Last screen rendering for electronic book reader

• US 8,692,763 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy
• Application Number:
  US12/567,984
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/48, 345/708, 345/520, 345/173, 345/172, 725/116, 710/8, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0473 Use of light emitting or modulating elements having two or more stable states when no power is applied
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/027 Arrangements or methods related to powering off a display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/035 for flexible display surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3453 based on rotating particles or microelements

Abstract

A handheld dedicated electronic book (“eBook”) reader device and last screen rendering techniques for enhancing user experience are described. The eBook reader device detects certain screen conversion events, such as a timeout period, a scheduled event, or an event derived from user behavior. Upon detection of such events, the eBook reader device renders, as the last screen image to remain visible after the user ceases using the device, an image that conveys to the user some meaningful association with a content item. In the context of eBooks, the eBook reader device renders a representation of the book cover as the last screen image. A progress indicator may further be included to represent user progress through the content item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with executable instructions, performing the following;

displaying content from an electronic book on a display of the electronic book reader device, the electronic book having an associated cover image;

detecting at least one of (1) a threshold period of inactivity in which a user ceases interacting with the electronic book reader device or (2) a user input to transition the electronic book reader device from an active state; and

responsive to the detecting, displaying the cover image of the electronic book.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the threshold period of inactivity is configurable.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the threshold period of inactivity is at least ten minutes.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the cover image comprises a graphical representation of a cover of the electronic book.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the cover image comprises a title of the electronic book.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the cover image is visually modified to represent user progress through the electronic book.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a progress indicator to represent user progress through the electronic book.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, whereupon the user begins interacting with the electronic book reader device following the period of inactivity, restoring display of the content of the electronic book that was last presented prior to displaying the cover image.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a scheduled event during a period in which the user is not interacting with the electronic book reader device; and

responsive to detecting the scheduled event, displaying a cover image of another electronic book.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the scheduled event is defined by the user.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the scheduled event is ascertained from a calendaring program.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the scheduled event is learned from behavior of the user.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying content from a first content item on a display of an electronic book reader device;

detecting a screen conversion event during a period of inactivity in which a user is not interacting with the electronic book reader device; and

displaying one of (1) a first image associated with the first content item, or (2) a second image associated with a second content item.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first content item comprises an electronic book.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first and second content items comprise electronic books and the first and second images comprise graphical representations of covers of the electronic books.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the screen conversion event comprises lapse of time.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a user input to transition the electronic book reader device from an active state to a non-active state.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a scheduled event.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a behavior-based event learned from observing user behavior when interacting with the electronic book reader device.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising providing a progress indicator to represent user progress through the first content item.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the progress indicator comprises a visual modification of one of the first image or the second image.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the progress indicator comprises a graphical element that changes appearance in proportion to an amount of the first content item that the user has consumed.

23. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with executable instructions, performing the following;

displaying content from a first electronic book on a display of the electronic book reader device;

detecting a scheduled event during a period of inactivity in which a user is not interacting with the electronic book reader device; and

responsive to detecting the scheduled event, displaying an image associated with a second electronic book.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the image comprises a graphical representation of a cover of the second electronic book.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the scheduled event comprises an event entered by the user.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the scheduled event comprises an event retrieved from a calendaring application.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, further comprising providing a progress indicator to represent user progress through the second electronic book.

28. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with executable instructions, performing the following;

monitoring user behavior during interaction with the electronic book reader device;

establishing a screen conversion event based on the user behavior;

identifying one or more electronic books that the user may elect to read based on the user behavior;

associating the one or more electronic books with the screen conversion event;

detecting the screen conversion event during a period of inactivity in which a user is not interacting with the electronic book reader device; and

responsive to detecting the screen conversion event, displaying an image associated with one of the one or more electronic books associated with the screen conversion event.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the image comprises a graphical representation of a cover of the electronic book.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the monitoring comprise observing which content items the user consumes at different times of the day or week.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the monitoring comprises deriving a pattern of user consumption of content items.

32. A dedicated electronic book reader device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible by the processor;

an ePaper-type display to present one or more pages of a first electronic book responsive to user input; and

a last screen rendering module stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the last screen rendering module detecting a screen conversion event and in response, causing the ePaper-type display to present one of (1) a visible representation associated with the first electronic book that is different than a last page displayed in response to the user input, or (2) a visible representation associated with a second electronic book.

33. The dedicated electronic book reader device of claim 32, wherein the last screen rendering module comprises a timer component to detect when a user ceases interacting with the dedicated electronic book reader device for a threshold period of time, the screen conversion event being generated responsive to the timer detecting the threshold period of time.

34. The dedicated electronic book reader device of claim 32, wherein the last screen rendering module comprises a scheduler component to detect occurrence of a scheduled event, the screen conversion event being generated responsive to the scheduler component detecting the scheduled event.

35. The dedicated electronic book reader device of claim 32, wherein the last screen rendering module comprises a behavior monitor component to establish the screen conversion event based on user behavior when interacting with the dedicated electronic book reader device.

36. The dedicated electronic book reader device of claim 32, wherein the last screen rendering module provides a progress indicator to represent user progress through the second electronic book.

37. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by an electronic book reader device having a display, cause the electronic book reader device to perform acts comprising:

rendering a first image representation of content in a first electronic book;

detecting a screen conversion event; and

rendering a second image representation that is different from the first image representation, wherein the second image representation is one of associated with the first electronic book or associated with a second electronic book.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the first and second image representations comprise images of covers associated with the first and second electronic books.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the screen conversion event comprises lapse of a period of inactivity in which a user ceases interacting with the electronic book reader device.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a user input to transition the electronic book reader device from an active state to a non-active state.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a scheduled event.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the screen conversion event comprises a behavior-based event learned from observing user behavior when interacting with the electronic book reader device.