Abstract: The present invention provides tools for efficient networking and is specially targeted to frequent travelers and others active in social networking. It enables users to squeeze in meet ups with their contacts when they happen to be or expect to be in the vicinity of those contacts. The invention envisions a system that allows users to declare where they are or will be, and invite their friends to join. The central feature of the system is a radar like graphical user interface and a flexible, private and customizable process under user control.

Abstract: A method and system for providing control functions in a mobile device according to modes of inputs are provided. The method includes receiving a proximity signal via a sensing module, detecting a touch signal via a touch screen while the proximity signal is being retained, and executing a function set according to the input mode of the touch signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device that has a touch-sensitive display includes detecting a touch at an area associated with a character displayed on the touch-sensitive display, adding the character to a character string, identifying, from stored data, objects that at least partially match the character string, determining a next character of ones of the objects identified to yield a set of next characters, increasing a size of an area associated with each character of the set of next characters, and reducing the size of the area associated with each character of the set of next characters with time absent detection of a further touch.

Abstract: A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving an indication that a first activity has occurred. The first activity is associated with a uniform resource identifier (URI) that specifies at least one web page. The method also includes identifying an application that is associated with the URI using a registry that associates particular URIs with particular applications, retrieving, using the identified application, content associated with the URI, displaying the content or information derived from the content in a first format that is not controlled by a second format specified by a markup language of the at least one web page.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for receiving the input of parameter ranges into computing devices. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for accepting user input of a time range into a computing device equipped with a touchscreen. The method includes displaying a time bar on the touchscreen and receiving a touch input ending at a first location and a second touch input ending at a second location. The computing device displays time markers at the first and second locations. The method further includes identifying first and second times corresponding to the first and second locations and a time range including the first and second times. The method further includes receiving a third touch input commencing at one of the time markers and terminating at a third location. The method further includes updating the time marker at the position of the third location and updating the time range.

Abstract: The uniqueness of the screen name for each screen of a system to be evaluated is evaluated simply and with high precision.

Abstract: A communication device to access a network device storing content-related information is provided. The content-related information includes a title and location information of information content. The communication device includes a location information storage to store the location information, a content-related information obtaining system to obtain the content-related information from the network device, a content-related information storage to store the obtained content-related information, a multiple-display system having a plurality of display areas, a display control system to control the title to be displayed in a fixed line in each display area, a selection receiver system to receive a selection of the title of the information content displayed in the fixed line in one of the display areas, an identifying system to identify the location information corresponding to the selected title, and a location information output system to output the identified location information to a displayable device.

Abstract: A display controller includes display control means by which a partial display of a Web page is performed when the Web page is displayed on display means, display range detecting means for detecting a display range of the Web page displayed on the display means by the display control means, a key input pattern database in which information indicating an operation intended by a user is stored per key input pattern of the operating means, a home position database per URL for registering a home position used as the first display range when a Web page is displayed, together with URL information of each Web page, key input pattern detecting means for detecting a key input pattern of the operating means when the Web page is displayed by the display control means and home position registering means for registering a display range of the Web page detected by the display range detecting means as a home position corresponding to the Web page, together with URL information of the Web page, in the home position database

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for improving user navigation of a multi-page article on a small screen user device. In embodiments, as a user progresses through the multi-page article, pages and/or lines of text of the multi-page article are cached. In response to a user request to view the multi-page article in a full-page format, the cached content is compared against text of the full-page document and used to determine a presentation of the text that displays nonduplicative content to the user.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for visually displaying data points using pie charts on a display screen with limited display area. Detailed information is presented for individual sectors compared to other sectors displayed. The sector is selected for displaying detailed information based on its orientation with respect to a centerline axis of the chart. The pie chart can be rotated to cause detailed information to be displayed for different sectors. The mechanism is used to display detailed information of data points for other kinds of charts including multi-series pie charts and donut charts.

Abstract: A software module provides multiple individually selectable items via a user interface. The software module detects a contact with an area on the user interface that includes several of the individually selectable items in a first relative arrangement. The software module determines that the contact corresponds to an attempted selection of a single item. The software module provides a disambiguation menu for selecting the single item from among the several individually selectable items within the area, and arranges the several individually selectable items in the disambiguation menu according to a second relative arrangement different from the first relative arrangement.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to improving the efficiency of text input by dynamically generating a visually assistive virtual keyboard. Exemplary variations display a soft keyboard on a touchscreen of a text-entry device. The touchscreen works with the soft keyboard as a form of text input. Keyboard logic on the text-entry device is programmed to change the visual appearance of each key within the soft keyboard based on the prior entry. The keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key based on a statistical probability that the key will be entered next. The touchscreen displays a visually enhanced keyboard based on these prediction values. Enhancements include resizing keys relative to their prediction value, rearranging the keys a distance from the previous key entered inverse to its prediction value, etc.

Abstract: An electronic device, while in an interaction configuration mode: displays a first user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects; and, while displaying the first user interface, detects one or more gesture inputs on a touch-sensitive surface. For a respective gesture input, the device determines whether one or more user interface objects of the plurality of user interface objects correspond to the respective gesture input. The device visually distinguishes a first set of user interface objects in the plurality of user interface objects that correspond to the detected one or more gesture inputs from a second set of user interface objects in the plurality of user interface objects that do not correspond to the detected one or more gesture inputs. The device detects an input; and, in response to detecting the input, exits the interaction configuration mode and enters a restricted interaction mode.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code which, when executed by a mobile handheld device that has a touch sensitive display, instructs the device (i) to display a notification of an incoming phone call, and (ii) to accept the call in response to a mufti-step operation comprising an object touching the touch sensitive display, and the object gliding along the touch sensitive display in a specific direction.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a user input is detected at a first location on a display screen, such as a finger selection on a touch-enabled display screen. A number of visual controls that are proximate to the detected location are identified. A magnification interface is then displayed that includes a larger rendition of the visual controls.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an input unit configured to be operated to change the display state of a plurality of content items displayed on a display screen, a circling detector configured to detect a circling operation, detect the circling direction and number of revolutions thereof, and also determine an area enclosed by the circling operation to be a selection area, a content item search unit configured to search the plurality of content items for relevant content items that correspond to position information included inside the selection area, and a content display quantity adjuster configured to display or hide the relevant content items according to the circling direction, and in the case of a plurality of relevant content items, determine the number of relevant content items to display or hide from among the relevant content items on the basis of the number of revolutions.

Abstract: A computing device includes at least one processor and at least one module. The module may determine and output for display a list of one or more suggested character strings based on a first input received at a presence-sensitive display. The module may further receive an indication of a second user input detected at the presence-sensitive display. The module may further determine whether the second user input includes a replacement gesture, wherein the replacement gesture includes a first gesture in a substantially leftward direction and a second gesture in a substantially rightward direction. Responsive to determining that the received gesture input includes the replacement gesture, the module may output for display in place of the displayed text, a character string chosen from the list of one or more suggested character strings.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for receiving the input of parameter ranges for computer applications, adapted to the use of small screen input devices. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for accepting a time range into a computing device equipped with a touchscreen by entering a pair of time markers. The method includes displaying on the touchscreen a time bar having a start pad and a stop region. The device receives a first input starting at the start pad and ending at a first location on the time bar and receives a second input starting at the stop region and ending at a second location. The device displays time markers at the first and second locations. The device identifies first and second times corresponding to the first and second locations. The device identifies and displays a time range based on the first and second times.

Abstract: Ticker functionality provides filtering and displaying information relevant to a user. The ticker can be employed to parse information from a broadcast stream and insert the information into a ticker display area. The information presented in the display area can be animated in order to maximize and control the amount of information available to the user. The information offered in the ticker is interactive so that it allows the user to customize this abbreviated data and how the data is presented.

Abstract: Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.

Abstract: A text input method in a portable device and a portable device supporting the same are provided. The portable device includes, a touch screen including a display unit for displaying a text input area and a text display area including at least one consonant and vowel, and a touch panel provided at an upper side of the display unit for generating a touch event, and a control unit for controlling text displayed according to a touch event generated from the touch screen, in which the control unit detects multi-touch events for at least two key icons output on the text input area, and controls the display of a specific text composed of a combination of the multi-touched key icons based on the detected multi-touch events.

Abstract: A user interface includes a tactile interface on a client device that allows users to interact with social networking system content in a manner that is optimized for touch screens and mobile devices. The tactile interface allows users to efficiently navigate the social networking system data as well as to capture new content for upload to the social networking system. New content may be captured in a way that allows the user to preview the content in-context.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying a communication log using a graphical user interface (GUI) image are provided. The apparatus for displaying a communication log using a GUI image includes a storage unit that stores information relating to events which have been generated through a mobile terminal as data, a statistical analysis unit that uses a statistical analysis application to analyze the data so as to obtain statistical data, and an output unit that outputs a GUI image in which a ranking of communication amounts of the mobile terminal is displayed using the statistical data.

Abstract: A medical device includes a gesture detector for detecting a gesture of a second device with respect to the medical device. The gesture is detected within a small time window. The medical device also includes an association gesture determiner for determining that the gesture is an association gesture for initiating a request to associate the medical device with the second device, and a device associator for associating the medical device with the second device based on the association gesture.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and a touchscreen device manipulating user-input elements are provided. Generally, manipulation includes identifying a predefined configuration associated with a request received from a user and/or application, deriving configuration settings from the predefined configuration, and transmitting the configuration settings to an electromechanical device that adjusts a portion of user-input elements to an extended orientation and activates a portion of user-input elements. In embodiments, the extended user-input elements positioned in the extended orientation are activated, while the remainder are set to an idle condition. Typically, the extended user-input elements produce outwardly-extending protrusions expressed at a flexible touchpad incorporated in the touchscreen device. These outwardly-extending protrusions may replicate keys of a standard keyboard and correspond with the presently-running application implemented on the touchscreen device.

Abstract: Techniques for sorting and filtering a list in a space-constrained viewing area are described. A filter widget and a list of items are displayed in a view of an electronic display screen. In response to user input selecting the filter widget, and without changing to a different view, a filter category overlay is displayed in the view to provide various selectable filter categories. In response to selection of a filter category, a visual depiction of the selected filter category is displayed in the view. The list of items is filtered according to the selected filter category and displayed in the view without changing to any other view. Subsequently added visual depictions are linearly stacked in the view. Further, a filter modification overlay, which provides selectable filtering attributes, is displayed upon selection of a visual depiction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for providing a mobile user interface on a mobile computing device. Specifically, among other things, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented infrastructure comprising: determining a virtual space; generating a display of at least a first portion of the virtual space; sensing a movement in real space of the mobile computing device; determining a change in position in real space of the mobile computing device based upon the sensed movement; determining whether the change in position is within a predefined boundary; and determining a viewing perspective of a second portion of the virtual space based upon the determined change in position of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for explicit filtering in ambiguous text entry. The invention provides embodiments including various explicit text entry methodologies, such as 2-key and long pressing. The invention also provides means for matching words in a database using build around methodology, stem locking methodology, word completion methodology, and n-gram searches.

Abstract: An information selecting apparatus includes a CPU and a controller capable of performing a direction input. An arbitrary item is selected from a plurality of items by a direction input by means of an analog joystick, for example. When it is determined that a predetermined series of direction input operations is performed, at least one item out of selection items is switched to another item.

Abstract: A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.

Abstract: A system and associated method for contextualizing a page turn in an electronic book pursuant to a snap gesture made by a user on a touch screen of a tablet device, as performed by an e-reader program running in the tablet device. The snap gesture is quantified with data elements including linger time and direction of the snap gesture. The quantified snap gesture is utilized in identifying a target page number to display on the touch screen responsive to at least one predefined data element of the quantified snap gesture such that the user is enabled to turn multiple pages of the electronic book by the snap gesture as turning multiple pages of a paper book.

Abstract: An interface updating method for touch screen and a multimedia electronic device are provided, which are used for solving the problem of how to update a display interface of a touch screen according to the slide operating characteristics of a controller. When the controller slides on the touch screen, the operating characteristics of the controller are determined based on the predetermined number of pixel point samples that the slide trail of the controller goes through at last. The interface is updated according to the operating characteristics of the controller. The interface adjustment visually obtains an effect corresponding to the movement of the controller.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an electronic message at a mobile device; displaying the electronic message in an electronic message user interface, the electronic message including sender information; determining a contact entry of an address book application associated with the sender information of the electronic message, the contact entry including physical address information; determining a geographic location of the mobile device; and displaying the contact entry on an address book application user interface, the displayed contact entry including proximity information indicating a distance from the device to the physical address of the contact entry.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for displaying visual information on an electronic display are provided. For example, rather than requiring a user to manually pan and zoom across visual information displayed on an electronic display, an electronic device may automatically display certain details of the visual information that are of interest to the user. One such method may include defining objects in visual information and detecting certain specific touch input gestures entered on the electronic display while the electronic display is displaying the visual information. When the touch input gestures are detected, the electronic device may automatically display a sequence of the objects of the visual information on the electronic display.

Abstract: In a large form-factor mobile electronic device having a touchscreen for receiving user thumb input actions via an operating system desktop to facilitate user-software interactions, a method of enabling single-handed user-software interactions, comprising the steps of: generating a single-handed utilization zone; positioning said single-handed utilization zone at a current detected thumb location on the touchscreen; rendering a proxy desktop within said zone, said proxy desktop providing substantially the same functionality of the operating system desktop of the large form-factor mobile electronic device and being conformed substantially in shape and size to a small form factor mobile electronic device to facilitate user familiarity with thumb stroke actions with the rendered touch screen desktop; and rendering an application interface within said zone upon receiving a generate application interface request.

Abstract: A computer-implemented user interface method for a computing device is disclosed. The method includes associating each of a plurality of telephone keys with a direction of each key relative to a center of a telephone keypad, receiving a contact from a user of the device at a location on a touchscreen display of a computing device and an input at a direction relative to the location of the user contact, and causing a telephone number to be entered on the computing device based on the direction of each key relative to the center of the telephone keypad corresponding to the direction relative to the location of the user contact.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying and interacting with messages are described. Messages are displayed using one of a number of different visualization schemes provided. A user can interact with messages or change the selected visualization scheme using gestures and the mapping of gestures to particular actions is different for different visualization schemes. In an embodiment the messages are received via integrated messaging channels and messages are classified using a number of properties. Each of the visualization schemes has a different way of graphically representing messages and each scheme is adapted to emphasize a different combination of message properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for dominant hand detection in a computing device such as a mobile computing device. A dominant hand preference of a user of the computing device is automatically detected. A user interface rendered by the computing device is automatically adapted based at least in part on the dominant hand preference.

Abstract: A method performed by a user device includes displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a touch screen, where the GUI includes a stack having a plurality of items. Each of the plurality of items is at least partially exposed to permit selection by a user, and each of the plurality of items includes content or provides access to content. The method further includes detecting an area of the touch screen that is touched by an instrument, and determining whether the touched area corresponds to an area of the stack or an area of one of the plurality of items. The method also includes determining a gesture corresponding to the touched area, performing an operation, corresponding to the gesture, on the stack or on the one of the plurality of items, and displaying, on the touch screen, content associated with the operation.

Abstract: A mobile terminal comprises a first touch screen and a controller. The controller provides the first touch screen with an information region that includes at least one information item and first and second control regions for controlling a display of the information region. The controller also controls a viewing perspective of the information region in response to a first touch input for the first control region, and controls at least one of the number or type of the at least one information item in response to a second touch input for the second control region. The controller may also control the information region to have a two-dimensional or three-dimensional viewing perspective in response to the first touch input.

Abstract: A method for providing payer information on a payer device includes providing a payer device that includes at least one physical state change component moveably coupled to the payer device. Payer information is received over a network. The payer information is then determined to be associated with a physical state change instruction in a non-transitory, machine-readable medium of the payer device. The at least one physical state change component is then actuated according to the physical state change instruction to provide the payer information to a payer by changing the physical state of the payer device.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting an interface to a user of a mobile device, the interface allowing a user to identify and select data that is to be transmitted to another mobile device. In some embodiments, the interface generated by the system allows the user to select data for transmission based on relationship associations. The relationship associations, for example, may include pre-defined groupings of data that are tailored to a specific relationship between the user and another person. Accordingly, the user may employ the interface to quickly locate data that would be appropriate to transmit given the particular relationship between the user and the person to receive the data. In some embodiments, the interface generated by the system allows the user to select data for transmission based on context associations. Individual context associations may contain a smaller subset of data corresponding to a specific relationship association.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.

Abstract: Display of and access to secure user-centric information via the construct of a channel grid framework serving as a desktop on a user device. Multiple authorized channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with respective portions of the secure user-centric information are implemented based on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the channels. Channel information is monitored to determine one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, based on one or more threshold conditions or parameters relating to the channel information. Actionable and/or non-actionable alerts may be generated on one or more authenticated user devices and/or other devices. Information relating to determination of one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data may be transmitted to various devices and/or stored for archival purposes.

Abstract: A display system and method of a portable phone using an external display device are provided, in which application data is displayed, a user input information presentation mode is activated while the application data is displayed, and a user input information corresponding to a signal is presented on the application data, if the signal is input in the user input information presentation mode.

Abstract: An audio playback positioning method. A processor retrieves audio data from a memory, divides a progress bar showing playback time of the audio data into segments, utilizes a length of a progress bar segment as a unit to perform playback skipping on the audio data, and retrieves an audio data segment through the skipping. The processor further divides a progress bar segment corresponding to the retrieved audio data segment into sub-segments in response to input operations, and utilizes the length of a sub-segment as a unit to perform playback skipping on the retrieved audio data segment to retrieve and perform playback operation on a target position thereon.

Abstract: This invention relates to method for presenting at least a part of a page, comprising at least partially dividing at least one page into a plurality of areas, presenting said plurality of areas in a first representation, making at least one area of said plurality of areas an active area, and in response to a user operation on said at least one active area, presenting at least one of said at least one active areas in a second representation. Said at least one page may be a Hypertext Markup Language HTML page, or a page of a text document, and said display may be integrated in a portable electronic device. The invention further relates to a device, a system, a computer program and a computer program product.

Abstract: A system that allows consumers to manage content and create audio/video presentations in a small portable media device, and to share media files with other users of small portable media devices, without requiring access to a computer.

Abstract: An object is associated with one or more controls in a software application. An object associated with a control determines the operation of the data entry user interface when the data entry user interface is being employed to enter data into the control. More particularly, the object may communicate interface e characteristics to a component that is responsible for providing the user interface to the user. Such a component may be, for example, a shared software module that renders the user interface on a display, receives input data from the user through the user interface, and routes the entered data to a designated destination. Alternately, the object itself may create a user interface having the specified characteristics.