Location motion sensitive user interface

• US 5,910,799 A
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lection, David Bruce, Molander, Mark Edward, Carpenter, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/629,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 345/333, 345/335, 345/329, 345/331, 345/334, 345/338, 345/337, 345/339, 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/346, 345/347, 345/348, 345/349, 345/350 , 345/351, 345/352, 345/336, 345/330
• US Class Current: 715/866
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method, data processing system and program product for providing a location sensitive user interface by acquiring a geographic location of the portable data processor and selecting a user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor. The selected user interface environment is activated as the user interface environment of the portable data processor. The portable data processor may also determine if it is in motion. A user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion is then selected and activated. Location sensitive data may also be provided based upon the acquired location of the portable data processor. The location of the portable data processor may be acquired from an automated position sensing system.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user interface environment for a portable data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a geographic location of the portable data processor;

selecting a user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor; and

activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of the portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the selecting step is predicated by the step of:

determining if the portable data processor is in motion; and

wherein said selecting step comprises the step of selecting a user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of accepting user input specifying the location of the portable data processor.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of acquiring the location of the portable data processor through an automated position sensing system.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquiring step comprises the step of acquiring the location of the portable data processor through a global positioning system.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing location sensitive data based upon the acquired location of the portable data processor.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of associating a user interface environment with a location based upon a historical use of software applications at the specific location.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon the acquired location of the portable data processor.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor and wherein said activating step comprises launching an instance of the selected software application.

10. A method of providing a user interface environment for a portable data processor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if the portable data processor is in motion;

selecting a user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion; and

activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of the portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion as the user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said determining step comprises the step of accepting user input specifying the if the portable data processor is in motion.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining if the portable data processor is in motion through an automated position sensing system.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining if the portable data processor is in motion through a global positioning system.

14. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of providing location sensitive data based upon the portable data processor being in motion.

15. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of associating a user interface environment with the portable data processor being in motion based upon a historical use of software applications while the processor was in motion.

16. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon the portable data processor being in motion.

17. A method according to claim 10 wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and wherein said activating step comprises launching an instance of the selected software application.

18. A data processing system comprising:

a portable data processor;

means for acquiring a geographic location of said portable data processor;

means for selecting a user interface environment associated with the acquired location of said portable data processor; and

means for activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of said portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor.

19. A data processing system according to claim 18 further comprising:

means for determining if said portable data processor is in motion; and

wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting a user interface environment associated with said portable data processor being in motion and associated with the acquired location of said portable data processor.

20. A data processing system according to claim 18 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for accepting user input specifying the location of said portable data processor.

21. A data processing system according to claim 18 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the location of said portable data processor through an automated position sensing system.

22. A data processing system according to claim 18 wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the location of said portable data processor through a global positioning system.

23. A data processing system according to claim 18 further comprising means for providing location sensitive data based upon the acquired location of said portable data processor.

24. A data processing system according to claim 18 further comprising means for associating a user interface environment with a location based upon a historical use of software applications at the specific location.

25. A data processing system according to claim 18 further comprising means for preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon the acquired location of said portable data processor.

26. A data processing system according to claim 18 wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of said portable data processor and wherein said means for activating comprises means for launching an instance of the selected software application.

27. A data processing system comprising:

a portable data processor;

means for determining if said portable data processor is in motion;

means for selecting a user interface environment associated with said portable data processor being in motion; and

means for activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of said portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion as the user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion.

28. A data processing system according to claim 27 wherein said means for determining comprises means for accepting user input specifying if said portable data processor is in motion.

29. A data processing system according to claim 27 wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining if said portable data processor is in motion through an automated position sensing system.

30. A data processing system according to claim 27 wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining if said portable data processor is in motion through a global positioning system.

31. A data processing system according to claim 27 further comprising means for providing location sensitive data based upon said portable data processor being in motion.

32. A data processing system according to claim 27 further comprising means for associating a user interface environment with said portable data processor being in motion based upon a historical use of software applications while said processor was in motion.

33. A data processing system according to claim 27 further comprising means for preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon said portable data processor being in motion.

34. A data processing system according to claim 27 wherein said means for selecting comprises means for selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with said portable data processor being in motion and wherein said means for activating comprises means for launching an instance of the selected software application.

35. A computer program product for providing a user interface for a portable data processor, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer instruction means for acquiring a geographic location of the portable data processor;

computer instruction means for selecting a user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor; and

computer instruction means for activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of the portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35 further comprising:

computer instruction means for determining if the portable data processor is in motion; and

wherein said computer instruction means for selecting comprises computer instruction means for selecting a user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor.

37. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein said computer instruction means for acquiring comprises computer instruction means for accepting user input specifying the location of the portable data processor.

38. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein said computer instruction means for acquiring comprises computer instruction means for acquiring the location of the portable data processor through an automated position sensing system.

39. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein said computer instruction means for acquiring comprises computer instruction means for acquiring the location of the portable data processor through a global positioning system.

40. A computer program product according to claim 35 further comprising computer instruction means for providing context sensitive data based upon the acquired location of the portable data processor.

41. A computer program product according to claim 35 further comprising computer instruction means for associating a user interface environment with a location based upon a historical use of software applications at the specific location.

42. A computer program product according to claim 35 further comprising computer instruction means for preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon the acquired location of the portable data processor.

43. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein said computer instruction means for selecting comprises computer instruction means for selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with the acquired location of the portable data processor and wherein said computer instruction means for activating comprises computer instruction means for launching an instance of the selected software application.

44. A computer program product for providing a user interface for a portable data processor, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer instruction means for determining if the portable data processor is in motion;

computer instruction means for selecting a user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion; and

computer instruction means for activating the selected user interface environment as the user interface environment of the portable data processor wherein the user interface environment comprises a graphical user interface environment having icons associated with software applications and wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion as the user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and wherein said activating step comprises incorporating in the graphical user interface the selected preselected group of application icons associated with the portable data processor being in motion.

45. A computer program product according to claim 44 wherein said computer instruction means for determining comprises computer instruction means for accepting user input specifying if the portable data processor is in motion.

46. A computer program product according to claim 44 wherein said computer instruction means for determining comprises computer instruction means for determining if the portable data processor is in motion through an automated position sensing system.

47. A computer program product according to claim 44 wherein said computer instruction means for determining comprises computer instruction means for determining if the portable data processor is in motion through a global positioning system.

48. A computer program product according to claim 44 further comprising computer instruction means for providing location sensitive data based upon the portable data processor being in motion.

49. A computer program product according to claim 44 further comprising computer instruction means for associating a user interface environment with the portable data processor being in motion based upon a historical use of software applications while the processor was in motion.

50. A computer program product according to claim 44 further comprising computer instruction means for preventing activation of a user interface environment based upon the portable data processor being in motion.

51. A computer program product according to claim 44 wherein said computer instruction means for selecting comprises computer instruction means for selecting a software application as the user interface environment associated with the portable data processor being in motion and wherein said computer instruction means for activating comprises computer instruction means for launching an instance of the selected software application.