Sean T Congden

US Patent:

20210278956, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 24, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/211059

Inventors:

- Seattle WA, US
Arnaud Marie Froment - San Jose CA, US
Gy Stuart Fullmer - Santa Cruz CA, US
Sean Thomas Congden - Mountain View CA, US
Brett Nathan Lynnes - Sunnyvale CA, US
Nadim Awad - San Francisco CA, US
Kenneth Paul Kiraly - Menlo Park CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/0481
G06F 3/0488
G06F 3/0482

Abstract:

Users can switch between applications using contextual interface elements. These elements can include icons for applications determined to likely be accessed by the user for a current context. Information is gathered to determine the current context, then information such as patterns of historical usage are utilized to determine and rank the applications by likelihood of use. Different contexts can include different icons, and a given context can include different icons for different points in time or locations. A user can access a contextual interface element by performing a swipe motion, for example. The user can continue the motion to an area associated with an icon of interest, and perform an action such as a tap or release to cause the associated application to be launched. Such an approach enables a user to quickly and easily launch another application independent of the application currently active on the device.

US Patent:

20190369842, Dec 5, 2019

Filed:

Apr 12, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/383180

Inventors:

- Seattle WA, US
Arnaud Marie Froment - San Jose CA, US
Gy Stuart Fullmer - Santa Cruz CA, US
Sean Thomas Congden - Mountain View CA, US
Brett Nathan Lynnes - Sunnyvale CA, US
Nadim Awad - San Francisco CA, US
Kenneth Paul Kiraly - Menlo Park CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/0481

Abstract:

Users can switch between applications using contextual interface elements. These elements can include icons for applications determined to likely be accessed by the user for a current context. Information is gathered to determine the current context, then information such as patterns of historical usage are utilized to determine and rank the applications by likelihood of use. Different contexts can include different icons, and a given context can include different icons for different points in time or locations. A user can access a contextual interface element by performing a swipe motion, for example. The user can continue the motion to an area associated with an icon of interest, and perform an action such as a tap or release to cause the associated application to be launched. Such an approach enables a user to quickly and easily launch another application independent of the application currently active on the device.