Electronic devices and corresponding methods for redirecting user interface controls during multi-user contexts
A method for an electronic device includes detecting, by one or more processors, a first user operating a first application on the electronic device presenting content on a companion electronic device operating as a primary display for the electronic device while the electronic device is electronically in communication with a smartwatch. The method then redirects one or more first application controls to a user interface of the smartwatch when a second user is physically manipulating the electronic device and operating a second application presenting content on a local display of the electronic device while both the first application and the second application are operating on the electronic device.
1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting, with one or more processors, a communication device electronically in communication with both:
a content presentation companion device operating as a primary display for the electronic device; and
a wearable companion device;
while:
the content presentation companion device is operating as the primary display for a first application operating on the one or more processors of the electronic device; and
a second application is also operating on the one or more processors of the electronic device and is using an on-board display of the electronic device; and
in response to the detecting, redirecting, with the one or more processors, one or more user interface controls from the on-board display of the electronic device to a user interface of the wearable companion device while the second application is operating on the one or more processors of the electronic device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application comprises a content consumption application.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first application comprises a video streaming application, wherein the one or more user interface controls comprise one or more of a stop user actuation target, a play user actuation target, an audio control user actuation target, a rewind user actuation target, and/or a fast forward user actuation target.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second application comprises a gaming application.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising detecting, with one or more sensors, that a first user of the electronic device is operating the first application and that a second user of the electronic device is operating the second application, wherein the redirecting occurs only when the first user and the second user are different users.
6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising detecting, with one or more sensors, that a first user of the electronic device is operating the first application and that a second user of the electronic device is operating the second application while physically manipulating the electronic device, wherein the redirecting occurs only when the second user is physically manipulating the electronic device while operating the second application.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, after the redirecting, one or more control signals from the wearable companion device and controlling one or more control parameters of a presentation presented on the content presentation companion device by the first application as a function of the one or more control signals.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more control signals are initiated by actuation of at least one user interface control of the one or more user interface controls at the user interface of the wearable companion device.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wearable companion device comprises a smartwatch.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more control signals are initiated by a gesture translating the smartwatch in three-dimensional space.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the user interface of the wearable companion device to present at least one preview image generated by the first application and identifying the first application concurrently with the one or more user interface controls.
12. An electronic device, comprising:
at least one display;
a communication device electronically communicating with both a content presentation companion device operating as a primary display for the electronic device and a wearable electronic device while a first user is operating a first application presenting content on the content presentation companion device and a second user is operating a second application presenting other content on the display; and
one or more processors dynamically redirecting one or more first application user interface controls operable at the display of the electronic device to a user interface of the wearable electronic device while the second user is operating the second application.
13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a smartphone and the wearable electronic device comprises a smartwatch.
14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more first application user interface controls comprise one or more of a stop user actuation target, a play user actuation target, an audio control user actuation target, a rewind user actuation target, and/or a fast forward user actuation target.
15. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the communication device receives signals indicating actuation of at least one first application user interface control at the user interface of the smartwatch and the one or more processors control one or more first application control parameters altering presentation of the content on the content presentation companion device in response to receiving the signals indicating the actuation of the at least one first application user interface control at the user interface of the smartwatch.
16. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the communication device receives signals indicating translation of the smartwatch in three-dimensional space in accordance with a predefined gesture and the one or more processors control one or more control parameters of the first application in response to receiving the signals.
17. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device is wirelessly in communication with both the content presentation companion device and the wearable electronic device.
18. A method for an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, a first user operating a first application on the electronic device presenting content on a companion electronic device operating as a primary display for the electronic device while the electronic device is electronically in communication with a smartwatch; and
redirecting one or more first application controls to a user interface of the smartwatch when a second user is physically manipulating the electronic device and operating a second application presenting content on a local display of the electronic device while both the first application and the second application are operating on the electronic device.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving, by a communication device of the electronic device, one or more first application control signals from the smartwatch and causing the content presented on the companion electronic device to change as a function of the one or more first application control signals.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more first application control signals indicate that the smartwatch has been translated in three-dimensional space in accordance with a predefined gesture.