IP Library Granted Patent US 8,359,541
Granted Patent B1
US 8,359,541 · App. 12/562,647 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Distributing icons so that they do not overlap certain screen areas of a mobile device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,359,541
App. No.
12/562,647
Granted
Jan 22, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for distributing icons so that they do not overlap certain screen areas of a mobile device. In particular, screen areas of a background image displayed on a screen of a mobile device may be identified as image portions that are desirable for protection. After the desired image portions are identified, foreground screen areas corresponding to the desired image portions are designated as being unavailable to present icons. Icons are then presented on available screen areas of the mobile device so as to avoid overlapping desired image portions.

Claims (17)

1. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of preventing icons from overlapping one or more portions of a background image presented on a display of a mobile device, the method comprising:

presenting said background image on said display of said mobile device, the display being logically dividable into a plurality of display divisions, wherein each display division is capable of presenting an icon;

identifying one or more image portions of said background image that are to be unobstructed by any icon;

receiving a selection for a buffer area that surrounds each of the one or more image portions, the buffer area to be unobstructed by any icon or another buffer area;

identifying a set of display divisions that include at least some of said one or more image portions; and

presenting a set of icons on said display such that no portion of any icon of said set occupies any display division of said set of display divisions.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

designating each display division in the set of display divisions as being unavailable to display an icon.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein at least one image portion contains a facial characteristic.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3 , wherein the at least one image portion includes a face.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the display divisions include a plurality of sizes.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the display divisions may be set to the size of an identified image portion.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein at least one display division in the set of display divisions is prioritized above a remainder of the display divisions.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the prioritization is selected by the user.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the prioritization is computed through the use of an algorithm.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting the user with a proposed determination of display divisions; and receiving input from the user comprising selected display divisions.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →