IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,775,248
Granted Patent B2
US 11,775,248 · App. 17/667,484 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Systems and methods for initiating and interacting with a companion-display mode for an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display

Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda (Portland, OR); Chun Kin Minor Wong (San Jose, CA); John O. Louch (Boulder, CO); Christopher N. Ryan (Boulder, CO); Kevin J. Van Vechten (Montecito, CA); Patrick L. Coffman (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G06F3/147G06F3/0416G06F3/0482G06F3/0486G06F3/04817G06F3/04845G06F3/04847G06F3/04883G06F2203/04803G06F2203/04808
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,775,248
App. No.
17/667,484
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example method includes, at a first electronic device that includes a display, displaying, on the display, a user interface that is associated with an application, the user interface displayed with a control user interface element for changing a display property of the user interface. The method includes, detecting an input directed to the control user interface element. The method also includes that in response to detecting the input, and while continuing to display the user interface, concurrently displaying on the display: a first selectable option for changing the display property of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device, and a second selectable option for requesting display at a second electronic device, distinct from the first electronic device, of a user interface that includes content from the user interface.

Claims (73)

1. A method, comprising:

at a first electronic device that includes a display:

logging the first electronic device into a first user account;

displaying, on the display, a user interface that is associated with an application, the user interface comprising: (i) content, and (ii) a control user interface element;

detecting an input directed to the control user interface element; and

in response to detecting the input, and while continuing to display the user interface:

concurrently:

displaying, on the display, a first selectable option for changing the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device is also logged into the first user account, displaying on the display a second selectable option for requesting display at the second electronic device, distinct from the first electronic device, of the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving a selection of the second selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the second selectable option:

ceasing to display the user interface on the display at the first electronic device; and

sending, to the second electronic device, an instruction to display the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second selectable option is displayed in accordance with a determination that the second electronic device has satisfied secure-connection criteria.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device have an active communication link.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are registered to a same user account.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made after a user has provided an indication that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are trusted devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving a selection of the first selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first selectable option, changing the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes minimizing the user interface of the first electronic device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes maximizing the user interface to fill substantially all of the display of the first electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input over the control user interface element is made by a right-click or a hover operation at the first electronic device.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first electronic device with a display, cause the first electronic device to:

log the first electronic device into a first user account;

display, on the display, a user interface that is associated with an application, the user interface comprising: (i) content, and (ii) a control user interface element;

detect an input directed to the control user interface element; and

in response to detecting the input, and while continuing to display the user interface:

concurrently:

display, on the display, a first selectable option for changing the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device is also logged into the first user account, display on the display a second selectable option for requesting display at the second electronic device, distinct from the first electronic device, of the user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the first electronic device, also cause the first electronic device to:

receive a selection of the second selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the second selectable option:

cease to display the user interface on the display at the first electronic device; and

send, to the second electronic device, an instruction to display the user interface.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the second selectable option is displayed in accordance with a determination that the second electronic device has satisfied secure-connection criteria.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device have an active communication link.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are registered to a same user account.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made after a user has provided an indication that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are trusted devices.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the first electronic device, also cause the first electronic device to:

receive a selection of the first selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first selectable option, change the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes minimizing the user interface of the first electronic device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes maximizing the user interface to fill substantially all of the display of the first electronic device.

20. A first electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a display; and

memory storing one or more programs that are configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

logging the first electronic device into a first user account;

displaying, on the display, a user interface that is associated with an application, the user interface comprising: (i) content, and (ii) a control user interface element;

detecting an input directed to the control user interface element; and

in response to detecting the input, and while continuing to display the user interface:

concurrently:

displaying, on the display, a first selectable option for changing the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device is also logged into the first user account, displaying on the display a second selectable option for requesting display at the second electronic device, distinct from the first electronic device, of the user interface.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the input over the control user interface element is made by a right-click or a hover operation at the first electronic device.

22. The first electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving a selection of the second selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the second selectable option:

ceasing to display the user interface on the display at the first electronic device; and

sending, to the second electronic device, an instruction to display the user interface.

23. The first electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second selectable option is displayed in accordance with a determination that the second electronic device has satisfied secure-connection criteria.

24. The first electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device have an active communication link.

25. The first electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are registered to a same user account.

26. The first electronic device of claim 25 , wherein the determination that the second electronic device has satisfied the secure-connection criteria is made after a user has provided an indication that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are trusted devices.

27. The first electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

receiving a selection of the first selectable option; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first selectable option, changing the size or location of the user interface on the display of the first electronic device.

28. The first electronic device of claim 27 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes minimizing the user interface of the first electronic device.

29. The first electronic device of claim 27 , wherein changing the size of the user interface includes maximizing the user interface to fill substantially all of the display of the first electronic device.

30. The first electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the input over the control user interface element is made by a right-click or a hover operation at the first electronic device.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 16582765 · Sep 25, 2019
Provisional Application 62844087 · May 6, 2019
Provisional Application 62834958 · Apr 16, 2019
Related Publication 20220164152A1 · May 26, 2022