Selecting an option based on context after waking from sleep
View Patent ↗System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. More specifically, these user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.
1. A method for providing a context sensitive user interface, comprising:
at a first time, a device entering a sleep mode;
the device receiving user input to exit the sleep mode;
the device exiting the sleep mode in response to receiving the user input to exit the sleep mode;
the device determining a context from among a plurality of possible contexts in response to exiting the sleep mode, wherein on at least one occasion, determining the context comprises determining that the device is able to rejoin a previously joined videoconference after exiting the sleep mode;
the device providing signals to display a first row of icons on a display, wherein each of the icons is selectable to perform a function;
the device determining a first icon of the first row of icons based on the context, wherein different icons are selected for different contexts of the plurality of possible contexts, and wherein on the at least one occasion, the first icon corresponds to rejoining the previously joined videoconference; and
based on determining the first icon based on the context, the device providing signals to display an element selection item that visually indicates a current selectable icon, wherein the element selection item visually indicates the first icon of the first row of icons.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving user input to enter the sleep mode;
wherein said entering the sleep mode is performed in response to the user input.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the context comprises determining that the device is in a “do not disturb” mode, wherein the first icon corresponds to exiting the “do not disturb” mode.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, and wherein the first icon to rejoin the previously joined videoconference remains present for a threshold period of time and then disappears after the threshold period of time has been reached.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, wherein said determining the context comprises determining that a time of a scheduled videoconference is proximate to the current time, wherein the first icon corresponds to joining the scheduled videoconference.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the context comprises determining that the device is in a first mode, wherein the first icon corresponds to exiting the first mode.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the context comprises determining that the device is not in one of a plurality of modes, wherein the first icon corresponds to a default icon.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, wherein the first row of icons correspond to functions of a videoconferencing unit.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is received via a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is a simple remote control device, comprising:
directional inputs for up, down, left, and right; and confirmation input for confirming a selection.
10. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for providing a context sensitive user interface, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor of a device to:
at a first time, enter a sleep mode;
receive user input to exit the sleep mode;
exit the sleep mode in response to the user input to exit the sleep mode;
determine a context from among a plurality of possible contexts in response to exiting the sleep mode, wherein on at least one occasion, to determine the context, the program instructions are further executable to determine that the device is able to rejoin a previously joined videoconference after exiting the sleep mode;
provide signals to display a first row of icons on a display, wherein each of the icons is selectable to perform a function;
determine a first icon of the first row of icons based on the context, wherein different icons are selected for different contexts of the plurality of possible contexts, and wherein on the at least one occasion, the first icon corresponds to rejoining the previously joined videoconference; and
provide signals to display an element selection item that visually indicates a current selectable icon, wherein the element selection item visually indicates the first icon of the first row of icons.
11. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
receive user input to enter the sleep mode;
wherein the program instructions are further executable to enter the sleep mode in response to the user input.
12. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, and wherein the first icon to rejoin the previously joined videoconference remains present for a threshold period of time and then disappears after the threshold period of time has been reached.
13. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, wherein to determine the context, the program instructions are further executable to determine that a time of a scheduled videoconference is proximate to the current time, wherein the first icon corresponds to joining the scheduled videoconference.
14. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein to determine the context, the program instructions are further executable to determine that the device is in a first mode, wherein the first icon corresponds to exiting the first mode.
15. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein to determine the context, the program instructions are further executable to determine that the device is not in one of a plurality of modes, wherein the first icon corresponds to a default icon.
16. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a videoconferencing unit, wherein the first row of icons correspond to functions of a videoconferencing unit.
17. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the user input is received via a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is a simple remote control device, comprising:
directional inputs for up, down, left, and right; and
confirmation input for confirming a selection.
18. A videoconferencing system, comprising:
a videoconferencing unit at a participant location;
at least one display coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one display is configured to provide video corresponding to other participant locations during a videoconference;
at least one audio output coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio output is configured to provide audio corresponding to the other participant locations during the videoconference;
at least one video input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one video input is configured to capture video of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;
at least one audio input coupled to the videoconferencing unit, wherein the at least one audio input is configured to capture audio of the participant location for provision to the other participant locations;
wherein the videoconference unit is configured to:
at a first time, enter a sleep mode;
receive user input to exit the sleep mode;
exit the sleep mode in response to the user input to exit the sleep mode;
determine a context from among a plurality of possible contexts in response to exiting the sleep mode, wherein on at least one occasion, to determine the context, the videoconference unit is further configured to determine that the videoconference unit is able to rejoin a previously joined videoconference after exiting the sleep mode;
display a first row of icons on the at least one display, wherein each of the icons is selectable to perform a function;
determine a first icon of the first row of icons based on the context, wherein different icons are selected for different contexts of the plurality of possible contexts, and wherein on the at least one occasion, the first icon corresponds to rejoining the previously joined videoconference; and
display an element selection item on the at least one display that visually indicates a current selectable icon, wherein the element selection item visually indicates the first icon of the first row of icons.
19. The videoconferencing system of claim 18 , wherein the first icon to rejoin the previously joined videoconference remains present for a threshold period of time and then disappears after the threshold period of time has been reached.
20. The videoconferencing system of claim 18 , wherein to determine the context, the videoconference unit is further configured to determine that a time of a scheduled videoconference is proximate to the current time, wherein the first icon corresponds to joining the scheduled videoconference.