Next application suggestions on a user device

Abstract

Methods and systems are presented for providing suggested next applications to open after a first application is opened on a user device (e.g., a mobile device). A list of next application suggestions may be generated based on past applications successively opened after respective openings of the first application. The list of next application suggestions may also be generated based on retrieved, shared data and third party data. The list of next application suggestions may be displayed on a user interface while first application is running, so that the user may select a next application to run without needing to return to a home or multi-tasking screen.

1 . A method for displaying next application suggestions on a user device, the method comprising:
 executing a first software application using a processor of the user device, the first software application stored in a memory of the user device, where the memory of the user device also stores a plurality of secondary software applications that are distinct from the first software application;   receiving a trigger input at the user device during execution of the first software application;   generating a first set of suggested software applications, the first set of suggested software applications identifying at least a subset of the plurality of secondary software applications, the subset determined based at least on historical data stored in the memory of the user device, the historical data identifying software applications that are most often executed directly after the execution of the first software application;   displaying a set of launch portals associated with each suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications at the user device in response to the receipt of the trigger input, wherein each launch portal of the set of launch portals executes its associated suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications in response to receipt of a launch portal input;   receiving a customization input at the user device; and   removing a first suggested software application from the displayed first set of suggested software applications in response to the customization input.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second customization input at the user device; and   adding a second suggested software application to the displayed first set of suggested software applications in response to the second customization input, the second suggested software application being one of the plurality of secondary software applications.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first launch portal input associated with a third suggested software application of the displayed first set of suggested software applications; and   launching the third suggested software application in response to the first launch portal input.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the historical data is based on a plurality of launch counts, where each launch count of the plurality of launch counts identifies the number of times that a secondary software application of the plurality of secondary software applications has been launched immediately following use of the first software application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein displaying the set of launch portals includes determining a display order of the set of launch portals based on a ranking of the plurality of launch counts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger input includes a depression of an electromechanical button. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each launch portal is visually represented by at least one of an icon or a link. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the set of launch portals includes arranging the set of launch portals in the form of at least one of a list or a toolbar. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a third customization input at the user device; and   editing the first set of suggested software applications to remove any suggested software applications that are not multi-tasking applications in response to the third customization input.   
     
     
         10 . A system for displaying next application suggestions on a user device, the method comprising:
 a memory of the user device; and   a processor of the user device, wherein execution of instructions stored in the memory by the processor:
 executes a first software application using a processor of the user device, the first software application stored in a memory of the user device, where the memory of the user device also stores a plurality of secondary software applications that are distinct from the first software application, 
 receives a trigger input at the user device during execution of the first software application, 
 generates a first set of suggested software applications, the first set of suggested software applications identifying at least a subset of the plurality of secondary software applications, the subset determined based at least on historical data stored in the memory of the user device, the historical data identifying software applications that are most often executed directly after the execution of the first software application, 
 displays a set of launch portals associated with each suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications at the user device in response to the receipt of the trigger input, wherein each launch portal of the set of launch portals executes its associated suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications in response to receipt of a launch portal input, 
 receives a customization input at the user device, and 
 removes a first suggested software application from the displayed first set of suggested software applications in response to the customization input. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further:
 receives a second customization input at the user device, and   adds a second suggested software application to the displayed first set of suggested software applications in response to the second customization input, the second suggested software application being one of the plurality of secondary software applications.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further:
 receives a first launch portal input associated with a third suggested software application of the displayed first set of suggested software applications, and   launches the third suggested software application in response to the first launch portal input.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the historical data is based on a plurality of launch counts stored in the memory, where each launch count of the plurality of launch counts identifies the number of times that a secondary software application of the plurality of secondary software applications has been launched immediately following use of the first software application. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor determines a display order of the set of launch portals based on a ranking of the plurality of launch counts before displaying the set of launch portals. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an electromechanical button, wherein the trigger input includes a depression of the electromechanical button. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each launch portal is visually represented by at least one of an icon or a link. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor displays the set of launch portals in the form of at least one of a list or a toolbar. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions by the processor further:
 receives a third customization input at the user device, and   edits the first set of suggested software applications to remove any suggested software applications that are not multi-tasking applications in response to the third customization input.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for displaying next application suggestions on a user device, the method comprising:
 executing a first software application using a processor of the user device, the first software application stored in a memory of the user device, where the memory of the user device also stores a plurality of secondary software applications that are distinct from the first software application;   receiving a trigger input at the user device during execution of the first software application;   generating a first set of suggested software applications, the first set of suggested software applications identifying at least a subset of the plurality of secondary software applications, the subset determined based at least on historical data stored in the memory of the user device, the historical data identifying software applications that are most often executed directly after the execution of the first software application;   displaying a set of launch portals associated with each suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications at the user device in response to the receipt of the trigger input, wherein each launch portal of the set of launch portals executes its associated suggested software application of the first set of suggested software applications in response to receipt of a launch portal input;   receiving a customization input at the user device; and   removing a first suggested software application from the displayed first set of suggested software applications in response to the customization input.