Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for simulating light interaction and physical materials in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a resource-constrained device are provided. Simulating physical materials, such as glass and metal, in a GUI can allow a user to feel more natural in interacting with the GUI. The user experience can be further enhanced if the simulated physical materials in the GUI can interact with the device's environment in a manner similar to how the actual physical materials would interact. However, continually polling various sensors can be resource-intensive, especially for resource-constrained mobile devices. Accordingly, a mobile device can intelligently determine whether to begin a reduced detail mode, and then render user interface objects in the reduced detail mode to conserve resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for simulating light interaction and physical materials in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a resource-constrained device are provided. Simulating physical materials, such as glass and metal, in a GUI can allow a user to feel more natural in interacting with the GUI. The user experience can be further enhanced if the simulated physical materials in the GUI can interact with the device's environment in a manner similar to how the actual physical materials would interact. However, continually polling various sensors can be resource-intensive, especially for resource-constrained mobile devices. Accordingly, a mobile device can intelligently determine whether to begin a reduced detail mode, and then render user interface objects in the reduced detail mode to conserve resources.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the door lock activation data for the door and the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining current location data for a user; obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on two or more of: the current location data for the user, the door lock activation data for the door, or the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: obtaining current location data for a user; obtaining door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; obtaining current occupancy data for the dwelling; setting a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on two or more of: the current location data for the user, the door lock activation data for the door, or the current occupancy data for the dwelling; the first configuration including for each sensor in a set of sensors coupled to the controller, disabling the sensor or disabling alerts from the sensor.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: receiving current location data for a user; receiving door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; receiving current occupancy data for the dwelling; determining a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the received current location data for the user, the received door lock activation data for the door, and the received current occupancy data for the dwelling; if the door was locked from inside the dwelling and the user is present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set a configuration of the controller to a first configuration; and, if the door was locked from outside the dwelling and the user is not present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set the configuration of the controller to a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system includes: receiving current location data for a user; receiving door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; receiving current occupancy data for the dwelling; determining a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the received current location data for the user, the received door lock activation data for the door, and the received current occupancy data for the dwelling; if the door was locked from inside the dwelling and the user is present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set a configuration of the controller to a first configuration; and, if the door was locked from outside the dwelling and the user is not present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set the configuration of the controller to a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitating a user's interaction with an electronic device to control selected audio output volumes of the device. The described methods and apparatus facilitate operation of the electronic device with a volume limit for audio content output from one or more ports of the device that is less than the maximum output volume available from the device. A first user input to increase the volume of an audio signal at one or more ports will increase the volume only to an initial volume limit that is less than the maximum output volume available. A visual, non-textual indicator of the availability of additional volume levels will be displayed to a user; and subsequent receipt of a second input to increase the volume of the audio signal will cause an increase in volume beyond the initial volume limit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for simulating light interaction and physical materials in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a resource-constrained device are provided. Simulating physical materials, such as glass and metal, in a GUI can allow a user to feel more natural in interacting with the GUI. The user experience can be further enhanced if the simulated physical materials in the GUI can interact with the device's environment in a manner similar to how the actual physical materials would interact. However, continually polling various sensors can be resource-intensive, especially for resource-constrained mobile devices. Accordingly, a mobile device can intelligently determine whether to begin a reduced detail mode, and then render user interface objects in the reduced detail mode to conserve resources.

Abstract: A method, performed at a portable electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, includes displaying a list of items on the display. The method also includes displaying an item in the list with just a portion of the item visible on the display. The method further includes detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to the item. The method further includes, in response to detecting the first gesture, marquee scrolling the item in a predefined marquee scrolling direction.

Abstract: A system and method of rendering a graphical user interface for a media based device which employs techniques for layering graphical elements. The method includes providing a background layer for the graphical user interface and graphical layers over the background layer. The method also superimposing an opaque view over a portion of the translucent graphic layer and marking the opaque view as opaque so that the portion of the translucent layer is not redrawn when the content in the opaque view is altered.

Abstract: A method, performed at a portable electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, includes displaying a list of items on the display. The method also includes displaying an item in the list with just a portion of the item visible on the display. The method further includes detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to the item. The method further includes, in response to detecting the first gesture, marquee scrolling the item in a predefined marquee scrolling direction.

Abstract: A system and method of rendering a graphical user interface for a media based device which employs techniques for layering graphical elements. The method includes providing a background layer for the graphical user interface and graphical layers over the background layer. The method also superimposing an opaque view over a portion of the translucent graphic layer and marking the opaque view as opaque so that the portion of the translucent layer is not redrawn when the content in the opaque view is altered.