IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,619,346
Granted Patent B1
US 12,619,346 · App. 18/898,074 · Granted May 5, 2026

Displaying content based on detecting an associated context in a physical environment

Inventors: Thomas G. Salter (San Francisco, CA); Jeffrey S. Norris (Saratoga, CA); Christopher I. Word (San Francisco, CA); Michael J. Rockwell (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F3/0487G02B27/00G06F3/012G06F3/013G06F3/048G06F3/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,619,346
App. No.
18/898,074
Filed
Sep 26, 2024
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2623
USPC
345/156
Abstract

Some examples of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for displaying content such as a user interface element of an application executing on the electronic device upon detecting a context (e.g., detecting a physical object and optionally the satisfaction of one or more criteria) for displaying the user interface element in a three-dimensional environment presented at an electronic device. Examples of the disclosure are directed to improving the user experience by automatically displaying a user interface element when certain conditions are satisfied, such as when the context of the three-dimensional environment is appropriate (e.g., the context for displaying the user interface element is detected).

Claims (113)

1 . A method comprising:

at an electronic device in communication with one or more displays and one or more input devices including one or more cameras:

detecting, using the one or more input devices including the one or more cameras, one or more physical objects in a physical environment;

detecting an enrolled association between a first context and a first user interface of a weather application, the first context including detection of a window;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the first context and the first user interface of the weather application and in response to a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, the one or more criteria including a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include a detected window, determining that the first context is detected;

in accordance with determining that the first context is detected, displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application; and

in accordance with determining that the first context is not detected, forgoing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more criteria include one or more of:

a criterion that is satisfied when one or more weather parameters associated with an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device satisfy one or more thresholds;

a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include one or more physical objects in an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device that are visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a distance between the window and the electronic device is within a threshold distance;

a criterion that is satisfied when a direction of gaze is directed at the window or directed at a physical object that is visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a duration of gaze directed at the window for greater than a threshold duration;

criterion that is satisfied when a shape of the window corresponds to a predetermined shape, or one or more dimensions of the window are greater than one or more threshold dimensions;

a criterion that is satisfied when an orientation or viewport of the electronic device is directed at the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a location of the electronic device is within a predetermined region of the physical environment;

a criterion that is satisfied when a time of detecting the first context corresponds to a predetermined time period; or

a criterion that is satisfied when the window is a predetermined window or type of window.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user interface of the weather application is customized in accordance with the one or more criteria of the first context.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting movement of the electronic device; and

in accordance with detecting the movement of the electronic device, updating a location, an orientation, a size or a shape of the first user interface of the weather application.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application; and

in response to detecting the one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application:

displaying a second user interface of the weather application; and

ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of the weather application, the second user interface different from the first user interface;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface of the weather application, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the weather application.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of a second application, the second user interface and the second application different from the first user interface and the weather application;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the second application.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the first context is no longer detected, ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

9 . An electronic device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more input devices including one or more cameras;

memory; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting, using the one or more input devices including the one or more cameras, one or more physical objects in a physical environment;

detecting an enrolled association between a first context and a first user interface of a weather application, the first context including detection of a window;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the first context and the first user interface of the weather application and in response to a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, the one or more criteria including a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include a detected window, determining that the first context is detected;

in accordance with the determination that the first context is detected, displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application; and

in accordance with determining that the first context is not detected, forgoing displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more criteria include one or more of:

a criterion that is satisfied when one or more weather parameters associated with an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device satisfy one or more thresholds;

a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include one or more physical objects in an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device that are visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a distance between the window and the electronic device is within a threshold distance;

a criterion that is satisfied when a direction of gaze is directed at the window or directed at a physical object that is visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a duration of gaze directed at the window for greater than a threshold duration;

criterion that is satisfied when a shape of the window corresponds to a predetermined shape, or one or more dimensions of the window are greater than one or more threshold dimensions;

a criterion that is satisfied when an orientation or viewport of the electronic device is directed at the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a location of the electronic device is within a predetermined region of the physical environment;

a criterion that is satisfied when a time of detecting the first context corresponds to a predetermined time period; or

a criterion that is satisfied when the window is a predetermined window or type of window.

11 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first user interface of the weather application is customized in accordance with the one or more criteria of the first context.

12 . The electronic device of claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting movement of the electronic device; and

in accordance with detecting of movement of the electronic device, updating a location, an orientation, a size or a shape of the first user interface of the weather application.

13 . The electronic device of claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application; and

in response to detecting the one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application:

displaying a second user interface of the weather application; and

ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

14 . The electronic device of claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of the weather application, the second user interface different from the first user interface;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface of the weather application, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the weather application.

15 . The electronic device of claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of a second application, the second user interface and the second application different from the first user interface and the weather application;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the second application.

16 . The electronic device of claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the first context is no longer detected, ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device including one or more input devices including one or more cameras, cause the electronic device to:

detect, using the one or more input devices including the one or more cameras, one or more physical objects in a physical environment;

detect an enrolled association between a first context and a first user interface of a weather application, the first context including detection of a window;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the first context and the first user interface of the weather application and in response to determining that one or more criteria are satisfied the one or more criteria including a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include a detected window, determine that the first context is detected;

in accordance with the determination that the first context is detected, display, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application; and

in accordance with determining that the first context is not detected, forgo displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more criteria include one or more of:

a criterion that is satisfied when one or more weather parameters associated with an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device satisfy one or more thresholds;

a criterion that is satisfied when the one or more physical objects include one or more physical objects in an outside environment corresponding to a location of the electronic device that are visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a distance between the window and the electronic device is within a threshold distance;

a criterion that is satisfied when a direction of gaze is directed at the window or directed at a physical object that is visible through the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a duration of gaze directed at the window for greater than a threshold duration;

criterion that is satisfied when a shape of the window corresponds to a predetermined shape, or one or more dimensions of the window are greater than one or more threshold dimensions;

a criterion that is satisfied when an orientation or viewport of the electronic device is directed at the window;

a criterion that is satisfied when a location of the electronic device is within a predetermined region of the physical environment;

a criterion that is satisfied when a time of detecting the first context corresponds to a predetermined time period; or

a criterion that is satisfied when the window is a predetermined window or type of window.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the first user interface of the weather application is customized in accordance with the one or more criteria of the first context.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the electronic device to perform:

detecting movement of the electronic device; and

in accordance with detecting of movement of the electronic device, updating a location, an orientation, a size or a shape of the first user interface of the weather application.

21 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the electronic device to perform:

detecting one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application; and

in response to detecting the one or more inputs directed to the first user interface of the weather application:

displaying a second user interface of the weather application; and

ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

22 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the electronic device to perform:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of the weather application, the second user interface different from the first user interface;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface of the weather application, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the weather application.

23 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the electronic device to perform:

detecting an enrolled association between a second context and a second user interface of a second application, the second user interface and the second application different from the first user interface and the weather application;

in accordance with the detection of the enrolled association between the second context and the second user interface, determining that the second context is detected; and

in accordance with the determination that the second context is detected, concurrently displaying, using the one or more displays, the first user interface of the weather application and the second user interface of the second application.

24 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the electronic device to perform:

in accordance with a determination that the first context is no longer detected, ceasing displaying the first user interface of the weather application.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2025
From: SALTER, THOMAS G.; NORRIS, JEFFREY S.; WORD, CHRISTOPHER I.; ROCKWELL, MICHAEL J.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 070685/0629 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 63586986 · Sep 29, 2023
References Cited (27)
US 8509483B2 · Lawrence · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 10162308B2 · Du · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 11287659B2 · Hoover et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11328484B2 · Powderly et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11804014B1 · Casaburo et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20150301797A1 · Miller · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160048311A1 · Purvis et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160291922A1 · Montgomerie et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180130260A1 · Schmirler et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180322706A1 · Drouin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190213792A1 · Jakubzak et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190339840A1 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190371279A1 · Mak · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190392640A1 · Qian et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200320794A1 · Huang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20230139337A1 · Noam · 2023 [cited by examiner]
Notice of Allowance received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Jul. 29, 2023, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Apr. 6, 2021, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Jan. 24, 2023, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Aug. 12, 2021, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Jan. 24, 2022, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Examiner Initiated Interview Summary received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Jul. 6, 2021, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Corrected Notice of Allowability received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Aug. 17, 2022, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/845,461, mailed on Jun. 8, 2022, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Chen, et al., “Context-Aware Mixed Reality: A Learning-Based Framework for Semantic-Level Interaction”, Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 39, No. 1, retrieved from <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cgf.13887… [cited by applicant]
Gal, et al., “FLARE: Fast layout for augmented reality applications”, retrieved from the Internet <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/layoutopt_short_optimized.pdf>, 2014, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Sayer, Jason, ““Hyper-Reality” Visualized in Medellín Envisions Capitalism Enveloping the City and Daily Life”, Retrieved from: <https://www.archpaper.com/2016/06/hyper-reality-keiichi-matsuda/>, Jun. 1, 2016, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]