Abstract:
A system and method for providing a three-dimensional object on a display of an electronic device when the electronic device is in an idle mode. The three-dimensional object enables a user to both view and manipulate more material than would otherwise be available while the device is in an idle mode. The three-dimensional object can be customized by the user so that material of particular interest to the user appears when the device is in the idle mode.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to electronic devices including an idle mode. More particularly, the present invention relates to material that appears on an electronic device during such idle modes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In addition to other functions, in many instances certain graphics will appear on a device display when the device is in an idle mode. As a base level, the display may, by default, include a manufacturer or supplier&#39;s logo when the device is in an idle mode. Additionally, individual software or hardware manufacturers or distributors may include more advanced graphics, changing images, or other features on the display when the device is idle.  
         [0003]     In addition to the above, it may also be desirable to exhibit useful information to the user when the device is in an idle mode. For example, some conventional systems permit a user to observe items such as upcoming appointments when the device is in an idle mode. In some systems, the user is actually capable of manipulating information shown in the idle mode. In these “active idle” systems, a user may be able to mark off appointment reminders or perform similar actions.  
         [0004]     Although conventional systems are moderately useful, they suffer from a number of drawbacks. Due to the limited amount of space available on a device display, many conventional systems are quite limited in what they are capable of exhibiting on the display when in a safe mode, and what can be manipulated by the user in “active idle” systems. For example, although European Patent No. 1,206,730 B1, granted on Jan. 14, 2004, describes a system where calendar unique messages can be automatically displayed corresponding to particular calendar dates when the system is in a “standby” mode, it does not provide the ability to display a wide variety of information at a single time, nor does it provide the user with the ability to manipulate the displayed information once it has appeared, instead only providing the user with the ability to customize information before it is displayed. In systems where such information is not shown, there is even less of a benefit to a user, as no useful information is being displayed when the device is in idle mode.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention involves a system and method for having a three-dimensional object appear on a display when an associated electronic device is in an idle mode. By exhibiting a three-dimensional object in idle mode, a user is capable of viewing more content during the idle mode than is possible using conventional systems, making the display much more useful to the user when the device is in the idle mode by enabling a user to both view and manipulate additional material, providing enhanced data handling for the user and providing improved data management.  
         [0006]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawings described below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile telephone that can be used in the implementation of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the telephone circuitry of the mobile telephone of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an image of a display for a device in idle mode, including a three-dimensional object according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the process for the implementation of a three-dimensional idle object according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show one representative mobile telephone  12  upon which the present invention may be implemented. However, it is important to note that the present invention is not limited to any type of electronic device and could be incorporated into devices such as personal digital assistants, personal computers, and other devices. It should be understood that the present invention could be incorporated on a wide variety of mobile telephones  12 . The mobile telephone  12  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a housing  30 , a display  32  in the form of a liquid crystal display, a keypad  34 , a microphone  36 , an ear-piece  38 , a battery  40 , an infrared port  42 , an antenna  44 , a smart card  46  in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) according to one embodiment of the invention, a card reader  48 , radio interface circuitry  52 , codec circuitry  54 , a controller  56  and a memory  58 . It should be noted that the controller  56  can be the same unit or a different unit than the camera processor  16 . Individual circuits and elements are all of a type well known in the art, for example in the Nokia range of mobile telephones.  
         [0012]     Many currently-manufactured mobile phones, like other electronic devices, have an “idle mode.” An idle mode of a mobile telephone is a basic mode where a user in current implementations can, for example, initiate a phone call or other functions. An idle mode may also present information such as upcoming calendar events, missed or received calls and/or some other information that might be of interest to the user. As used herein, the term “idle mode” refers to a mode where the system, though for some users seemingly even in an inactive state, will react to activity generated by the electronic device. This is in contrast to programs such as “screen savers,” where events generated by the electronic device do not cause the screen saver to disappear or to stop operating.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a representative display showing one implementation of the present invention. In the display  32  of  FIG. 3 , a three-dimensional object  100  is shown superimposed over the screen layout  110 . The three-dimensional object  100  shown in  FIG. 3  is cube-shaped. However, the three-dimensional object  100  can take a virtually unlimited variety of shapes, including, but not limited, to spherical, spheroidal, trapezoidal, triangular, rectangular-shapes, as well as shapes of everyday objects such as books, houses, appliances, etc.  
         [0014]     The three-dimensional object  100  of  FIG. 3  includes a plurality of sides that are viewable and/or manipulable by the user. For example, a first side  120  of the three-dimensional object  100  includes a clock  130  showing the current time. The first side  120 , in this particular embodiment, also includes an indicator  140  that can be used in the event that the current time coincides with a planned appointment. The second side  150  of the three-dimensional object  100  includes a plurality of input buttons  160  to permit a user to use a media content player. The media content player could also present information such as the name of a song that is playing, or other information.  
         [0015]     A wide variety of features, functions, and applications can be placed on the various sides or surfaces of the three-dimensional object  100 . By example only, these items may include text documents, clocks, calendars, spreadsheets, graphic images, video clips, animations, application-in-progress screens for firewall, anti-virus, anti-spy-ware and anti-spam applications, distributed computing project screens, electronic mailboxes, instant message-related screens, weather information, financial information, a user&#39;s “to do” list, contact information, service advertisements, product advertisements, sponsor advertisements, user interface components, views and other items. These various features or applications can be set by the user, or they could be selected by a hardware, software or content provider or advertiser.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment of the invention, corresponding to “active idle” systems, the three-dimensional object  100  is movable and/or manipulable by the user. For example, the user could use a mouse, keyboard, or other input device to rotate the three-dimensional object  100  such that other sides are visible to the user. The user could also use the same input devices to initiate functions or manipulate items appearing on the three-dimensional object  100 . For example, the user could use the input devices to press any of the input buttons  160  to start, stop, or alter a media program through the second side  150  of the three-dimensional object  100 , or he could reset the clock  130  on the first side  120 .  
         [0017]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the user is also provided with the ability to modify the three-dimensional object  100 . For example, the user can change the shape, color or size of the three-dimensional object  100 . In another embodiment, the user can customize the content appearing on the three-dimensional object  100 . For example, the user can choose the applications or features that appear on various portions of the three-dimensional object  100 , as well as customizing how an application or feature appears to the user. In these instances, the three-dimensional object  100  serves as a true active user interface object for use by the user when the device at issue is in an idle mode. Alternatively, the user can download the three-dimensional object  100  from a remote server, or the three-dimensional object  100  could be provided as part of a service that whose options can be customized by the user.  
         [0018]     In addition to the above, various properties of the three-dimensional object  100  can be automatically modified or altered based upon the occurrence of a certain activity. For example, the system of the present invention can include a setting that alters the three-dimensional object  100  at designated time intervals (such as every hour) or alters the position of the three-dimensional object  100 . Altering the position of the three-dimensional object  100  can also be associated with individual functions presented on the various sides of the three-dimensional object. As an example, the three-dimensional object  100  can automatically alter its position to a side having a calendar whenever a calendar alert appears, and a change in color or some form of movement on that side is also possible. Similarly, when a user receives a text message, a side of the three-dimensional object  100  having contact information can be moved or altered, and similar actions can be used for a side having a media player when a song is played.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a basic flow chart showing a process for implementing the present invention. At step  200 , it is determined or checked whether an electronic device is in an idle mode. It is also possible that she step of determining or checking is skipped so that providing the three-dimensional object  100  on a display is applied without any checking procedures. At step  210 , if the electronic device is in an idle mode, the three-dimensional object  100  appears on the display  32 . Although steps  200  and  210  are shown sequentially, it is possible for these steps to occur substantially simultaneously. The user is capable of altering the position of the three-dimensional object  100  (at step  220 ), resizing the three-dimensional object  100  (at step  230 ), changing the color of the three-dimensional object  100  (at step  240 ) or reshaping the three-dimensional object  100  (at step  250 ). The user may also customize the features shown on the three-dimensional object  100  (at step  260 ) in a variety of manners as discussed above. These actions can occur either when the device is in idle mode or when it is in an active mode depending upon the particular embodiment of the invention. The device, when in idle mode, can also provide an indication to a user of an event or when a change occurs in any of the features that are displayed on the three-dimensional object  100 . This is represented at step  270 .  
         [0020]     The present invention is described in the general context of method steps, which may be implemented in one embodiment by a program product including computer-executable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.  
         [0021]     Software and web implementations of the present invention could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule based logic and other logic to accomplish the various database searching steps, correlation steps, comparison steps and decision steps. It should also be noted that the words “component” and “module” as used herein, and in the claims, is intended to encompass implementations using one or more lines of software code, and/or hardware implementations, and/or equipment for receiving manual inputs.  
         [0022]     The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.