Method for associating a group of applications with a specific shape

A method of displaying icons in a graphical user interface displayed on a touch screen of a portable electronic device. The method includes associating, with an electronic processor of the portable electronic device, a first subset of icons of a plurality of icons with a first selected gesture. The first selected gesture has a first shape. The method further includes detecting, with the touch screen and the electronic processor of the portable electronic device, whether the first selected gesture is made on the touch screen. The method further includes displaying, with the touch screen of the portable electronic device, the first subset of icons on the touch screen when the first selected gesture is detected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Touch screens are used in many computers and similar devices such as, for example, tablets and smart telephones. A touch screen is a display on which various visual outputs and a graphical user interface may be displayed. A touch screen is also an input device that is sensitive to contact from, for example, a stylus or a user's finger. Thus, a touch screen enables a user to interact with a device by touching (and selecting) pictures, words, icons, or other items displayed on the touch screen. Typically, multiple software applications are installed on touch-screen-equipped devices. For example, in a bring-your-own-device environment a smart telephone may include various software applications (or “apps”)—some for personal purposes and some for business purposes. Generally, each software application is represented by an application icon. It may be time-consuming for a user to search for a desired application icon when a certain application is desired to be run. Additionally, it may be important for the user to quickly launch the desired application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment provides a method of displaying icons in a graphical user interface displayed on a touch screen of a portable electronic device. In one example, the method includes associating, with an electronic processor of the portable electronic device, a first subset of icons of a plurality of icons with a first selected gesture. The first selected gesture has a first shape. The method further includes detecting, with the touch screen and the electronic processor of the portable electronic device, whether the first selected gesture is made on the touch screen. The method further includes displaying, with the touch screen of the portable electronic device, the first subset of icons on the touch screen when the first selected gesture is detected.

Another embodiment provides a portable electronic device. In one example, the portable electronic device includes a memory, a touch screen, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor associates a first subset of icons of a plurality of icons with a first selected gesture having a first shape. The electronic processor further detects whether the first selected gesture is made on the touch screen. When the first selected gesture is detected, the electronic processor controls the touch screen to display the first subset of icons on the touch screen.

Yet another embodiment provides a method of displaying icons on a touch screen of a portable electronic device. The method includes displaying on the touch screen a gesture input request indicating that a gesture be made on the touch screen. The method further includes reading the gesture from the touch screen and storing a representation of the gesture in a memory of the portable electronic device as a first selected gesture. The first selected gesture has a first shape. The method further includes displaying a plurality of icons on the touch screen. The method further includes displaying on the touch screen an icon selection request indicating that a selection from the plurality of icons be performed. The selection from the plurality of icons generates a first subset of icons. The method further includes reading an input on the touch screen and determining whether the input matches the first selected gesture. When the input matches the first selected gesture, the method further includes displaying the first subset of icons on the touch screen.

FIG. 1illustrates a portable electronic device100in one exemplary embodiment. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the portable electronic device100is a communication device, for example, a two-way radio or smart telephone. The portable electronic device100includes an electronic processor105and a memory110. The memory110may be a computer-readable, non-transitory memory device and may include one or more memory components such as, for example, a hard disk, Random-Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Flash, or other types of memory media. The electronic processor105communicates with the memory110to access computer-executable instructions stored on the memory110and to read and write data from and to the memory110. The instructions stored on the memory110are executed by the electronic processor105to provide, among other things, the functionality described below.

The portable electronic device100further includes a transceiver115. AlthoughFIG. 1shows one transceiver115, some embodiments of the portable electronic device100include more than one transceiver115. Alternatively, in addition to or in place of the transceiver115, some embodiments of the portable electronic device100include a separate transmitter and a separate receiver. The transceiver115may send data from the portable electronic device100to another device. The transceiver115may also receive data from another device. The electronic processor105may receive data from and send data to the transceiver115. The transceiver115may be implemented using various types of transceivers including, but not limited to, radio frequency modems, frequency modulation two-way radios, long-term evolution (LTE) transceivers, code division multiple access (CDMA) transceivers, Wi-Fi (i.e., IEEE 802.11x) modules, etc.

The electronic processor105is electrically coupled to a touch screen120. The touch screen120is a touch-sensitive display that includes both a display device (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen panel) and a user input device (e.g., the touch-sensitive component that detects contact by a stylus or finger). The electronic processor105may receive input signals from the touch screen120that are generated by a user of the portable electronic device100. The electronic processor105may also control the display of the touch screen120.

For example, as shown inFIG. 2, the electronic processor105may provide a graphical user interface205on the touch screen120of the portable electronic device100. InFIG. 2, a plurality of icons210is displayed in the graphical user interface205on the touch screen120.FIG. 2shows an example of a typical home screen on a portable electronic device100. The home screen acts as the main screen for the portable electronic device100and often includes a plurality of icons210that correspond to applications installed on the portable electronic device100. For example, to run a desired application, the corresponding icon of the desired application is selected on the touch screen120.

InFIG. 2, twenty icons are displayed on the home screen. The number of icons displayed on the home screen may be configurable by the user or a central identity, or, alternatively, may be preprogrammed by a manufacturer of the portable electronic device100. Thus, the number of icons displayed on the home screen may be any number of icons. The icons inFIG. 2are each labeled with a different letter to distinguish the icons from each other. Such a representation is merely exemplary. On the portable electronic device100, the icons may be represented by various images (i.e., an envelope for an e-mail application, a specific business logo for an application operated by the specific business, etc.). Additionally, the icons may be represented by other images including, but not limited to, a star, an officer badge, a traffic light, and railroad tracks. Any image or indication of an icon is within the scope of the invention.

The portable electronic device100may also include one or more buttons215that provide an input signal to the electronic processor105.FIG. 2also shows a hand220of the user with an extended finger222that may make a gesture on the touch screen120as described in more detail below. As mentioned in previous paragraphs, a gesture may be made on the touch screen120by a stylus, a pointer, and other similar objects. The touch screen120may detect that the gesture (i.e., the input) is made on the touch screen120and may send a signal associated with the gesture to the electronic processor105. The electronic processor105may determine the shape of the gesture (i.e., a path on the touch screen120that was made by the finger222) and perform a predetermined function based on the shape of the gesture. The gesture may be made by the user dragging finger222of the hand220to form a shape or symbol on the touch screen120(i.e., an approximate circle, an approximate oval, an approximate triangle, an approximate square, an approximate heart, an approximate cross, an approximate star, an approximate letter of an alphabet, etc.). In some embodiments, the gesture may include movements where the finger222touches the touch screen120and also leaves the touch screen120(e.g., movement that forms an “X” on the touch screen120or tapping in a predetermined manner on the touch screen120).

As illustrated by the flowchart ofFIG. 3, the electronic processor105may be configured to display a subset of icons in the graphical user interface205. At block305, the electronic processor105receives an input signal from the touch screen120that indicates that a configuration option was selected. At block310, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a gesture input request on the touch screen120. The gesture input request provides an indication that a gesture be made on the touch screen120. The user may make a selected gesture on the touch screen120in response to the gesture input request. At block315, the electronic processor105receives and stores in memory an input signal from the touch screen120associated with the selected gesture made on the touch screen120. The input signal may relate to a shape or a path that corresponds to the selected gesture made on the touch screen120.

At block320, the electronic processor105displays a plurality of icons210on the touch screen120and an icon selection request on the touch screen120. The icon selection request provides an indication that a selection from the plurality of icons210should be performed. The user may select one or more icons from the plurality of icons210in response to the icon selection request. The plurality of icons210displayed with the icon selection request may correspond to the icons shown on the home screen of the portable electronic device100(see e.g.,FIG. 2). In some embodiments, the plurality of icons210may correspond to all applications installed on the portable electronic device100. In such embodiments, the plurality of icons210may be displayed on numerous pages such that the touch screen120has to receive an input to show all icons (i.e., swiping the hand220across the touch screen120to view different pages of icons). While some icons may be associated with an application installed on the portable electronic device100as described in previous paragraphs, other icons may be associated with a contact or a plurality of contacts (i.e., talk groups) stored in memory110.

When displaying the icon selection request, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display information associated with the plurality of icons210in different formats. For example, icons associated with applications installed on the portable electronic device100may be displayed on the touch screen120in a similar manner as the icons that are displayed on the home screen (seeFIG. 2). Icons associated with contacts and talk groups may be displayed in a list on the touch screen120. When selecting icons, there may be soft buttons in the graphical user interface205that allow the type of icon that is displayed to be selected (i.e., application, contact, talk group, etc.) and the format in which the information is displayed to be selected (i.e., icon format or list format).

When at least one icon is selected, at block325, the electronic processor105reads the icons selected in response to the icon selection request to generate a selected subset of icons. At block330, the electronic processor105associates the selected subset of icons with the selected gesture so that the selected subset of icons may be displayed on the touch screen120when the selected gesture is made on the touch screen120.

FIG. 4Ashows a first selected gesture405being made. As shown inFIGS. 4B and 4C, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display a first subset of icons402of the plurality of icons210when the first selected gesture405is made on the touch screen120. For example,FIG. 4Ashows the finger222of hand220making the first selected gesture405having a first shape (in this case, an upward-oriented, open arrowhead shape). As indicated byFIG. 4B, the first selected gesture405begins near the bottom-left of the touch screen120, extends to the top-center of the touch screen120, and ends near the bottom-right of the touch screen120. The touch screen120detects that the first selected gesture405is made and sends a signal associated with the first selected gesture405to the electronic processor105. The electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the first subset of icons402of the plurality of icons210based on the signal associated with the first selected gesture405. For example,FIG. 4Cshows six icons of the plurality of icons210displayed in the graphical user interface205. Thus, the first subset of icons402includes icons A, E, I, L, M, and Q and is displayed in response to the first selected gesture405being made on the touch screen120.

FIG. 4Cshows each icon of the first subset of icons402in a larger size than the icons ofFIG. 4B. In some embodiments, the first subset of icons402is displayed at substantially the same size as the plurality of icons210displayed on the home screen.FIG. 4Calso shows an add soft button310and a configuration soft button315that will be explained in more detail below.

FIG. 5Ashows a second selected gesture505being made. As shown inFIGS. 5B and 5C, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display a second subset of icons502of the plurality of icons210when the second selected gesture505(in this case, a sideward-oriented, open arrowhead shape) is made on the touch screen120. For example,FIG. 5Ashows the finger222of hand220making the second selected gesture505. As indicated byFIG. 5B, the second selected gesture505begins near the top-left of the touch screen120, extends to the right-center of the touch screen120, and ends near the bottom-left of the touch screen120. The touch screen120detects that the second selected gesture505is made and sends a signal associated with the second selected gesture505to the electronic processor105. The electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the second subset of icons502of the plurality of icons210based on the signal associated with the second selected gesture505. For example,FIG. 5Cshows eight icons of the plurality of icons210displayed in the graphical user interface205. Thus, the second subset of icons502includes icons B, C, F, H, P, Q, S, and T and is displayed in response to the second selected gesture505being made on the touch screen120.

As indicated by icon Q inFIGS. 4C and 5C, in some embodiments, one or more icons may be included in one or more subsets of icons. Additionally, the memory110may store more than two selected gestures and corresponding subsets of icons. Furthermore, the selected gestures may be any shape, path, or action made by the hand220that may be detected by the touch screen120.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display a subset of icons in a shape substantially similar to the shape of a selected gesture.FIGS. 6B, 6C, 7B, and 7Cillustrate such embodiments. For example,FIG. 6Ashows a first selected gesture605being made.FIGS. 6B and 6Cillustrate the touch screen120displaying a first subset of icons602in response to detecting the first selected gesture605.FIG. 6Ashows the hand220making the first selected gesture605having a first shape. As indicted byFIG. 6B, the first selected gesture605begins near the left-center of the touch screen120and continues in a circular shape until the hand220reaches near the point at which the first selected gesture605was started. The first selected gesture605is in the shape of a circle. The touch screen120detects that the first selected gesture605is made and sends a signal associated with the first selected gesture605to the electronic processor105. The electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a first subset of icons602based on the signal associated with the first selected gesture605. For example,FIG. 6Cshows six icons of the plurality of icons210displayed in the graphical user interface205in a circular shape. The first subset of icons602includes icons A, F, G, K, O, and R and is displayed in response to the first selected gesture605being made on the touch screen120.

FIG. 7Ashows a second selected gesture705being made.FIGS. 7B and 7Cillustrate the touch screen120displaying a second subset of icons702in response to detecting the second selected gesture705.FIG. 7Ashows the hand220making the second selected gesture705having a second shape of an approximate “X.” As indicated byFIG. 7B, the second selected gesture705is made on the touch screen120. The touch screen120detects that the second selected gesture705is made and sends a signal associated with the second selected gesture705to the electronic processor105. The electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the second subset of icons702based on the signal associated with the second selected gesture705. For example,FIG. 7Cshows five icons of the plurality of icons210displayed in the graphical user interface205in substantially the shape of an “X.” The second subset of icons702includes icons B, D, K, Q, and L and is displayed in response to the second selected gesture705being made on the touch screen120.

As described in previous paragraphs and as indicated by icon K inFIGS. 6C and 7C, in some embodiments, one or more icons may be included in one or more subsets of icons. Additionally, the memory110may store more than two selected gestures and corresponding subsets of icons. Furthermore, the selected gestures may be any shape, path, or action made by the hand220that may be detected by the touch screen120.

FIGS. 8A and 8Billustrate further exemplary embodiments.FIG. 8Ashows a subset of icons displayed on the touch screen120in response to the touch screen120receiving a heart-shaped gesture from the hand220. As indicated by the icons805inFIG. 8A, in some embodiments, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display icons805that are each associated with a contact saved in memory110. For example, the heart-shaped gesture may be associated with icons805that correspond to personal contacts (i.e., telephone numbers or other contact information of friends and family). Other gestures may be associated with icons that correspond to other types of contacts (i.e., business contacts or public safety contacts). For example, a gesture in the shape of a cross may be associated with emergency icons (i.e., police station contact, hospital contact, etc.).

Additionally, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display icons that are each associated with a plurality of contacts (i.e., a talk group). Furthermore, as indicated by the icons inFIG. 8B, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display icons that are each associated with a one of an application, a contact, and/or a plurality of contacts. For example, the circular gesture inFIG. 8Bmay be associated with icons that correspond to public safety situations. Icon810may correspond to contact information for a commander. Icon815may correspond to contact information for a dispatcher. Icon820may correspond to contact information for a partner. Icons825,830, and835may correspond to different talk groups, each of which includes a plurality of contacts. Although not shown inFIG. 8B, an icon may also be displayed that corresponds to an application that has particular usefulness in public safety operations. Such applications may include, for example, dispatch information applications, incident history and reporting applications, surveillance video applications, facility and building blueprint and mapping applications, and suspect and criminal record applications, and the like.

Thus, icons corresponding to an application, a contact, and a plurality of contacts may be displayed in the same subset of icons on the touch screen120.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a subset of icons in a specified shape that may not be substantially similar to the shape of the gesture associated with the subset of icons. For example, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display the subset of icons in the shape of a star in response to determining that a circular gesture was made on the touch screen120. As stated in previous paragraphs with respect to other embodiments, the gestures may be any shape, path, or action made by the hand220that may be detected by the touch screen120. Furthermore, the shapes in which the subset icons is displayed are not limited by the examples provided herein.

FIG. 9illustrates a flowchart of a method900of controlling the touch screen120and adding icons to a stored subset of icons that are associated with a stored gesture. At block905, the electronic processor105determines that a stored gesture was made on the touch screen120. At block910, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the stored subset of icons associated with the stored gesture. At block915, the electronic processor105determines whether the add soft button410has been pressed on the touch screen120.

When the electronic processor105determines that the add soft button410has not been pressed, at block920the electronic processor105determines whether an icon was selected from the stored subset of icons being displayed on the touch screen120. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has been selected, at block925, the electronic processor105runs the application, displays contact or talk group information, or starts a call depending on whether the icon selected corresponds to an application, a contact, or a talk group. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has not been selected, the method900continues back to block915.

At block915, when the electronic processor105determines that the add soft button410has been pressed, at block930, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a plurality of icons and the icon selection request, as explained in previous paragraphs. The plurality of icons maybe displayed as described in previous paragraphs with respect to block320ofFIG. 3. At block935, the electronic processor105adds the selected icons to the stored subset of icons and the method900proceeds to block915.

FIG. 10illustrates a flowchart of a method1000of controlling the touch screen120and removing icons from a stored subset of icons that are associated with a stored gesture. At block1005, the electronic processor105determines that a stored gesture was made on the touch screen120. At block1010, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the stored subset of icons associated with the stored gesture. At block1015, the electronic processor105determines whether an icon has been pressed and held for a predetermined time on the touch screen120.

When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has not been pressed and held for a predetermined time, at block1020, the electronic processor105determines whether an icon was selected from the subset of icons being displayed on the touch screen120. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has been selected, at block1025, the electronic processor105runs the application, displays contact or talk group information, or starts a call depending on whether the icon selected corresponds to an application, a contact, or a talk group. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has not been selected, the method1000continues back to block1015.

At block1015, when the electronic processor105determines that an icon has been pressed and held for a predetermined time, at block1030, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a confirmation that the selected icon should be removed from the stored subset of icons. At block1035, when a “No” option is selected in response to the confirmation, the electronic processor105receives a corresponding signal from the touch screen120, does not remove the selected icon from the stored subset of icons, and the method1000proceeds back to block1015. When a “Yes” option is selected in response to the confirmation, at block1040, the electronic processor105receives a corresponding signal from the touch screen120, removes the selected icon from the stored subset of icons, and proceeds to block1015.

FIG. 11illustrates a method1100of controlling the touch screen120and storing a desired display format for the touch screen120to display a stored subset of icons. At block1105, the electronic processor105determines that a stored gesture was made on the touch screen120. At block1110, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display the stored subset of icons associated with the stored gesture. At block1115, the electronic processor105determines whether the configuration soft button415been pressed.

When the electronic processor105determines that the configuration soft button415been not been pressed, at block1120the electronic processor105determines whether an icon was selected from the subset of icons being displayed on the touch screen120. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has been selected, at block1125, the electronic processor105runs the application, displays contact or talk group information, or starts a call depending on whether the icon selected corresponds to an application, a contact, or a talk group. When the electronic processor105determines that an icon has not been selected, the method1100continues back to block1115.

At block1115, when the electronic processor105determines that the configuration soft button415has been pressed, at block1130, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to request that a desired display format be selected for the stored subset of icons (i.e., whether the stored subset of icons should be displayed in the shape of the stored gesture or should be displayed in table/list). At block1135, the electronic processor105stores the selected desired display format in memory110.

FIG. 12illustrates a method1200of remotely receiving settings related to a stored gesture and a stored subset of icons on the transceiver115of the portable electronic device100(i.e., group-defined gestures and associated subsets of icons). For example, an administrator at a public safety agency may send a stored gesture and associated stored subset of icons to employees of the public safety agency for use on the portable electronic device100of each employee. At block1205, a gesture and a subset of icons are stored in memory of a remote device in a similar manner as was described in previous paragraphs with respect to the portable electronic device100. At block1210, the remote device sends the stored gesture and stored subset of icons associated with the stored gesture to desired portable electronic devices100. In some embodiments, the remote device may be a portable electronic device100or another electronic device (i.e., a desktop computer).

At block1215, the desired portable electronic device100receives the stored gesture and stored subset of icons from the remote device. At block1220, the electronic processor105on the desired portable electronic device100determines whether there is a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture. When there is a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture, at block1225, the electronic processor105disassociates an already stored subset of icons from the stored gesture. At block1230, the electronic processor105stores the already stored subset of icons to be associated with a different, available gesture (i.e., a gesture that does not already have a subset of icons with which it is associated). At block1235, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a notification that the already stored subset of icons were disassociated from the stored gesture and associated with the different, available gesture. The method1200then proceeds to block1240.

At block1220, when there is not a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture, at block1240, the electronic processor105stores the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons from the remote device in memory110. At block1245, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a notification that the received stored gesture and the stored subset of icons were received from remote device and stored in the memory110.

FIG. 13illustrates another method1300of remotely receiving settings related to a stored gesture and a stored subset of icons on the transceiver115of the portable electronic device100. At block1305, a gesture and a subset of icons are stored in memory of a remote device in a similar manner as was described in previous paragraphs with respect to the portable electronic device100. At block1310, the remote device sends the stored gesture and stored subset of icons associated with the stored gesture to desired portable electronic devices100. In some embodiments, the remote device may be a portable electronic device100or another electronic device (i.e., a desktop computer).

At block1315, the desired portable electronic device100receives the stored gesture and stored subset of icons from the remote device. At block1320, the electronic processor105on the desired portable electronic device100determines whether there is a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture. When there is a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture, at block1325, the electronic processor105controls the touch screen120to display a confirmation that the already stored gesture and associated subset of icons should be overwritten in memory110by the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons.

At block1330, when the “Yes” option is selected in response to the confirmation, the electronic processor105receives a corresponding signal from the touch screen120, proceeds to block1335, and stores the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons from the remote device in memory110.

In some embodiments, the electronic processor105may preserve existing settings on the desired portable electronic device100before storing the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons. For example, when there is a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture, there is also an already stored subset of icons associated with the already stored gesture. To prevent the already stored subset of icons from being deleted by the received settings from the remote device, the electronic processor105may re-associate the already stored subset of icons with a different, available gesture (i.e., a gesture that does not already have a subset of icons with which it is associated). The electronic processor105may then control the touch screen120to display a notification that such re-association occurred. This process is similar to blocks1225,1230, and1235ofFIG. 12and is explained in previous paragraphs. In alternate embodiments, the electronic processor105may delete the already stored subset of icons from the memory110without re-associating the already stored subset of icons with a different, available gesture.

At block1330, when the “No” option is selected in response to the confirmation that the already stored gesture and associated subset of icons should be overwritten in memory110, at block1340, the electronic processor105receives a corresponding signal from the touch screen120, and discards the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons from the remote device. In some embodiments, the electronic processor105may control the transceiver115to communicate to the remote device that the stored gesture and stored subset of icons received from the remote device were not stored in the memory110of the portable electronic device100. At block1320, when there is not a stored gesture already in memory110that is substantially the same as the received stored gesture, the method1300proceeds to block1335.

In some embodiments, when the received stored gesture is not substantially the same as an already stored gesture in memory110, the electronic processor105may control the touch screen120to display a confirmation before storing the received stored gesture and stored subset of icons in memory110, as explained in previous paragraphs.

Additionally, in some embodiments, gestures and associated subsets of icons may be pre-programmed into the memory110of the portable electronic device100. The electronic processor105may execute methods900,1000,1100,1200, and1300in conjunction with each other while controlling the touch screen120to display a subset of icons.