SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VIRTUAL WATCH

• US 20120324390A1
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tao, Richard
• Original Assignee: Tao, Richard
• Inventors: Tao, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/524,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present application generally relates to a virtual watch having a processing device and an input device. In particular, the present application relates to virtual watch system and method that enables users to access and modify pre-set watch designs stored on the virtual watch and add custom watch designs. Additionally, aspects of the present invention enables users of the virtual watch system and method to share watch designs with other remote processing devices.

Claims

1. A virtual watch apparatus for displaying a virtual watch design, the system comprising:

a housing;

a display screen;

at least one communication port operatively connected to the housing;

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

a memory storing watch design data for a plurality of watch designs, wherein each of the plurality of watch designs comprises a plurality of watch components, and wherein the watch design data comprises one or more watch feature types and one or more feature attributes for each of the plurality of watch components; and

a virtual watch application comprising modules executable by the at least one processor, the modules comprising;

a modification module to;

display a list of the plurality of watch designs via a graphical user interface at the display screen in response to an update request;

receive a first input corresponding to a first selection of a particular one of the plurality of watch designs being displayed;

receive a second input corresponding to a second selection of a feature type for at least one of the plurality of watch components of the particular watch design; and

receive a third input corresponding to a third selection of a feature attribute for each feature type selection;

store each feature type and each feature attribute selected for the particular watch design in the memory;

a watch design retrieval module to retrieve watch design data for the particular one of the plurality of watch designs from the memory in response to a retrieval request, the retrieval request identifying the particular watch design selected, each feature type selected, and each feature attribute selected; and

a GUI module to display the particular watch design selected with each selected feature type and each selected feature attribute via the graphical user interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein feature type is selected from a group consisting of a watch face, a background theme, a bezel type, an hour hand, a minute hand type, a second hand type, a numerical style type, a calendar, and hardware type.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein feature attribute is selected from a group consisting of a texture and a color.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the list of watch designs comprises at least one of:

a classic design;

a luxury design;

a sporty design;

a current trend design; and

a tourbillion design.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises a control knob operatively connected to the housing, and wherein the first selection of the particular one of the plurality of watch designs being displayed comprises:

rotating the control knob in a first direction or a second direction to highlight a desired watch design; and

depressing the control knob to select the desired watch design when highlighted.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first selection of the particular one of the plurality of watch designs being displayed comprises:

moving an input tool in an upward direction or an downward direction at the graphical user interface to display the desired watch design; and

tapping the input tool on the desired watch design to select the desired watch design.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the GUI module is further configured to display a main menu via the graphical user interface in response to an initial input received while a current watch design is being displayed via the graphical user interface, the main menu comprising a plurality of controls, and wherein the update request is generated in response to a selection of a watch design control at the graphical user interface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the initial input is generated in response to the control knob being depressed.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the initial input is generated in response to a gesture of an input tool on the display screen, the input tool consisting of at least one member selected from a group consisting of a stylus and at least one finger.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the virtual watch application further comprises a sharing module to transfer a particular selected virtual watch design to a remote device in response to a transfer request, and wherein the transfer request is generated in response to a different selection of a design transfer control at the graphical user interface from the main menu.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the particular selected virtual watch design is transferred to the remote device via a wired connection at the at least one communication port.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the particular selected virtual watch design is transferred to the remote device wirelessly via a transmitter.

13. A method for displaying a virtual watch design via a virtual watch, the virtual watch comprising a housing, a display screen, a processing device, at least one input device, and at least one communication port, and the method comprising

retrieving a plurality of watch designs from a memory for display via in response to an update request;

displaying a list of the plurality of watch designs via a graphical user interface at the display screen in response to an update request;

receiving a first input corresponding to a first selection of a particular one of the plurality of watch designs being displayed;

receiving a second input corresponding to a second selection of a feature type for at least one of the plurality of watch components of the particular watch design; and

receiving a third input corresponding to a third selection of a feature attribute for each feature type selection;

storing each feature type and each feature attribute selected for the particular watch design in the memory;

retrieving watch design data for the particular one of the plurality of watch designs from the memory in response to a retrieval request, the retrieval request identifying the particular watch design selected, each feature type selected, and each feature attribute selected; and

displaying the particular watch design selected with each selected feature type and each selected feature attribute via the graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first selection of the particular one of the plurality of watch designs comprises:

rotating the at least one input device in a first direction or a second direction to highlight a desired watch design; and

depressing the at least one input device to select the desired watch design when highlighted.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first selection of the particular one of the plurality of watch designs comprises:

moving an input tool in an upward direction or an downward direction at the graphical user interface to display the desired watch design; and

tapping the input tool on the desired watch design to select the desired watch design.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying a main menu via the graphical user interface in response to an initial input received while a current watch design is being displayed via the graphical user interface, wherein the main menu comprises a plurality of controls, and wherein the update request is generated in response to a selection of a watch design control at the graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the initial input is generated in response to the at least one input device being depressed.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the initial input is generated in response to a gesture of an input tool on the display screen, the input tool consisting of at least one member selected from a group consisting of a stylus and at least one finger.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein further comprises transferring a particular selected virtual watch design to a remote device in response to a transfer request, and wherein the transfer request is generated in response to a different selection of a design transfer control at the graphical user interface from the main menu.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein transferring the particular selected virtual watch design comprises:

transferring the particular selected virtual watch design to the remote device via a wired connection at the at least one communication port;

or

transferring the particular selected virtual watch design to the remote device wirelessly via a transmitter.

21. The method claim 13 wherein:

feature type is selected from a group consisting of a watch face, a background theme, a bezel type, an hour hand, a minute hand type, a second hand type, a numerical style type, a calendar, and hardware type; and

the feature attribute is selected from a group consisting of a texture and a color.