Patent Publication Number: US-2012040656-A1

Title: Electronic device and method for controlling the working mode thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device and a method for controlling the working mode of the electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     When at home, at work, or on the way between home and work, a portable electronic device is usually employed for facilitating entertainment, such as reading news, enjoying movies or music, or doing business, such as video meeting, or document sharing. However, the user can only use one working mode of the electronic device. Thus, a smart electronic device is needed to facilitate the control of the working mode of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block view of an electronic device in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block view of a meeting UI module. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the meeting UI on a desktop of a display. 
         FIG. 4  to  FIG. 9  are exemplarily views showing other UI on the desktop of the display. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing a switch rule table of working mode of the electronic device in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of a method, according to one embodiment, for controlling the working mode of the electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming languages such as Java, C, or Assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It is noteworthy, that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and programmable units such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, an electronic device includes a display  10 , a processor  20 , a location-positioning module  30 , a timer  40  and a storage unit  60 . The electronic device may be a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone. The display  10  may be a touch-sensitive display. The storage unit  60  includes a plurality of user interface (UI) modules  62 , and a mode switch module  64 . 
     A working mode of the electronic device can be invoked by one of UI modules from the plurality of UI modules  62 . The plurality of UI modules may include a meeting UI module, a meditation UI module, a reading UI module, a social UI module, a document UI module, an entertainment UI module and a silence module. Each UI module may facilitate the user to access different functions of the electronic device. Each of the plurality of UI modules can be different in appearance when displayed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, take the meeting UI module for example, the meeting UI module may include a meeting information display sub-module and an application control sub-module. The meeting UI module can be executed by the processor  20  to establish a meeting UI on the display  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a display meeting subject item, an attendee contact list and a file list are displayed on the meeting UI on a desktop of the display  10 . The display meeting subject item, the attendee contact list and the file list are established by executing the meeting information display sub-module by the processor  20 . The display meeting subject item displays information of a present or a forthcoming meeting subject or agenda. The attendee contact list may display abstract attendee information of the meeting. Detail attendee contact list may be shown when the attendee contact list is pressed. The detail attendee contact list may include email address list, or telephone number list. The detail attendee contact list may include a public attendee contact list and a private attendee contact list. An “Edit” button severs to edit the attendee contact list. 
     In one embodiment, the location-positioning module  30  may detect the location through a globe-positioning sub-module. The globe-positioning sub-module may detect the location of the electronic device through navigation satellites or other known means. The electronic device then may invoke the corresponding UI module, so that the current working mode may be changed to a new working mode depend on the corresponding UI module. For example, when a place within the company is detected, the meeting UI module may be invoked to display a meeting UI. When a place at home is detected, the entertainment UI module may be invoked to display an entertainment UI. 
     In one embodiment, the location-positioning module  30  may detect the location through an accessible wireless network connection device instead of globe-positioning sub-module. The accessible wireless connection device may be one of a plurality of wireless connection devices at work or at home. If no wireless devices or another wireless device is detected, the location may be recognized as on the way home or the way to work. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 9 , other exemplarily UI&#39;s are shown on the display  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in one embodiment, the timer  40  may calculate and record the current time. The timer  40  may be a clock. When the time corresponds to an event and one registered network connection device is detected, the electronic device may invoke a corresponding the corresponding UI module. One switch rule is shown in  FIG. 10  in one embodiment. The location-positioning module  30  may enter a working mode based on either the location, the time, or the location and the time corporately. 
     Alternatively, if the location is detected through the globe-positioning sub-module, a manner of wireless connection may be selected from an accessible wireless connection list based on the location, for example, when home is detected, the home Wi-Fi network is considered to be used irrespective of mobile network. In this way, the plurality of working modes may use a different network selected from Wi-Fi network and mobile phone network. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a computer-implemented method for controlling the working mode of an electronic device may include the following steps: 
     Block B 20 , detecting the location by the location-positioning module. 
     Block B 22 , determining the time by the timer. 
     Block B 24 , entering a working mode based on the location, the time, or both the location and the time. 
     Block B 26 , displaying a user interface (UI) corresponding to the working mode. Labeling the current working mode by UI. 
     While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. 
     Depending on the embodiment, certain steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.