Method and system for auto switching applications based on device orientation

• US 9,817,549 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandrasekaran, Arthanari
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US14/314,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20150378520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 715716, 715753, 345173, 345649, 713324, 455566, 348 77, 3482084, 701501
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A system and method are presented for automatically switching to different applications, settings, or GUIs based on orientation of a mobile device. The system provides a user with the ability to maximize screen “real estate,” limit the number of user inputs required to perform a particular action, and to maximize efficiency when using a mobile device. In some examples, the system allows a user to access multiple applications or user menus by changing the mobile device'"'"'s orientation from a first orientation to a second orientation. The system may also allow the user to establish which actions take place upon changing the mobile device'"'"'s orientation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, by one or more processors of a mobile device and for display, a graphical user interface of an application on a first display,

the first display being part of the mobile device that is in a first orientation;

sensing, by the one or more processors of the mobile device, a change in orientation of the mobile device from the first orientation to a second orientation;

detecting, by the one or more processors of the mobile device, a change in one or more acceleration values;

determining, by the one or more processors of the mobile device, whether the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes;

accessing, by the one or more processors of the mobile device, a settings database to determine one or more actions to take based on sensing the change in orientation of the mobile device and based on determining that the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes,

the change in the one or more acceleration values being ignored when;

the change in the one or more acceleration values is in a single plane or axes, and

the change in the one or more acceleration values corresponds to an input from a global positioning system (GPS) sensor associated with the mobile device; and

performing, by the one or more processors of the mobile device, an action of the one or more actions based on the change in orientation of the mobile device and based on accessing the settings database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is a first application;

and

wherein the action includes providing, by the one or more processors and for display, a second application different than the first application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second application is provided, for display, on a second display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in orientation of the mobile device is caused by a rotation of the mobile device by approximately 90 degrees in at least one axis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two different applications are provided, by the one or more processors and for display, based on the orientation of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises providing, in the second orientation and for display, a list of selectable applications that can be opened by a user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the list of selectable applications comprises applications that are already open on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises providing, for display in the second orientation, one or more user menus comprising selectable user commands.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectable user commands control functions of the application running in the first orientation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises advancing or rewinding a media file playing on or via the mobile device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

provide, for display, a graphical user interface of an application on a first display,

the first display being part of a mobile device that is in a first orientation;

sense a change in orientation of the mobile device from the first orientation to a second orientation;

detect a change in one or more acceleration values;

determine whether the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes;

access a settings database to determine one or more actions to take based on sensing the change in orientation of the mobile device and based on determining that the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes,

the change in the one or more acceleration values being ignored when;

the change in the one or more acceleration values is in a single plane or axes, and

the change in the one or more acceleration values corresponds to an input from a global positioning system (GPS) sensor associated with the mobile device; and

perform an action, of the one or more actions, based on the change in orientation of the mobile device and based on accessing the settings database.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the action comprises advancing or rewinding a media file playing on or via the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the application is a first application;

and

wherein the action includes providing, for display, a second application different than the first application.

14. A system having comprising:

at least one processor to;

provide, for display, a graphical user interface of an application on a first display,

the first display being part of a mobile device that is in a first orientation;

sense a change in orientation of the mobile device from the first orientation to a second orientation;

detect a change in one or more acceleration values;

determine whether the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes;

access a settings database to determine one or more actions to take based on determining that the change in the one or more acceleration values is in multiple planes or axes,

the change in the one or more acceleration values being ignored when;

the change in the one or more acceleration values is in a single plane or axes, and

the change in the one or more acceleration values corresponds to an input from a global positioning system (GPS) sensor associated with the mobile device; and

perform an action, of the one or more actions, based on the change in orientation of the mobile device and based on accessing the settings database.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the application is a first application;

and

wherein the action includes providing, for display, a second application different than the first application.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second application is provided, for display, on a second display.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the change in orientation of the mobile device is caused by a rotation of the mobile device by approximately 90 degrees in at least one axis.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein at least two different applications are provided, for display, based on the orientation of the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the action comprises providing, for display in the second orientation, a list of selectable applications that can be opened by a user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the list of selectable applications comprises applications that are already open on the mobile device.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the action comprises providing, for display in the second orientation, one or more user menus comprising selectable user commands.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the selectable user commands control functions of the application running in the first orientation.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the action comprises advancing or rewinding a media file playing on or via the mobile device.