. In various embodiment(s), sensor input can be received from one or more sensors that are integrated with a portable device. A device hold position that corresponds to where the portable device is grasped by a user can be determined based at least in part on the sensor input. A display of user interface element(s) can then be initiated for display on an integrated display of the portable device based on the device hold position that corresponds to where the portable device is grasped.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving sensor input from one or more sensors integrated with a portable device;

determining a device hold position based at least in part on the sensor input, the device hold position corresponding to where the portable device is grasped; and

initiating a display of one or more user interface elements in a user interface on an integrated display of the portable device based on the device hold position that corresponds to where the portable device is grasped.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a display position of the one or more user interface elements in the user interface is designated when the display of the one or more user interface elements is initiated, and wherein:

the user interface includes multiple display regions;

the device hold position is adjacent to a first display region of the user interface; and

the display position of the one or more user interface elements corresponds to a second display region of the user interface that is not adjacent to the device hold position.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a display position of the one or more user interface elements in the user interface is designated when the display of the one or more user interface elements is initiated, and wherein:

the user interface includes multiple display regions; and

the device hold position is adjacent to a display region of the user interface that includes the display position of the one or more user interface elements.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a display position of the one or more user interface elements in the user interface is designated when the display of the one or more user interface elements is initiated, the method further comprising:

determining a new device hold position based at least in part on a change in the sensor input; and

determining a new display position to display one or more of the user interface elements in the user interface, the new display position being based on the new device hold position.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors include a non-contact sensor that senses where the portable device is grasped.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors includes a contact sensor that senses where the portable device is grasped.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors are integrated proximate a front surface of the portable device to sense where the portable device is grasped.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors are integrated proximate a rear surface of the portable device to sense where the portable device is grasped.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation for the user interface based on where the portable device is grasped.

10. A portable device, comprising:

an integrated display configured to display a user interface that includes one or more user interface elements;

one or more sensors configured to generate sensor input;

an element display position service configured to;

receive the sensor input and determine a device hold position based at least in part on the sensor input, the device hold position corresponding to where the portable device is grasped; and

determine a display position to display the one or more user interface elements in the user interface on the integrated display, the display position being based on the device hold position.

11. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the user interface includes multiple display regions;

the device hold position is adjacent to a first display region of the user interface; and

the display position of the one or more user interface elements corresponds to a second display region of the user interface that is not adjacent to the device hold position.

12. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the user interface includes multiple display regions; and

the device hold position is adjacent to a display region of the user interface that includes the display position of the one or more user interface elements.

13. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the interface configuration service is further configured to:

determine a new device hold position based at least in part on a change in the sensor input; and

determine a new display position to display the one or more user interface elements in the user interface, the new display position being based on the new device hold position.

14. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the interface configuration service is further configured to determine either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation for the user interface based on where the portable device is grasped.

15. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein one or more of the sensors includes a contact sensor configured to sense where the portable device is grasped.

16. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein one or more of the sensors includes a non-contact sensor configured to sense where the portable device is grasped.

17. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, initiate an element display position service to:

receive sensor input from one or more sensors that are integrated with a portable device, the sensor input including an indication of where the portable device is grasped; and

determine a display position to display one or more user interface elements in a user interface on an integrated display of the portable device based at least in part on the sensor input that indicates where the portable device is grasped.

18. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, initiate the element display position service to:

receive a change in the sensor input that indicates a change in where the portable device is grasped; and

determine a new display position to display the one or more user interface elements in the user interface based at least in part on the change in where the portable device is grasped.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the sensor input includes an indication that the portable device is not being held, and further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, initiate the element display position service to clear the one or more user interface elements from the display of the user interface based at least in part on the indication that the portable device is not being held.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, initiate the element display position service to designate a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation for the user interface based on where the portable device is grasped.