U.S. patent application number 15/983270 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-29 for method and system for operating a flexible computing-device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Atul GUPTA, Sachin Kumar GUPTA, Ankur SHARMA.
Application Number | 20180341341 15/983270 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64396621 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180341341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHARMA; Ankur ; et
al. |
November 29, 2018 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A FLEXIBLE COMPUTING-DEVICE
Abstract
A method and a system for operating a flexible computing-device
is provided. The method is executed by the system and includes
determining at least one bending axis of a computing-device based
on a type of application selected by a user. Based on an
activation-instruction received from the user, a bending-axis
selected from one or more bending axis is also activated. Further,
at least one user-input directed to the device is received, based
upon which a user-interface of the application uniquely linked to
the activated bending-axis is rendered. Such user-interface has at
least one designated-control to operate the application.
Inventors: |
SHARMA; Ankur; (Uttar
Pradesh, IN) ; GUPTA; Atul; (Uttar Pradesh, IN)
; GUPTA; Sachin Kumar; (Uttar Pradesh, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
64396621 |
Appl. No.: |
15/983270 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2203/04803
20130101; G06F 2203/04806 20130101; G06F 3/04886 20130101; G06F
3/04883 20130101; G06F 3/0338 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F
2203/04102 20130101; G06F 3/041 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101;
G06F 1/1652 20130101; G06F 1/1694 20130101; G06F 1/1626
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0338 20060101
G06F003/0338; G06F 3/0488 20060101 G06F003/0488; G06F 3/041
20060101 G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2017 |
IN |
201711018053 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a flexible computing-device, comprising:
determining at least one bending axis of a computing-device based
on at least a type of application selected by a user; activating a
bending-axis selected from the determined bending axis, based on an
activation-instruction received from the user; receiving at least
one user-input directed to the device; and rendering a
user-interface of the application uniquely linked to the activated
bending-axis, wherein the user-interface comprises at least one
designated-control to operate the application.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining is
further based on a location of the application selected by the user
within a display-screen of the computing device, and wherein the
location is one of: a default location of the application and a
newly attained location of the application triggered by a
sent-recommendation to the user.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: prior to
the activating, receiving a user-selection of the bending-axis; and
displaying a layout corresponding to the rendered user-interface to
facilitate evaluating the at least one bending axis prior to the
activating.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the displayed layout
corresponding to the user-interface is at least one of: a
preconfigured arrangement of control-options as a part of
automated-settings; and an arrangement of control-options
customized by the user as a part of configuration of settings of
the computing-device.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activating of the
bending axis comprises deactivating remaining one of the determined
bending axes of the device for restricting the bending of the
computing-device only about the activated bending-axis.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received
user-input is one of a touch-gesture over the computing-device and
an application of pressure about the activated bending-axis to bend
the computing-device thereon; and wherein the received user-input
corresponds to a particular level of an actuation of the
user-interface for rendering at least one designated control
respectively corresponding to the particular level of the actuation
of the user-interface.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving
another user-input to operate on the rendered user-interface; and
exhibiting at least one functionality of the application based on
the received another user-input.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving
another user input comprising bending of the flexible
computing-device along the activated bending-axis; selecting
another user-interface from among a plurality of other
user-interfaces based on a level of pressure in the received
another user input; and displaying the selected another
user-interface, wherein the plurality of other user-interfaces
comprise different sets of functionalities of the application.
9. An apparatus of operating a flexible computing-device,
comprising: a determination component configured to determine at
least one bending axis of a computing-device based on at least a
type of application selected by a user; an activation component
configured to activate a bending-axis selected from the at least
one bending axis determined by the determination component, based
on an activation-instruction received from the user; a receiver
configured to receive at least one user-input directed to the
device; and a processor configured to render a user-interface of
the application uniquely linked to the bending-axis activated by
the activation component, wherein the user-interface, rendered by
the processor, comprises at least one designated-control to operate
the application.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the activation
component is further configured to deactivate remaining one from
among the bending axes of the device determined by the
determination component, for restricting the bending of the
computing-device only about the bending-axis activated by the
activation component.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a
preview component configured to display a preview of the
user-interface, rendered by the processor, to facilitate evaluating
the at least one bending axis, determined by the determination
component, prior to activating the selected bending-axis via the
activation component, wherein the receiver is further configured to
receive another user-input to operate on the user-interface,
rendered by the processor, related to the bending-axis, activated
by the activation component and is further configured to trigger
the processor to exhibit at least one functionality from among a
plurality of functionalities of the selected application.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Indian patent application No. 201711018053,
filed on May 23, 2017, in the Indian Patent Office, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure broadly relates to a computing device, and in
particular, the disclosure relates to enhancing operation and
access of functions within the computing device.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] With the advancement in technology, we are moving towards
usage of devices with flexible display property, where the screen
size can be bent flexibly along various axes. As a result, a user
can now have much more options of operating the device, by virtue
of using the bending based property of the display screen as a
trigger to perform various operations. The user can bend the
display screen at fixed positions and the system displays the menu
items as per the available display area.
[0004] The known solutions treat the bending property as a specific
type of input gesture and thus provide the output corresponding to
the read input gesture. Some other solutions work on redesigning
the user interface of the bend portion like displaying multiple
applications or treating it as multiple partitions. However, such
existing solutions are able to extract only limited functionality
out of the bending property of the devices in a limited manner,
thereby rendering the bending based input as largely
under-utilized. Alternatively, despite having a provision of the
computing device being flexible in nature, the additional
functionalities that may be exclusively attributed to such a
flexible nature of the device are limited in nature, thereby
rendering the "bendable computing devices" as being almost
equivalent to the existing computing devices in terms of ease of
operation.
[0005] Accordingly, there lies a need to enhance a user-experience
of interacting with the device application functions, using the
bendable device technology.
[0006] There lies another need to control the bending of the
display device in order to achieve a customized user-interface with
respect to any given application-function.
[0007] The above information is presented as background information
only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with
regard to the disclosure.
SUMMARY
[0008] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified format that are further described in the
detailed description of exemplary embodiments. This summary is not
intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the
disclosure, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the
invention.
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the embodiment, a method and
system for operating a flexible computing-device is provided. The
method as executed by the system and includes determining at least
one bending axis of a computing-device based on at least a type of
an application selected by a user of the computing device. Based on
an activation-instruction received from the user, a bending-axis
selected from the bending axis is activated. Further, at least one
user-input directed to the device is received, based upon which a
user-interface of the application uniquely linked to the activated
bending-axis is rendered. Such user-interface has at least one
designated-control to operate on the application.
[0010] According to an aspect of an embodiment, the applications in
a computing device maintain multiple output patterns within the
same device for the same set of known gesture inputs. The user is
allowed to choose a specific pattern of the desired output from the
selected application, by virtue of controlling the bendability of
the bend axis in the display screen device. More specifically, the
core-functionalities of the application are dispersed across
multiple design-patterns, which in turn are mapped to the selected
bend axis and further to a particular access-level. According to an
aspect of an embodiment, the user chooses core functions to be
mapped to a particular bend axis.
[0011] To further clarify aspects of one or more embodiments, a
more particular description will be rendered by reference to
specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended
drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical
embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its
scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with
additional specificity and detail with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of
embodiments will become better understood and more apparent from
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to
an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
internal-construction of the system according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a control-flow according
to an embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an implementation of a control
flow according to an embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating another control-flow
according to an embodiment;
[0018] FIGS. 6A-6C are views illustrating implementations of the
another control-flow according to an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating another control-flow
according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 8A-8C are views illustrating yet another
implementation of the another control-flow according to an
embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating yet another implementation
according to an embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating yet another implementation
according to an embodiment;
[0023] FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating yet another
implementation according to an embodiment; and
[0024] FIGS. 12A and 12B are views illustrating yet another
implementation according to an embodiment; and
[0025] FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a computing-device
according to an embodiment.
[0026] Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in
the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts
illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent operations
involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of embodiments
of the disclosure. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the
device, one or more components of the device may have been
represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the
drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to
understanding embodiments of the disclosure so as not to obscure
the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
Same numeric references depicted in various drawings may represent
analogous elements in embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0027] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles
of an inventive concept as illustrated therein being contemplated
as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
inventive concept relates.
[0028] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the
foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended
to be restrictive thereof.
[0029] Reference throughout this specification to "an aspect",
"another aspect" or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in
another embodiment" and similar language throughout this
specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same
embodiment.
[0030] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process or method that comprises a list of operations does not
include only those operations but may include other operations not
expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly,
one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or
components proceeded by "comprises . . . a" does not, without more
constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other
sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other
components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or
additional elements or additional structures or additional
components.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The
system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only
and not intended to be limiting.
[0032] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] Now referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment, a
method of operating a flexible computing-device is provided. The
method comprises determining (in operation 102) at least one
bending axis of a computing-device based at least on a type of
application selected by a user within the computing device. Such
determination may be based on location of the user-selected
application within a display-screen of the computing device, where
such location is at least one of a default location of the
application, and a newly attained location of the application, the
location having been attained after sending a recommendation to the
user. In an example, the user may be prompted to change the
location of the selected application within the display-screen at a
particular location so as to leave enough space for rendering a
number of bending-axes within the display-screen.
[0034] The method further comprises receiving a user-selection of
the one or more bending-axis. Thereafter, a layout corresponding to
a user-interface of the selected application and uniquely linked to
the corresponding bending-axis is displayed to facilitate the user
at evaluating the one or more bending axis. The layout
corresponding to the user-interface may be a preconfigured
arrangement of control-options as a part of automated-settings
(e.g. based on artificial intelligence). For example, a computing
system may note most preferred ways a user deals with an
application. Accordingly, such preferred ways or selectable options
may be ranked higher while rendering the layout. Likewise, taking
into account the concept of internet of things (IOT), the most
necessary/urgent control-options with respect to an operation of
electrical appliances/electricity at home may be ranked higher
within the layout. For example, a power on/off control option for
switching off the main switch of a house may be exhibited as a
highly ranked graphical control option within the layout, in case
the application as selected is meant for controlling electricity at
home.
[0035] In another example, the layout may be an arrangement of
control-options customized by the user as part of a configuration
of settings of the computing-device. Overall, the layout
corresponding to each bending axis represents sub-user interfaces
of the overall user-interface.
[0036] According to an embodiment, the method may further comprise
activating (in operation 104) a bending-axis selected from at least
one bending axis based on an activation-instruction received from
the user. Such activation of the selected bending axis comprises
automatically deactivating the remaining bending axes of the device
in order to restrict the bending of the computing-device only about
the activated bending-axis.
[0037] The method further comprises receiving (in operation 106) at
least one user-input directed to the computing device, where such
user-input is either a touch-gesture over the computing-device or
an application of pressure about the activated bending-axis to bend
the computing-device thereon. Such user-input corresponds to a
particular level of actuation of the user-interface for rendering
one or more designated controls corresponding to the particular
level. For example, a pressure applied by a certain amount to the
computing device corresponds to a particular level out of the three
designated levels, by way of an example.
[0038] The method further comprises rendering (in operation 108) a
user-interface of the application uniquely linked to the activated
bending-axis, the user-interface having at least one
designated-control to operate upon the application. As may be
understood such user-interface may be a portion or sub-set of the
main user-interface associated with the selected application.
Accordingly, such user-interface may be configured to receive
another user-input to operate upon the rendered user-interface. As
a result, one or more functionalities of the applications are
realized by the user based on the provided user-input.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed internal
construction of a system 200 in according to an embodiment. The
system 200 includes a determination module 202 that performs, for
example, an operation 102, an activation-module 204 that performs,
for example, an operation 104, a receiving module 206 that
performs, for example, an operation 106 and a processing module 208
that performs, for example, an operation 108. Likewise, there may
be other modules 210 within the system 200 that facilitate the
operational interconnection among the modules 202 till 208, and
perform other ancillary-functions. One of ordinary skill on the art
will readily appreciate that each of the foregoing modules may be
implemented through software, hardware and/or a combination
thereof.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of
determining at least one bending axis of a computing-device such as
the operation 102 of FIG. 1, described above.
[0041] In operation 302, the user can turn off a TEND-MODE' feature
in the device. As may be understood, the turning off of the
TEND-MODE' restricts the bending of the computing device at any
zone, despite the computing-device being capable of being
`bent`.
[0042] In operation 304, the user activates `BEND MODE` feature to
enable a `bend axis control-module` to control the bending of the
computing device at various `Bend Zones`.
[0043] In operation 306, the location of a selected application (as
selected by the user) is requested by `a bend-axis control module`
from a user-interface module of the computing device. Such location
may be based on the current location of the application (e.g.
location of a gallery icon) within the display screen. More
specifically, operation 306a denotes the bend-axis control module
requesting the user-interface (UI) module to provide a current
location, and in operation 306b denotes the response emanating from
the UI module and intended for the bend axis control module. The
response in operation 306b includes the graphical coordinates of
the current location of the application.
[0044] In operation 308, the available bend axes/bend-zones are
forwarded by the control module to the UI module for causing a
display thereof.
[0045] In operation 310, the available bend axes/bend-zones are
displayed to the user. At the same time, the UI module prompts the
user to move the selected application icon to a preferred bend
location in order to provide `maximum` bend-axes which could be
associated with the selected application.
[0046] Accordingly, the bending control module, upon receiving a
new location of the displaced application, further updates the
number of bending axes as displayed on-screen. One of ordinary
skill in the art will readily appreciate that each of the foregoing
modules may be implemented through software, hardware and/or a
combination thereof.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a visual representation of an
implementation of a control flow such as the one described in FIG.
3, according to an embodiment. In FIG. 4, (a) depicts the operation
310 in terms of displaying the bending axis with respect to the
selected application and simultaneously prompting the user to
displace the selected application icon to a new location. In FIG.
4, (b) depicts the displaced location of the application icon and a
resultant high number of bending-axis as compared to (a) as shown
in FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0048] In FIG. 4, (c), (d), and (e) depict how the computing device
may be bent about different bending-axes (e.g. 3 in number) as
depicted in (b) as shown in FIG. 4. The device can be bent about
these vertical bend axes, upon having been subjected to the
pressure as applied by the user. The device when subjected to the
applied pressure by user on the display screen will bend about any
of these bend axes only. Further, through activation and
deactivation, the bending ability of these bend zones/axis may be
controlled based on user preferences. If the axis/zone is
`deactivated`, the device will not bend about that axis.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of
another control-flow according to an embodiment of the disclosure
such as method operations of FIG. 1. More specifically, FIG. 5 is a
flow chart illustrating operations executed by the device at a
backend for the rendering of a preview of the layouts or
user-interfaces with respect to the different bending axes as have
been shown to the user with respect to the selected
application.
[0050] Operation 502 represents a user-selection of the displayed
bend axis to have a `preview` of the type of display which is
associated with the application functionality mode for the selected
axis. Such selection of any one of the displayed bend axis may be
accomplished by simply hovering the mouser-cursor over the
designated bend axis.
[0051] Operation 504 represents forwarding of the request in
operation 502 by the user interface module to a
`preview-module`.
[0052] Operation 506 represents the `preview-module` submitting a
request to a computing-device database for seeking a preview of the
layout as associated with the selected bending axis. Alongside, the
`preview-module` through the operation 306 a, b (similar to what is
depicted in FIG. 3) extracts the nature and location of the
currently selected application.
[0053] Operation 508 represents receiving of an output-pattern or a
layout by the `preview-module` from the computing-system database
such as an external memory or a server which stores various output
design patterns corresponding to various application types,
application locations, and various bend axis.
[0054] Operation 510 represents the receipt of a `layout` and an
application location information by the UI from the preview
module.
[0055] Operation 512 represents rendering of the `preview` by the
user-interface module, with respect to the selected bend axis.
[0056] FIGS. 6A-6C are views illustrating visual representations of
a control flow according to an embodiment of the disclosure such as
the one described above with reference to FIG. 5. FIGS. 6A-6C
depict the preview or the layout with respect to each `bend-axis`
as otherwise depicted in FIG. 4(b). As may be seen from FIGS.
6A-6C, each layout is associated with a particular bend-axis and
corresponds to a particular sub-user interface with respect to the
selected application. The displayed image with respect to each
layout indicates a characteristic of the user-interface.
[0057] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of a
method such as method operations of FIG. 1 according to an
embodiment of the disclosure. More specifically, FIG. 7 represents
a particular implementation of receiving user-input directed to the
device and rendering a UI of the application uniquely linked to the
activated bending-axis according to an embodiment of the disclosure
such as operations 106 and 108 of FIG. 1. For example, FIG. 7 is a
view illustrating a scenario of a particular bend-axis (one out of
the ones shown in (b) in FIG. 4 by way of an example) has been
activated by the user (as illustrated in operation 104 of FIG. 1)
for further operation through operation 108 of FIG. 1.
[0058] In operation 702a, the user applies an input against the
application icon displayed on the screen. In an example, the
user-input against the application icon may be a pressure
application that attempts to bend the device only about the
activated bend-axis.
[0059] In operation 702b, the pressure-application is forwarded to
a data module of the computing device to prepare a complete set of
data that may be applicable against the current bending-axis. In an
example, such data is prepared in the form of a data table.
[0060] In operation 704, a pressure-sensing module senses the
applied pressure as a part of the user-input and numerically
evaluates the same.
[0061] In operation 706 (a, b), a numerical-equivalent value of the
applied pressure Px is then forwarded to a database of the
computing-device via the data module to shortlist a subset of data
from data accumulated in operation 702b. More specifically, the
numerical figure associated with the pressure is used as a basis to
shortlist the data based on the pressure value. Accordingly,
differently applied pressure values correspond to different
access-levels and accordingly different types of data being
displayed.
[0062] In operation 708 (a, b), the shortlisted data is received by
the user-interface (UI) module from the database of the
computing-device via the data-module.
[0063] In operation 710, the shortlisted data as received in
operation 708 (a, b), is rendered by the UI module for a display
against the activated bend-axis.
[0064] FIGS. 8A-C are views illustrating an exemplary visual
representation of a method according to an embodiment of the
disclosure such as the one described above with reference to FIG.
7. FIGS. 8A-8C, each correspond to a differently applied
pressure-level and accordingly represent the display of shortlisted
data with respect to a different pressure-level or a bending level.
As a user keeps bending the device by different pressure levels,
the same leads to a depiction of fresh control-options 802 at the
right-hand side portion of the activated bending axis. Accordingly,
any one of the control-options may be selected by the user to
achieve a utility of the selected application.
[0065] In an example of FIGS. 8A-8C, in case of the application
being a photo-gallery, the left hand side portion depicts the image
and the right hand side portion depicts the image-category it
relates to, as well as other image categories in the form of
control-options 802. Accordingly, any of the control-options 802
may be selected to depict a first image in that category.
Thereafter, the right hand side portions may also be actuated
(through a control-option) to browse other images in the category
as is currently being selected as the control-option 802.
[0066] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary implementation of the present
invention. In FIG. 9, a galley application has been selected and a
particular bend-axis has been activated so as to enable sharing of
the gallery images. Thereafter, the selected application icon upon
being subjected to a pressure-application by a pre-determined level
leads to the display as represented in (a) as shown in FIG. 9.
[0067] As shown in (a) in FIG. 9, a particular pressure level
application leads to the display of (b) as shown in FIG. 9. The
user can then choose to select an application which he wants to use
for sharing the displayed image from the list of applications 902.
Accordingly, an application 904 may be chosen.
[0068] As shown in (b) in FIG. 9, the user is displayed in the
launched application 904 at the right hand side portion, where he
can choose a contact with which to share the displayed image.
[0069] As shown in (c) in FIG. 9, the image is shared
instantaneously with the contact according to an embodiment.
[0070] If the user now wishes to send more images from the images
extracted for the bending, he or she can choose to select a menu
option. As shown in (d) in FIG. 9, all the images 906 extracted
according to the currently prevalent `bending-level` are displayed
to the user. The user can select another image and share it with
another contact. The user can even switch over to a new control
option in the list 902 in order to share the image through a
different control option.
[0071] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating another implementation of an
embodiment in which a `contact-member` based application has been
selected.
[0072] As shown in (a) in FIG. 10, the applicable bend-axes (e.g.
`2` in number) have been shown in (b) and (c) FIG. 10 illustrate
the preview of `contact-member` application with respect to two
different axes 1002, 1004, respectively. While (b) as shown in FIG.
10 depicts control options to extract a log of communication (as
have happened) with respect to the one or more contacts in the
list, (c) as shown in FIG. 10 depicts various control-options 1004
to establish different types of communication (e.g. phone call,
message, video call) with any contact-member.
[0073] Accordingly, (d) as shown in FIG. 10 depicts activation of
the bending axis corresponding to the preview in (b) as shown in
FIG. 10 to perform further operations. The representation shown in
(d) in FIG. 10 is displayed in response to detecting a
particular-level pressure application against the `contact-member`
application icon, so as to render the left and right hand side
portions separated by the activated bend axis, as depicted in (b)
in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the user can now select any control-option
at the right-hand side portion and check communication log with
respect to the contact currently under consideration. Any other
contact may also be chosen from the menu at the left hand side,
similar to the action depicted with respect to (d) as shown in FIG.
9.
[0074] FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating another
implementation of an embodiment in which a `camera` application has
been selected.
[0075] As shown in an upper portion of FIGS. 11A and 11B, previews
are depicted with respect to the two bending axis of a camera based
application.
[0076] A lower portion of the FIG. 11A corresponds to an activation
of the bending axis with respect to the preview shown in the upper
portion of the FIG. 11A, such that the user is now presented the
option to click anywhere within the right hand side portion as
shown and gather the information. In an example depicted in FIG.
11A, Himalayan hills is shown at the right hand side in the lower
portion of FIG. 11A has been clicked. Accordingly, a message asking
the user to bend the computing device about the currently active
bending-axis emerges at the left hand side portion. As a result,
the application of pressure about the selected bend axis leads to
obtaining web-based information about Himalayas.
[0077] A lower portion of FIG. 11A corresponds to an activation of
the bending-axis with respect to the preview shown in the upper
portion of FIG. 11B, such that the user is now presented with the
option at the left hand side to adjust brightness of the image
shown at the right hand side. Accordingly, the user's application
of pressure is directed against such brightness-control option,
thereby bending the computing-device about the currently active
bending-axis and increasing the brightness. Likewise, a bending in
an opposite direction about the currently active bending axis leads
to a decrement in the brightness.
[0078] FIGS. 12A and 12B are views illustrating another
implementation of an embodiment in which `digital maps` based
application has been selected.
[0079] As shown in upper portions of FIGS. 12A and 12B, previews
have been depicted with different active bending axis in the `maps`
based application.
[0080] A lower portion of FIG. 12A corresponds to an activation of
the bending axis with respect to the preview shown in the upper
portion of the FIG. 12A, such that the user is now presented with
the control options 1202 at the right hand side to seek information
about the map depicted in the left hand side portion. The user may
select one of the options 1202, for example, to locate emergency
services within the map.
[0081] As depicted in a lower portion of FIG. 12B, selection of the
`emergency services` option allows the user to locate hospitals,
trauma centers, etc. within the map. At such juncture, the user may
apply pressure against the map to bend the right hand side portion,
for the purpose of zooming in and out of the map and locating far
and near emergency service. Application of pressure against the map
at the right hand side may be performed in opposite circular
directions (i.e. clockwise or anticlockwise) for the purpose of
zooming in and out. Likewise, for the purpose of ultra-zooming in
order to located services in the nearest radii, increases
levels/intensities of pressures may be applied.
[0082] FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating yet another
implementation according to an embodiment in which a hardware
configuration of a system such as the system 200, in the form of a
computer system 1300 is shown. The computer system 1300 can include
a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer
system 1300 to perform any one or more of the methods disclosed
above according to embodiments. The computer system 1300 may
operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a
network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.
[0083] In a networked deployment, the computer system 1300 may
operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in
a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer
system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The
computer system 1300 can also be implemented as or incorporated
across various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet
PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop
computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications
device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone having a
touch-screen user interface, e, or any other machine capable of
executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that
specify actions to be taken by that machine. In an embodiment, the
computer system 200, may be a mobile computing device capable of
being worn by a user, e.g. a smartwatch, an augmented-reality
headgear, a wearable mobile-phone etc. Further, while a single
computer system 1300 is illustrated, the term "system" shall also
be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that
individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple-sets, of
instructions to perform one or more computer functions.
[0084] The computer system 1300 may include a processor 1302 e.g.,
a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU),
or both. The processor 1302 may be a component in a variety of
systems. For example, the processor 1302 may be part of a standard
personal computer or a workstation. The processor 1302 may be one
or more general processors, digital signal processors, application
specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays,
servers, networks, digital circuits, analog circuits, combinations
thereof, or other now known or later developed devices for
analyzing and processing data. The processor 1302 may implement a
software program, such as code generated manually (i.e.,
programmed).
[0085] The computer system 1300 may include a memory 1304, such as
a memory 1304 that can communicate via a bus 1308. The memory 1304
may include, but is not limited to, a computer readable storage
media such as various types of volatile and non-volatile storage
media, including but not limited to random access memory, read-only
memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically programmable
read-only memory, electrically erasable read-only memory, flash
memory, magnetic tape or disk, optical media and the like. In one
example, the memory 1304 includes a cache or a random access memory
for the processor 1302. In alternative examples, the memory 1304 is
separate from the processor 1302, such as a cache memory of a
processor, the system memory, or other memory. The memory 1304 may
be an external storage device or database for storing data. The
memory 1304 is operable to store instructions executable by the
processor 1302. The functions, acts, or tasks illustrated in the
figures or described may be performed by the programmed processor
1302 executing the instructions stored in the memory 1304. The
functions, acts, or tasks are independent of the particular type of
instructions set, storage media, processor or processing strategy
and may be performed by software, hardware, integrated circuits,
firm-ware, micro-code and the like, operating alone or in
combination. Likewise, the processing strategies may include
multiprocessing, multitasking, parallel processing, and the
like.
[0086] As shown, the computer system 1300 may or may not further
include a touch-sensitive display 1310, for outputting determined
information as well as receiving a user's touch-gesture based
inputs, such as drag and drop, single tap, multiple-taps, etc. The
display 1310 may act as an interface for the user to see the
functioning of the processor 1302, or specifically as an interface
with the software stored in the memory 1304 or in the drive unit
1316 such as a driver hardware component.
[0087] Additionally, the computer system 1300 may include a user
input device 1312 configured to allow a user to interact with any
of the components of system 1300. The computer system 1300 may also
include a disk or optical drive unit 1316. The disk drive unit 1316
may include a computer-readable medium 1322 in which one or more
sets of instructions 1324, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further,
the instructions 1324 may embody one or more of the methods or
logic as described. In a particular example, the instructions 1324
may reside completely, or at least partially, within the memory
1304 or within the processor 1302 during execution by the computer
system 1300.
[0088] An embodiment contemplates a computer-readable medium 1322
that includes instructions 1324 or receives and executes
instructions 1324 responsive to a propagated signal so that a
device connected to a network 1326 can communicate voice, video,
audio, images, or any other data over the network 1326. Further,
the instructions 1324 may be transmitted or received over the
network 1326 via a communication port or interface 1320 or using
the bus 1308. The communication port or interface 1320 may be a
part of the processor 1302 or may be a separate component. The
communication port 1320 may be created in software or may be a
physical connection in hardware. The communication port 1320 may be
configured to connect with the network 1326, external media, the
display 1310, or any other components in the system 1300, or
combinations thereof. The connection with the network 1326 may be
established wirelessly, as discussed later. Likewise, the
additional connections with other components of the system 1300 may
be established wirelessly. The network 1326 may alternatively be
directly connected to the bus 1308.
[0089] The network 1326 may include wireless networks, Ethernet AVB
networks, or combinations thereof. The wireless network may be a
cellular telephone network, an 802.11, 802.16, 802.20, 802.1Q or
WiMax network. Further, the network 1326 may be a public network,
such as the Internet, a private network, such as an intranet, or
combinations thereof, and may utilize a variety of networking
protocols now available or later developed including, but not
limited to TCP/IP based networking protocols. The system is not
limited to operation with any particular standards and protocols.
For example, standards for Internet and other packet switched
network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) may be
used.
[0090] The present subject matter aims to amplify the user
experience of interacting with the device application functions
using the bendable display screen technology. As the display screen
can be bent along various angles and multiple-axis, the bend-able
positions have been enabled as different virtual modes of the
display screen. Embodiments utilize the property of bending of the
screen along various axes, and based on the selected axis of
bending, customize the selected application functions to cater to a
specific user requirement as a standard output to a display
screen.
[0091] Embodiments focus on providing the user with a choice to
control the bending of the display device, thus dynamically
selecting a customized output pattern or a layout of the
application function as per the requirement. More specifically,
embodiments appropriate the controllability of bending of the
device about various bend axes. Accordingly, a user is enabled to
use the bending property of the display screen to extract a
specific customized output from the selected application function.
Overall, a particular application is able to exhibit `polymorphism`
based behavior at the same display screen.
[0092] While specific language has been used to describe
embodiments, any limitations arising on account of the same are not
intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various
working modifications may be made to the method in order to
implement an inventive concept as taught herein.
[0093] The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of
embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or
more of the described elements may well be combined into a single
functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split
into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may
be added to another embodiment.
[0094] The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these
specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in
the specification or not, such as differences in structure,
dimension, and use of material, are possible.
[0095] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However,
the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any
component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to
occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a
critical, required, or essential feature or component. The scope of
the disclosure would be indicated by the claims, which will be
described later, the spirit and scope of the claims and their
equivalents, and all such modifications as would be derived from
the equivalent concept intended to be included within the scope of
the disclosure.
* * * * *