Computing device with improved user interface for applications

Abstract

The present invention offers a snap-shot view which brings together, in one summary window, a limited list of common functions and commonly accessed stored data which itself can be reached directly from the main menu listing some or all applications. This yields many advantages in ease and speed of navigation, particularly on small screen devices.

1 . A mobile telephone comprising a display screen, the mobile telephone being adapted to:
 display a plurality of items on the screen, each item corresponding to an application, the plurality of items arranged in a main view; and   responsive to a user input with respect to a first item of the plurality of items in the main view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone, the first item corresponding to a first application:
 display on the screen an application summary for the first application, the application summary comprising a list of at least one function that can be initiated within the first application, the list excluding at least one other function that can be initiated within the first application; and 
 responsive to a user input selecting a function in the displayed application summary, open the first application and initiate the selected function within the first application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , the mobile telephone being further adapted to:
 responsive to a user input selecting a second item of the plurality of items arranged in the main view, launch a second application;   display an application view corresponding to the launched second application, wherein the application view displays a plurality of data items;   responsive to a user input with respect to a first data item of the plurality of data items displayed in the application view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone:
 display on the screen a summary window for the first data item, the summary window comprising one or more of further information with respect to the first data item or a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item. 
   
     
     
         3 . The mobile telephone of  claim 2 , wherein the summary window comprises a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item, and wherein at least one function in the list can be initiated within a third application. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile telephone of  claim 3 , wherein responsive to a user input selecting a function in the displayed summary window, the mobile telephone is adapted to initiate the selected function within the third application. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile telephone of  claim 2 , wherein the mobile telephone is adapted to vary the contents of the application summary for the first application based on usage patterns of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , the mobile phone being further adapted to:
 launch the first application from the main view;   display an application view corresponding to the launched first application, wherein the application view displays a plurality of data items;   responsive to a user input with respect to a first data item of the plurality of data items displayed in the application view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone:
 display on the screen a summary window for the first data item, the summary window comprising one or more of further information with respect to the first data item or a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item. 
   
     
     
         7 . The mobile telephone of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile telephone is adapted to vary the contents of the application summary for the first application based on usage patterns of a user. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of items in the main view comprises at least one of a name associated with a corresponding application and an icon associated with the corresponding application. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed application summary for the first application overlies at least a second item in the main view, the second item corresponding to a second application. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone is adapted to vary contents of the application summary for the first application according to a current environment external to the mobile telephone. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile telephone of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile telephone further comprises Bluetooth communications capability;
 and wherein the contents of the application summary for the first application varying according to the current environment comprises a list of other devices with Bluetooth capability in the vicinity of the mobile telephone.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone is adapted to vary contents of the application summary for the first application based on usage patterns of a user. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed application summary for the first application further comprises data of at least one stored data type accessible within the first application when opened. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone is adapted to, responsive to the user input selecting the function in the displayed application summary, open the first application and initiate the selected function within the first application without an intervening further user input. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of items on a display screen of a mobile telephone, each item corresponding to an application, the plurality of items arranged in a main view; and   responsive to a user input with respect to a first item of the plurality of items in the main view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone, the first item corresponding to a first application:
 displaying on the display screen an application summary for the first application, the application summary comprising a list of at least one function that can be initiated within the first application, the list excluding at least one other function that can be initiated within the first application; and 
 responsive to a user input selecting a function in the displayed application summary, opening the first application and initiating the selected function within the first application. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 launching a second application corresponding to a selected item of the plurality of items arranged in the main view;   displaying on the display screen an application view corresponding to the launched second application, wherein the application view displays a plurality of data items;   responsive to a user input with respect to a first data item of the plurality of data items in the application view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone:
 displaying on the display screen a summary window for the first data item, the summary window comprising one or more of further information with respect to the first data item or a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the summary window comprises a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item, and wherein at least one function in the list can be initiated within a third application. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 responsive to a user input selecting a function in the displayed summary window, initiating the selected function within the third application.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 launching the first application from the main view;   displaying on the display screen an application view corresponding to the launched first application, wherein the application view displays a plurality of data items;   responsive to a user input with respect to a first data item of the plurality of data items in the application view, the user input comprising a press and hold of a select function of the mobile telephone:
 displaying on the display screen a summary window for the first data item, the summary window comprising one or more of further information with respect to the first data item or a list of at least one function that can be initiated with respect to the first data item. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of items in the main view comprises at least one of a name associated with a corresponding application and an icon associated with the corresponding application. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the displayed application summary for the first application overlies at least a second item in the main view, the second item corresponding to a second application. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the contents of the application summary for the first application vary according to a current environment external to the mobile telephone. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the mobile telephone further comprises Bluetooth communications capability;
 and wherein the application summary for the first application comprises a list of other devices with Bluetooth capability in the vicinity of the mobile telephone.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the contents of the application summary for the first application are varied based on usage patterns of a user. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the displayed application summary for the first application further comprises data of at least one stored data type accessible within the first application when opened. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 responsive to the user input selecting the function in the displayed application summary, opening the first application and initiating the selected function within the first application without an intervening further user input.