RECONFIGURABLE USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS
Methods and devices for configuring and displaying user interface elements of a multi-display device relative to a device state and/or device orientation. More particularly, the device is equipped with one or more sensors that facilitate the detectability of the relationship of the primary screen to the secondary screen and the general orientation of the device. The method includes accepting a set of user preferences for individual user interface elements for various device states and/or device orientations. The method and device may configure individual windows, per user settings, relative to device state and/or user orientation of the device. The method and device may present, for example, a single set of reconfigurable and/or re-locatable user interface elements in different locations depending on device orientation and/or display mode. Further, the method and device may provide the user the ability to switch both display mode and user interface action simultaneously.
1 . A method for displaying a user interface element, comprising:
providing a device having at least a first and second screens, wherein each of the first and second screens are configured to display at least one of a first display mode and a second display mode, wherein at least the first display mode is configured to display a first configuration of a user interface element and the second display mode is configured to display a second configuration of a user interface element;
receiving a first input from at least one of a user and an application, wherein the first input at least requests the first configuration of the user interface element for the first display mode of the first screen and the second configuration of the user interface element for the second display mode of the first screen;
receiving a second input from a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;
determining a nominal display mode for the first screen in response to at least one of the first input and the second input, wherein the nominal display mode is at least one of the first display mode and the second display mode;
determining a nominal configuration of the user interface element on the first screen in the nominal display mode in response to the first screen and the first input, wherein the configuration of the user interface element is at least one of the first configuration and second configuration; and
displaying the nominal configuration of the user interface element in the nominal display mode on the first screen of the device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nominal display mode for the first screen is determined in response to the second input and the first display mode is displayed on the first screen.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nominal display mode for the first screen is determined in response to the second input and the second display mode is displayed on the first screen.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first display mode is a portrait mode and the second display mode is a landscape mode.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input is from a user.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input is from an application.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface element in the first configuration in the first display mode of the first screen is centered at a significantly different location in the first screen than in the second configuration in the second display mode of the first screen.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first display mode is a portrait mode and the second display mode is a landscape mode.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first input is from a user.
10 . A device, comprising:
a first screen, the first screen configured to display at least in a first display mode and a second display mode, wherein at least the first display mode is configured to display a first configuration of a user interface element and the second display mode is configured to display a second configuration of a user interface element;
a second screen, the second screen configured to display at least in a first display mode and a second display mode, wherein at least the first display mode is configured to display a first configuration of a user interface element and the second display mode is configured to display a second configuration of a user interface element;
a memory;
a processor in communication with the memory, the first screen, and the second screen, the processor operable to:
receive a first input from at least one of a user and an application, wherein the first input at least requests the first configuration of the user interface element for the first display mode of the first screen and the second configuration of the user interface element for the second display mode of the first screen;
receive a second input from a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;
determine a nominal display mode for the first screen in response to at least one of the first input and the second input, wherein the nominal display mode is at least one of the first display mode and the second display mode; and
determine a nominal configuration of the user interface element on the first screen in the nominal display mode in response to the first screen and the first input, wherein the configuration of the user interface element is at least one of the first configuration and second configuration; and
display the nominal configuration of the user interface element in the nominal display mode on the first screen of the device.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the first display mode is a portrait mode and the second display mode is a landscape mode.
12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the first input is from a user.
13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the first input is from an application.
14 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the user interface element in the first configuration in the first display mode of the first screen is centered at a significantly different location in the first screen than in the second configuration in the second display mode of the first screen.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the first display mode is a portrait mode and the second display mode is a landscape mode and the first input is from a user.
16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a device to execute a method for reconfiguring a user interface element, wherein the device has at least a first and second screens, wherein each of the first and second screens are configured to display at least in a portrait mode and a landscape mode, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
instructions to receive a first input from at least one of a user and an application, wherein the first input requests a first configuration of the user interface element when a screen is in portrait mode and a second configuration of the user interface element when a screen is in landscape mode;
instructions to receive a second input from a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;
instructions to determine a nominal display mode for the first screen in response to at least one of the first input and the second input, wherein the nominal display mode is at least one of portrait mode and landscape mode; and
instructions to display the nominal configuration of the user interface element in the nominal display on the first screen of the device.
17 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions to determine a nominal display mode for the first screen are determined by the second input and the portrait mode is displayed on the first screen.
18 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions to determine a nominal display mode for the first screen are determined by the second input and the landscape mode is displayed on the first screen.
19 . The medium of claim 16 , wherein the the user interface element in the first configuration in the first display mode of the first screen is centered at a significantly different location in the first screen than in the second configuration in the second display mode of the first screen.
20 . The medium of claim 19 , wherein the first display mode is a portrait mode and the second display mode is a landscape mode and the first input is from a user.