DUAL-SCREEN MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20110210922A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Application Number:
  US12/713,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders

Abstract

A dual-screen mobile device has a first display screen and a second display screen. Only the second display screen is touch-sensitive. The first display screen may be used for displaying content while the second (touch-sensitive) display screen may be used for displaying functional controls (such as back and forward arrows, scroll bar, zoom control, etc.). Displaying the functional control on the second display screen instead of on the same screen as the application content improves the overall ergonomics of the mobile device. The application content appears less constrained and cluttered when the functional controls are displayed on a separate screen.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with an application on a mobile device, the method comprising:

displaying on a first display screen application content generated by the application; and

displaying on a second display screen functional controls for interacting with the application content, wherein only the second display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the functional controls are adapted to a specific state of the application.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising adapting the functional controls displayed on the second display screen based on user input received on the second display screen.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising adapting the functional controls displayed on the second display screen based on changes in the content displayed on the first display screen.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the functional controls are adapted based on usage patterns.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a mobile device is adapted to:

display application content on a first display screen; and

display on a second display screen functional controls for interacting with the application content, wherein only the second display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen.

7. A touch-screen mobile device comprising:

a processor coupled to memory for executing an application;

a first display screen for displaying application content generated by the application; and

a second display screen for displaying functional controls for interacting with the application content, wherein only the second display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first display screen is larger than the second display screen.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 comprising a plurality of buttons disposed between the first and second display screens on an extension of a touch-sensitive layer extending from the second display screen.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8 comprising a plurality of buttons disposed between the first and second display screens on an extension of a touch-sensitive layer extending from the second display screen.

11. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second display screen is movable relative to the first display screen between an exposed position and a protected position.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second display screen is movable relative to the first display screen between an exposed position and a protected position.

13. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second display screen is movable relative to the first display screen between an exposed position and a protected position.

14. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a third display screen, wherein the third display screen is also a touch-sensitive display screen.

15. The device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a third display screen, wherein the third display screen is also a touch-sensitive display screen.

16. The device as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a third display screen, wherein the third display screen is also a touch-sensitive display screen.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first display screen is disposed between the second and third display screens.

18. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising an accelerometer for detecting an orientation of the device and for causing the application content displayed on the first display screen and the functional controls displayed on the second display screen to be rotated when the orientation of the device changes beyond a predetermined angular threshold.

19. The device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising an accelerometer for detecting an orientation of the device and for causing the application content displayed on the first display screen and the functional controls displayed on the second display screen to be rotated when the orientation of the device changes beyond a predetermined angular threshold.

20. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to determine a usage pattern corresponding to the application and to cause the second display screen to display functional controls for the application based on the usage pattern.