Providing updated application data for previewing applications on a display
Embodiments provide methods and systems for updating application data in snapshots of applications for previewing. Some embodiments update application data by determining when current application data may expire and retrieving updated application data. The application data for various applications in a preview mode may be updated based on an allotted budget. Permission can be selectively granted to applications to obtain updated data so as to control the budget. Application data in the snapshots may appear updated to a user as the user browses the dock without requiring the applications to request updated application data when the user enters the dock, regardless of whether each application is active. Further, some embodiments may generate a snapshot using a layer hierarchy and image layer data generated while the application was last running if the time associated with when the application was last active is later than the time associated with an existing snapshot.
1. A method comprising performing, by one or more processors of a mobile device:
identifying a plurality of applications for which snapshots are to be displayed in a preview mode that is triggered by user input, wherein the preview mode provides a browsable display of the snapshots of the plurality of applications, where each of the snapshots provides at least a portion of data that would be displayed by a corresponding application when executed in a foreground of the mobile device, the plurality of applications including a first application that provides a first snapshot;
receiving, at a scheduler from the first application, a first request for updating first data in the first snapshot, the first request including first time information, wherein the scheduler determines that the first time information for the first application indicates when data for the first application becomes outdated;
determining, by the scheduler, a first time period for granting permission to the first application for updating the first data based on the first time information, wherein the determining the first time period for granting permission to the first application for updating the first data is further based on an allotted processing power of the mobile device corresponding to an allotted update frequency for the first application;
providing, by the scheduler to the first application, a first message indicating that the permission has been granted to update the first data in accordance with the first time period;
receiving, from the first application, a second request to update the first data in accordance with the permission;
obtaining first updated data from a second device in response to the second request; and
generating an updated first snapshot using the first updated data for display.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second request is received at a data service daemon, the method further comprising:
providing, by the scheduler to the data service daemon, a second message indicating the permission for the first application to request the first updated data for the first time period.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the updated first snapshot from the first application; and
displaying the updated first snapshot in the preview mode.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, at the scheduler from a second application, a third request for updating second data in a second snapshot, the third request including second time information;
determining a second time period for granting permission to the second application for updating the second data based on the second time information, wherein the second time period is different from the first time period;
providing the second application a second message indicating that permission has been granted to update the second data in accordance with the second time period;
receiving, from the second application, a fourth request to update the second data in accordance with the permission;
obtaining second updated data from the second device in response to the fourth request; and
generating an updated second snapshot using the second updated data for display.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein a second snapshot corresponds to a second application in the plurality of applications, and wherein a portion of the second snapshot is displayed adjacent to the first snapshot.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application is not actively running.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a selection of the first snapshot; and
launching the first application corresponding to the first snapshot.
8. A mobile device comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory is encoded with a set of instructions which when executed causes the one or more processors to perform:
identifying a plurality of applications for which snapshots are to be displayed in a preview mode that is triggered by user input, wherein the preview mode provides a browsable display of the snapshots of the plurality of applications, where each of the snapshots provides at least a portion of data that would be displayed by a corresponding application when executed in a foreground of the mobile device, the plurality of applications including a first application that provides a first snapshot;
receiving, at a scheduler, a first request for updating first data in the first snapshot, the first request including first time information, wherein the scheduler determines that the first time information for the first application indicates when data for the first application becomes outdated;
determining, by the scheduler, a first time period for granting permission to the first application for updating the first data based on the first time information, wherein the determining the first time period for granting permission to the first application for updating the first data is further based on an allotted processing power of the mobile device corresponding to an allotted update frequency for the first application;
providing a first message indicating that the permission has been granted to update the first data in accordance with the first time period;
receiving a second request to update the first data in accordance with the permission;
obtaining first updated data from a second device in response to the second request; and
generating an updated first snapshot using the first updated data for display.
9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the second request is received at a data service daemon, the mobile device further comprising:
providing a second message indicating the permission for the first application to request the first updated data for the first time period.
10. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:
receiving the updated first snapshot from the first application; and
displaying the updated first snapshot in the preview mode.
11. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:
receiving, from a second application, a third request for updating second data in a second snapshot, the third request including second time information;
determining a second time period for granting permission to the second application for updating the second data based on the second time information, wherein the second time period is different from the first time period;
providing the second application a second message indicating that permission has been granted to update the second data in accordance with the second time period;
receiving, from the second application, a fourth request to update the second data in accordance with the permission;
obtaining second updated data from the second device in response to the fourth request; and
generating an updated second snapshot using the second updated data for display.
12. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein a second snapshot corresponds to a second application in the plurality of applications, and wherein a portion of the second snapshot is displayed adjacent to the first snapshot.
13. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the first application is not actively running.
14. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to perform:
receiving a selection of the first snapshot; and
launching the first application corresponding to the first snapshot.