Patent Publication Number: US-2012030627-A1

Title: Execution and display of applications

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to the execution and display of applications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern electronic apparatuses, such as mobile telephones, are capable of executing multiple software applications and in some instances are capable of executing multiple applications simultaneously. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect, this specification describes apparatus comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least: to store an identifier associated with a first application-type data item that is caused to be displayed during execution and display of a first application; and subsequent to removing the first application from the display, when executing a second application, automatically to cause a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed or automatically to cause to be displayed a selectable option, the selectable option being for causing a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. 
     According to a second aspect, this specification describes a method comprising: storing an identifier associated with a first application-type data item that is caused to be displayed during execution and display of a first application; and subsequent to removing the first application from the display, when executing a second application, automatically causing a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed or automatically causing to be displayed a selectable option, the selectable option being for causing a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. 
     According to a third aspect, this specification describes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus, during a communication session with remote apparatus: to store an identifier associated with a first application-type data item that is caused to be displayed during execution and display of a first application; and subsequent to removing the first application from the display, when executing a second application, automatically to cause a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed or automatically to cause to be displayed a selectable option, the selectable option being for causing a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. 
     This specification also describes computer readable instructions, which when executed by computing apparatus cause the computing apparatus to perform a method according to the second aspect. 
     This specification also describes apparatus comprising: means for storing an identifier associated with a first application-type data item that is caused to be displayed during execution and display of a first application; and means for automatically causing, subsequent to removing the first application from the display, when executing a second application, a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed or automatically causing to be displayed a selectable option, the selectable option being for causing a second application-type data item associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of electronic apparatus according to example embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2S  show the electronic apparatus of  FIG. 1  performing operations according to example embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  show the electronic apparatus of  FIG. 1  performing operations according to example embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4I  show the electronic apparatus of  FIG. 1  performing operations according to example embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting operations according to example embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the description and drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic of electronic apparatus  10  according to example embodiments of the present invention. The electronic apparatus  10  comprises a display unit  102 , a user interface  104 , a controller  106 , and a memory  108 . 
     The display unit  102  is operable to display visual information to a user of the electronic apparatus  10 . The user interface  104  is operable to receive user inputs from the user. The controller  106  is configured to receive from the user interface  104  signals indicative of user inputs received by the user interface  104 . The controller  106  is configured to alter the output of the display unit  102  based on the signals received from the user interface  104 . The controller  106  includes one or more processors  106 A operating under the control of computer-readable code  108 A stored in the memory  108 . The controller  106  may also comprise one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) (not shown). 
     The display unit  102  may comprise any suitable type of display, for example but not limited to, an LED display, a plasma display, LCD display or an OLED display. The user interface  104  may comprise a touch-sensitive transducer  104 , such as but not limited to a capacitive touch-sensitive panel and a resistive touch-sensitive panel, operable to receive touch inputs from the user. In such example embodiments, the touch-sensitive transducer  104  may be overlaid on the display unit  102  to form a touchscreen  102 ,  104 . Alternatively, the user interface  104  may comprise a different type of user interface  104 , such as a keypad, a scroll wheel, a track ball etc. 
     The memory  108  may comprise one or more distinct memory units. The one or more memory units may be of any suitable type. For example, the one or more memory  108  units may comprise non-transitory, removable or non-removable, memory media such as but not limited to ROM, RAM, EEPROM etc. or any combination thereof. 
       FIGS. 2A-2S  show operations of the electronic apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  according to example embodiments of the invention. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 2A-2S  and  FIGS. 3A-3C , the electronic apparatus  10  is a mobile telephone. However, it will be understood that the electronic apparatus  10  may be of another type, such as but not limited to, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a wearable computer, a digital music player etc. 
     In the examples of  FIGS. 2A-2S  and  FIGS. 3A-3C , the user interface  104  comprises a touch-sensitive transducer  104  overlaid on the display unit  102  to form a touchscreen  102 ,  104 . It will be appreciated however that, according to other example embodiments of the invention, the user interface  104  may be of a different type. 
     In  FIG. 2A , the controller  106 , under the control of computer-readable code  108 A, is causing the display unit  102  to display an array of icons  202 . Each of the array of icons  202  is selectable by a user by providing a touch input to the touch-sensitive transducer  104  at a location corresponding to the location on the display unit  102  at which the icon  202  is being displayed. Each of the icons represents an application. Thus the array of icons  202  forms an application menu for allowing a user to select an application for execution by the electronic apparatus  10 . Hereafter the array of icons  202  will be referred to as the “menu screen”. The applications comprise computer-readable code  108 A stored in the memory  108 A. As will be appreciated from the following description, the operations according to the invention may be caused to be performed by the computer-readable code of an operating system, by the computer-readable code of applications, by the computer-readable code of user interface software, or by any combination of these three. 
     Upon receipt of signals from the touch sensitive transducer  104  indicative of the user selection of one of the icons  202  displayed on the menu screen, the controller  106  is operable to cause an application associated with the selected icon  202  to be executed, run or launched. Following execution of a selected application, the controller  106  is operable to cause information generated by the application to be displayed on the display unit  102 . 
     In  FIG. 2B , the user of the electronic apparatus  10  applies a touch input to a region of the touch-sensitive transducer  104  which corresponds to a location on the display unit  102  at which an icon  202 - 1  representing a “contacts application” is being displayed. The “contacts application” may be one in which the user is able to view information about their contacts. 
     In response to receiving signals indicative of a selection of the contacts application, the controller  106  executes the contacts application and causes to be displayed on the display unit  102  information generated by the contacts application. 
     In the example of  FIG. 2C , the information generated by the contacts application comprises “contact information” relating to a single contact. In this example, the contact information comprises the name  204 , telephone number  206  and address  208  of a contact, “Carol Evans”. 
     The contact information for a particular contact may be termed a “contact application data item”. The contact application data item in this example comprises a contact&#39;s name, telephone number and address. Plural contact application data items may be stored in the memory  108  and may be identified and retrieved from, for example, a database  108 B stored in the memory  108 , using an identifier. The identifier may be, for example, the contact&#39;s name or a unique number associated with that contact. Thus, when executed by the controller  108 , the computer-readable code  108 A of the application is operable to identify a particular data item from the memory  108 , and to cause the data item to be displayed on the display unit  102 . 
     Also displayed by the contacts application are a “minimise” option icon  210 , an “exit” option icon  212  and a “set active contact” icon  214 . Each of these is selectable in response to a user input on a region of the touch-sensitive transducer  104  corresponding to a location of the display unit  102  at which the particular icon is displayed. 
     In response to receiving an indication of the selection of the “minimise” option icon  210 , the controller  106  is operable to cause the current application, in this example the contacts application, to be minimised, or removed from the screen, and the menu screen to be displayed. When the minimise option icon  210  is selected, the application is not exited but is instead kept running in the background. In response to receiving an indication indicative of selection of the “exit” option icon  212 , the controller  106  causes the current application to be exited and subsequently causes the menu screen to be displayed. 
     In  FIG. 2D , the user applies a touch input to the “set active contact” option icon  214 . In response to receiving signals indicative of this selection, the controller  106  causes the identifier associated with the contact application data item  204 ,  206 ,  208  currently being displayed on the display unit  102  to be stored in the memory  108 . This identifier may be stored in a dedicated field  108 C in the memory  108 . 
     Additionally, as can be seen in  FIG. 2E , the controller  106  may cause the appearance of the set active contact icon  214  to be altered. In the example of  FIG. 2 , prior to selection, the set active contact icon  214  comprises a white star in a white circle. After selection, the icon  214  comprises a black star in a white circle. This allows the user easily to recognise that the contact associated with the currently displayed contact application data item is the active contact. It will be appreciated that the icon comprising a star in a circle is an example only and that any other suitable type of indication may be used to indicate that a particular contact is an active contact. For example, this may include but is not limited to another type of icon, a coloured border around a contact&#39;s name or image, an audible indication, a tactile indication such as a vibration, or any combination of these. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2E , subsequent to selecting the contact associated with the currently displayed data item as the active contact, the user selects the minimise option icon  202 , which as can be seen in  FIG. 2F , causes the contact application to be minimised and the menu screen to be displayed. Alternatively, the same actions can be achieved by the user selecting a ‘menu’ input, which may exist for instance as a hardware key or as a touchscreen input outside of the area of the display that is allocated to the contacts application. It will, of course, be appreciated that the application may be removed from display in any suitable manner. 
     In  FIG. 2F , the user applies a touch input to an icon  202 - 2  associated with a second, different application, in this instance a “maps application”. 
     In response to receiving signals indicative of selection of the maps application, the controller  106  causes the maps application to be executed. As can be seen in  FIG. 2G , this causes mapping information generated by the maps application to be displayed on the display unit  102 . During initialisation of the maps application, the controller  106  checks the dedicated field  108 C in the memory  108  to determine if an identifier associated with an active contact is stored therein. If the field  108 C is empty, the controller  108  determines that the no active contact is set. In this example, the controller determines that an identifier associated with the contact “Carol Evans” is stored in the memory  108 . In response to determining this, the controller  106  causes a “map application data item” associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. In this example, the map application data item associated with the identifier comprises a picture  216  of Carol Evans which is located at a region of a map representing her current location. Her current location may be determined based on signals received from, for example, a server or a device associated with Carol Evans. As such, the data item may comprise a section of a map associated with the coordinates of Carol&#39;s current location. Alternatively, the map application could instead display a map of Carol&#39;s home address. Thus, the application may not need to receive coordinates from Carol&#39;s device or from a server, but could instead have the coordinates of Carol&#39;s home address pre-stored in the memory  108  and associated with the identifier representing Carol Evans. 
     It will thus be understood from the above that, during initialisation of an application, the controller  106  examines the memory  108 , for example the dedicated field  108 C to determine if an active contact is set. If the controller  106  finds that an identifier is stored in the dedicated field  108 C, it determines that an active contact is set. Subsequently, the controller  106  uses the stored identifier to identify a data item that is associated with the stored identifier from a plurality of data items associated with the application being initialised, which are stored in the database  108 B. Next, the controller  106  causes the data item associated with the identifier to be displayed on the display unit  102 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2G , also displayed by the map application is the set active contact icon  214 . As Carol Evans is currently set as the active contact, the appearance of the set active contact icon  214  is indicative of such. Next, as can be seen in  FIG. 2G , the user selects the exit option icon  212  which causes the map application to be exited. 
     Subsequently, as can be seen in  FIG. 2H , the menu screen is displayed. Next, the user applies a touch input to an icon  202 - 3  associated with a “messaging application”. In response to receiving signals indicative of the selection of the messaging application, the controller  106  causes the messaging application to be launched. 
     During the launching of the messaging application, the controller  106  checks the dedicated field  108 C to determine if an identifier is stored therein, thereby to determine if an active contact is set. In this example, Carol Evans is set as the active contact and thus an identifier associated with Carol Evans is stored in the dedicated field. As such, using the stored identifier associated with Carol Evans, the controller  106  causes “messaging application data items”  218  associated with the stored identifier to be identified. In this example, the messaging application data items  218  comprise messages received from Carol Evans. It will be understood that the messaging application data items alternatively or additionally may be, for example, messages sent to Carol Evans or draft messages to Carol Evans. Next, having identified the messaging application data items associated with the stored identifier, the controller  106 , under control of the computer-readable code  108 A, causes the identified messaging application data items  218  to be displayed on the display unit  102 . 
     According to some embodiments, the application may display only data items associated with the stored identifier (as was the case with the mapping application). Alternatively, as can be seen in  FIG. 2I , the application may display also data items which are not associated with the stored identifier. As such, in  FIG. 2I , the messages from Carol Evans are displayed in addition to messages from other contacts. The data items associated with the stored identifier may be displayed in a more prominent way than the other data items. For example, in  FIG. 2I , the messages received from the active contact, Carol Evans, are displayed at the top of a list of messages. Alternatively, the data items associated the stored identifier may be displayed more prominently than the other data items by, for example, highlighting or enlarging the data items associated with the stored identifier with respect to the other data items, using a bigger or different font for text related to the active contact, showing more text from messages associated with the active contact or by including additional image content associated with the active contact. The messaging application may also display the set active contact icon  214  to indicate that Carol Evans is the active contact. 
     Next, as can be seen in  FIG. 2I , the user selects the exit option which causes the messaging application to be exited and, as shown in  FIG. 2J , the menu screen to be displayed. 
     In  FIG. 2J , the user selects an icon  202 - 4  associated with a “gallery application”. A gallery application may be one in which still images, such as photographs, can be viewed by the user of the electronic apparatus  10 . In response to receiving signals indicative of selection of the gallery application icon  202 - 4 , the controller  106  launches the gallery application. During initialisation of the gallery application, a controller  106  determines, by examining the dedicated field  108 C, if an active icon  202  is set. As Carol Evans is set as the active contact, the controller  106  discovers that the identifier associated with Carol Evans is stored in dedicated field  108 C. Next, the controller  106  uses the stored identifier to identify “gallery application data items” associated with the stored identifier from plurality of gallery application data items stored in the memory  108 . In this example, the gallery application data items  220  comprise pictures received from Carol Evans. However, it will be understood that the gallery application data items associated with the stored identifier could alternatively be, for example, pictures including Carol Evans, as may be determined from tags included with the pictures. Following identification of the gallery application data items  220  associated with the stored identifier, the controller  106  causes these data items  220  to be displayed on the display unit  102 . 
     Also displayed by the gallery application is the set active contact icon  214  which indicates that Carol Evans is the active contact. In  FIG. 2L , the user applies a touch input to the set active contact icon  214 . In response to receiving signals indicative of selection of the set active contact icon  214 , the controller  106  removes the stored identifier associated with Carol Evans from the dedicated field  108 C in the memory  108 . Also, as can be seen in  FIG. 2M , the controller  106  causes the appearance of the set active contact icon  214  to be altered so that it indicates that Carol Evans is not set as the active contact. Thus, the black star on the set active contact icon  214  is replaced by a white star. It will be appreciated that the same can occur in respect of the same icon in other displays, for instance those shown in  FIGS. 2G and 2I . Next, the user selects the minimise option icon  210 , which causes the controller  106  cause the gallery application to be minimised and the menu screen to be displayed. 
     In  FIG. 2N , the user selects the messaging application icon  202 - 3 . In response to receiving an indication of the selection of the messaging application icon  202 - 3 , the controller  106  causes the messaging application to be launched. During initialisation of the messaging application, the controller  106  checks the dedicated field  108 C to determine if an active contact is set and determines that no identifier is stored in the dedicated filed  108 C and, thus, that an active contact is not set. In response to determining that no active contact is set, the controller  106  causes the messaging application to operate its usual manner and thereby to display, for example, most recently received messages as the most prominent messages. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2O , the messaging application also displays plural set active contact icons  214 , one for each contact. In this way, the user is able to select an active contact using the messaging application. As seen in  FIG. 2P , the user applies a touch input to one of the plurality of set active contact icons  214 . 
     In response to receiving indication of the selection of the set active contact icon  214 , the controller  106  causes an identifier associated with the active contact to be stored in the memory  108 . 
     In the example of  FIGS. 2P and 2Q , the active contact is “Megan Gagne”. Thus the controller  106  causes an identifier associated with the contact Megan Gagne to be stored in the memory  108 . The identifier may comprise the name Megan Gagne or a unique number or other identifier associated with the active contact. In addition, the controller  106  may cause the appearance of the set active contact icon  214  to be altered. 
     It will be understood that, although they were not shown in  FIG. 2I , other set active contact icons  214 , indicating that the associated contact is not the active contact, may be displayed in association with the other contacts which have associated data items displayed on the display unit  102 . The user may be able to change between active contacts by de-selecting the active contact and then selecting a set active contact icon  214  associated with a different contact. Thus, the controller  106 , in response to receiving de-selection of a currently active set active contact icon, deletes the stored identifier from the dedicated field. Subsequently, in response to an indication of selection of a new active contact, the controller  106  causes an identifier associated with the new active contact to be stored in the dedicated field  108 C. Alternatively, selection of the set active contact icon  214  of a new, non-active contact may cause the non-active contact to become the active contact and the previously active contact to become a non-active contact. Thus, in response to receiving indication of selection of a new active contact, the controller  106  causes the stored identifier associated with the previous active contact to be replaced in the dedicated field  108 C by identifier associated with the new active contact. 
     Next, returning to  FIG. 2Q , the user selects the exit option icon  212  which, as can be seen in  FIG. 2R , causes the messaging application to be exited and the menu screen to be displayed. 
     In  FIG. 2R , the user again selects the gallery application icon  202 - 4  from the menu screen. Thus, the controller  106  causes the gallery application to be launched. During initialisation of the gallery application, the controller  106  determines if an active contact is set. In this instance, the controller  106  determines, based on the identifier stored in the dedicated field  108 C, that the active contact is Megan Gagne. Using the stored identifier associated with Megan Gagne, the controller  106  identifies gallery application data items, in this instance pictures from Megan or pictures including Megan, and causes them to be displayed by the gallery application. 
     In the above examples, the user sets an active contact by selecting the set active contact icon  214 . However, it will be understood that an active contact may be set in any suitable way. For example, by applying a particular gesture, such as a “double-tap” touch input comprising two touch inputs in quick succession, to a region of the touch-sensitive transducer  104  which corresponds to a region of the display unit  102  upon which information relating to the contact they wish to set as the active contact is displayed. Alternatively, the gesture may not require actual physical contact with the touch screen. In one alternative example embodiment, a voice input may be utilised to the set the active contact. In other alternative embodiments, a gaze controlled user interface may be utilised to set the active contact. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  depict operations of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to example embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 3A , the contacts application is being executed and the contact application data item  204 ,  206 ,  208  associated with Carol Evans is being displayed. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3A , the user selects the minimise option icon  210 . In response to receiving an indication of the selection of the minimisation option icon  210 , the controller  106  causes an identifier associated with the contact application data item currently being displayed on in the display unit  102  automatically to be stored in the memory. The controller  106  then causes the contact application to be minimised and, as can be seen in  FIG. 3B , the menu screen to be displayed. Alternatively, the same actions can be achieved by the user selecting a ‘menu’ input, which may exist for instance as a hardware key or as a touchscreen input outside of the area of the display that is allocated to the contacts application. 
     In  FIG. 3B , the user applies a touch input to the icon  202 - 4  representing the gallery application. Thus, the controller  106  causes the gallery application to be launched. During initialisation of the gallery application, the controller  106  determines if an identifier associated with a contact has been stored in dedicated field  108 C of the memory  108 . In response to determining that an identifier representing an active contact has been stored in the memory  108 , the controller  106  causes gallery application data items associated with the stored identifier to be identified and displayed by the gallery application. Consequently, as can be seen in  FIG. 3C , the gallery application includes pictures associated with (e.g. of or received from) Carol Evans to be displayed. 
     Thus, from the example embodiments of  FIGS. 3A-3A , it will be understood that the controller  106  may not require an active user selection of a particular contact, but may instead automatically display data items in newly launched applications based on data items viewed in previously displayed applications. Also, although in  FIG. 3A  the user selects the minimise option icon  210 , the controller may also be operable to store the identifier associated with the currently displayed data items in response to receiving an indication of selection of the exit icon  210 . 
     The automatic displaying of data items based on data items displayed in previously executed application (as described with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3C ) may not be desirable to the user at all times and thus the user of the electronic apparatus  10  may be able to disable this functionality using, for example, a menu option, or a setting in a general settings part of the user interface. 
       FIGS. 4A-4I  depict operations of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to example embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 4A , the contacts application is being executed and the contact application data item  204 ,  206 ,  208  associated with Carol Evans is being displayed. The user selects the set active contact icon  214 , which causes an identifier associated with Carol Evans to be stored in the dedicated field  108 C of the memory  108 . Although not shown in  FIG. 4A , the appearance of the set active contact icon may be changed in order to indicate that Carol Evans is now the active contact. 
     Next, in  FIG. 4B  and following a user input (not shown) to cause the contacts application to be removed from the screen, the menu screen is displayed and the user selects the icon  202 - 4  associated with the gallery application. 
     In response to detection of the selection of the icon  202 - 4  associated with the gallery application, the apparatus  10  launches the gallery application. During launching of the gallery application, the controller  106  determines if an identifier is stored in the dedicated field. According to this example embodiment, as can be seen in  FIG. 4C , the controller  106  causes gallery-application-type data items, such as still images, to be displayed in a normal manner, for example based on an order in which the images were added to the gallery. However, in addition to this, the controller is responsive to a positive detection that an identifier is stored in the dedicated field  108 C to display a first selectable option  402  on the display  102 . The selectable option may, for example, include text indicating that selection of the selectable option will cause data items associated with the stored identifier (i.e. associated with the active contact) to be displayed. Thus, in the example of  FIG. 4C , as the stored identifier is associated with Carol Evans, the selectable option is an icon including the text “See Carol&#39;s Pictures”. It will be appreciated that the first selectable option  402  may alternatively take another form. 
     In  FIG. 4D , the user selects the first selectable option  402 . In response to the detection of this selection, the controller  106  causes data items  220  associated with the stored identifier to be displayed on the display  102 . Thus, in this example, as shown in  FIG. 4E , images of or from Carol Evans are caused to be displayed on the display  102 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4E , the display also indicates that the pictures displayed are associated with Carol Evans. Also, the first selectable option  402  is replaced by a second selectable option  404 . Selection of the second selectable option  404  causes the data items  220  associated with the stored identifier to be removed from the display  102 . In this example, the second selectable option  404  includes the text “Hide”. The controller  106  may also cause the set active contact icon  214  to be displayed. Selection of this icon may cause the currently active contact (i.e. Carol Evans) to be de-selected and, thus, the stored identifier associated with Carol Evans to be removed from the dedicated field  108 C. However, in this example the user does not select the second selectable option  404  or the set active contact icon  214 . Instead, although not shown in  FIG. 4E , the user causes the first application to be removed from the display  102  and, as shown in  FIG. 4F , the menu screen to be displayed. Subsequently, the user selects the icon  202 - 3  associated with the messaging application. 
     In response to selection of the icon  202 - 3  associated with the messing application, the controller  106  causes the messaging application to be launched. During initialisation of the messaging application, the controller  106  determines if an identifier is stored in the dedicated field. According to this example embodiment, as can be seen in  FIG. 4G , the controller  106  causes messaging application-type data items, such as received text messages, to be displayed in a normal manner, for example based on an order in which the messages were received at the apparatus  10 . In addition to this, the controller  106  is responsive to a positive detection that an identifier is stored in the dedicated field  108 C to display the first selectable option  402  on the display  102 . In this example, the first selectable option  402  is an icon including the text “See Carol&#39;s messages”. 
     In  FIG. 4G , the user selects the first selectable option  402 , and in response to this, the controller causes data items  218  (in this example, messages) associated with Carol Evans to displayed on the display  102 . In addition, the controller  106  causes the first selectable option  402  to be replaced by the second selectable option  404 . Also or alternatively, the controller  106  may cause the set active contact icon  214  to be displayed. In this instance, the set active contact icon  214  indicates that Carol Evans is the active contact. In  FIG. 4H , the user selects the second selectable option  404 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 4I , in response to selection of the second selectable option  404 , the controller  106  causes the data items  218  associated with the stored identifier to be removed from the display  102 . 
     The example embodiments described with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4I , provide an easy way for a user to cause data items associated with a particular contact to be displayed when navigating from application to application. However, as it may not always be appropriate for data items associated with the active contact to be displayed upon initiating a new application, these example embodiments allow the user to choose in an simple manner whether they wish for the data items associated with the active contact to be displayed. 
     It will be appreciated that certain aspects and elements of the example embodiments described with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2S ,  3 A to  3 C, and  FIG. 4A to 4I  may be combined. For example, it may be more appropriate for data items associated with the active contact to be displayed automatically for some applications, such as the gallery application, and for some applications, such the mapping application, it may be more appropriate to display the second selectable icon instead of automatically to the display the data items associated with the active contact. Also, although it is not shown in  FIG. 3C , the set active contact icon  214  may be displayed to indicate which is the active contact and to allow the active contact to be deselected. It will be appreciated that these are just examples of the elements and aspects that may be combined, and it will be understood that any compatible combination of elements described above may be utilised. 
     According to alternative embodiments, the user may be able to select more than one active contact simultaneously. In such embodiments, data items associated with each active contact may be displayed on the display unit  102  automatically. Alternatively, the data items associated with only one contact may be displayed on the display unit  102  at any one time and a simple scrolling system may be used to allow the data items associated with another active contact to be easily accessed. In other alternative example embodiments, only data items associated with both active contacts may be displayed. These may include data items, such as images which include both active contacts, or data items such as documents upon which both contacts have worked. 
     The above-described operations allow the user easily to view information which is of interest to them. Thus, the user does not need to navigate through menu systems in order to find such information. This reduces the number of inputs that must be applied by the user and potentially increases the lifespan of the hardware of, for example, the user interface  104 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting operations of the electronic apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  according to the example embodiments of the invention. In step S 1 , the controller  106  causes a first application to be launched. In the example of  FIG. 2A , the first application is a contact application. However, it will be understood that the first application might be another application such as the gallery application, the messaging application or the map application. 
     Next, in step S 2 , a first application type data item is caused to be displayed. In the example of  FIG. 2A , this comprises contact information  204 ,  206 ,  208 . Next, in step S 3 , the controller  106  receives an indication of a selection of an option to make a contact associated with the currently displayed data item the active contact. As described with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2S , this may be provided by selection of a displayed icon  214 , or by an input having a particular gesture type. 
     In response to the operation of step S 3 , the controller  106  causes an identifier associated with the displayed data item to be stored in the memory  108 , for example in the dedicated field  108 C of the memory  108 . 
     In step S 5 , the controller  106  receives a signal indicative of selection of a minimise option or an exit option. In step S 6 , in response to the operation of step S 5 , the controller  106  causes the first application to be minimised, exited or otherwise removed from the display unit  102  and the menu screen to be displayed. 
     Next, in step S 7 , an indication of the selection of a second application is received. In response to receiving selection of the second application, in step S 8 , the controller  106  causes the second application to be launched. In step S 9 , during initialisation of the second application, the controller  106  determines by examining, for example, the dedicated field  108 C of the memory if a contact is currently set as an active contact. 
     If a negative determination is reached in step S 9 , the operation proceeds to step S 10  in which, the controller  106  causes the second application to operate in its usual manner, for example, by displaying the most recently received second application-type data items. 
     If a positive determination is reached in step S 9 , the operation proceeds to step S 11 , in which second application-type data items which are associated with the stored identifier are identified from a plurality of second application-type data items. 
     In step S 12 , the controller  106  causes the identified second application type data items which are associated with the identifier to be displayed on the display unit  102 . Alternatively, in step S 12 , the controller may cause the first selectable option  402  to be displayed. In such embodiments, the controller is responsive to selection of the first selectable option to cause the data items associated with the stored identifier to be displayed. 
     It will be understood, that according to the example embodiments, some steps of the operation described with reference to  FIG. 4  may omitted and others may be re-ordered. For example, in the example embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3C , step S 3  of  FIG. 4  may be omitted and step S 4  may be performed after step S 5 . 
     According to some additional embodiments, the apparatus may be operable to store identifiers relating to deactivated contacts. Thus, when a contact is deactivated, for example in a manner similar to those described above in relation to setting an active contact, the apparatus may ensure that data items relating to deactivated contacts are not displayed on the display when executing a different application. Thus, an ex-partner of the user could be set as an inactive contact. When this has been done, when a new partner of the user is using the electronic apparatus  10 , data items relating to the ex-partner, such as photos, messages etc, would not be displayed. 
     It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to storing identifiers relating to active contacts. Thus, the identifier may be associated with another type of individual or entity. For example, the identifier may instead relate to a band or performer, whose songs or videos are played by a media player application (thus data items relating to that the band or performer are displayed on the display). Next, when a user navigates to a different application, data items associated with the band or performer may be displayed. These data items may include for example, in a gallery application, images of the band or performer, or in a mapping application the location of the band or performer&#39;s next performance. 
     Alternatively, the identifier may relate to a geographical location, such as a country. Thus, when a user is using a mapping application to view maps of, for example, England, an identifier associated with England may be stored. Subsequently, when a user navigates to another application such as the gallery application, images from a holiday to England may be caused to be displayed, or when navigating to a music player application, a list of songs by English performers may be displayed. It will be appreciated that these are non-limiting examples and that the skilled person would understand that the identifier may be associated with any number of different individuals or entities. 
     It should be realized that the foregoing embodiments should not be construed as limiting. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application. Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.