US 2010/0138766 A1 · GRAVITY DRIVEN USER INTERFACE

Abstract

Methods, systems, and techniques for presenting user interface elements on display screens are provided, in particular smaller display screens such as those available with mobile telecommunications devices. Example embodiments provide a gravity-based user interface mechanism which causes a menus to be displayed or to disappear when the mechanism determines that the device has been tilted up or down. In some embodiments, the mechanism causes an undo or a redo operation to occur when a tilt of the side or the opposite side of the device downward is detected. In one embodiment, a tilt downward of the left side cause an undo, whereas a tilt downward of the right side causes a redo. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A mobile telecommunications device, comprising:

a display;
a memory;
an accelerometer;
and
a gravity based user interface module, stored on the memory, and configured when executed to:
receive an indication from the orientation sensor that a tilt event has occurred;
determine whether the tilt event is associated with motion along a transverse axis or a longitudinal axis of the mobile device;
when it is determined that the associated motion is along the transverse axis,
determine whether the associated motion has tilted the device upwards past an open threshold and, when so, present a user interface menu on the display if the menu is not already displayed;
and
determine whether the associated motion has tilted the device downward below a close threshold and, when so, close the user interface menu presented on the display;
and
when it is determined that the associated motion is along the longitudinal axis,
determine whether the associated motion has tilted the device left within an undo area and, when so, cause performance of an undo operation to affect output presented on the display;
and
determine whether the associated motion has tilted the device right within a redo area and, when so, cause performance of a redo operation to affect output presented on the display.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gravity driven user interface

Life of this patent

Gravity driven user interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38