Adaptively displaying application output

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10074157-B2
Application number	US-201715671022-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2017
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A method is implemented at an electronic device for displaying output from an application on a fixed orientation display. The electronic device includes a display module and an application that are distinct from each other. The application sends a request to display output from the application in a second orientation with second dimensions, and receives from the electronic device information indicating that a display associated with the electronic device is a fixed orientation display with a first orientation and first dimensions. The application then determines a standard aspect ratio designated for a type of the first application. The output from the application is thereby scaled based on the standard aspect ratio and the first dimensions of the target display device for display by the display module on the fixed orientation display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of displaying output from a first application on a fixed orientation display having a first orientation and first dimensions, comprising:
at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the electronic device including a display module for enabling display on the fixed orientation display, wherein the first application is distinct from the display module and configured to display its output in a predetermined second orientation with predetermined second dimensions:
sending by the first application to the display module a request to display output from the first application in the second orientation with the second dimensions;
in response to sending the request, receiving by the first application from the display module information concerning a target display device associated with the electronic device, the information indicating that the target display is the fixed orientation display, with the first orientation and the first dimensions;
obtaining application data associated with the first application, wherein the application data further includes a type of the first application and whether the first application is able to scale the output for display in an orientation and dimensions different from the requested second orientation and second dimensions;
determining by the first application a standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application;
in accordance with a determination that the first application is able to scale the output, scaling by the first application the output from the first application based on (1) the standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application and (2) the first dimensions of the target display device, thereby enabling the output of the first application to be displayed with the standard aspect ratio by the display module on the target display device; and
in accordance with a determination that the first application is not able to scale the output, scaling by the display module the output from the first application based on (1) the standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application and (2) the first dimensions of the target display device, thereby enabling the output of the first application to be displayed with the standard aspect ratio by the display module on the target display device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the application data associated with the first application further comprises:
obtaining, by the first application, application data verifying that the first application is able to scale the output for display in an orientation and dimensions different from the requested second orientation and second dimensions, wherein the application data includes metadata concerning the first application, and the metadata is stored in the memory, retrieved from a remote database distinct from the electronic device, or obtained from the first application.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application is one of a plurality of applications that are installed on the electronic device to run thereon.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard aspect ratio is the same as a second aspect ratio of the first application associated with the requested second dimensions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard aspect ratio is different than a second aspect ratio of the first application associated with the second dimensions requested by the first application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the output of the first application to be displayed by the display module on the target display device: sending the scaled output by the first application to the display module of the electronic device for display on the fixed orientation display.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the output of the first application to be displayed by the display module on the target display device further includes: sending instructions to center the displayed output of the first application at the center of the fixed orientation display.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the output of the first application to be displayed by the display module on the target display device further includes: sending instructions to black out regions of the fixed orientation display not displaying the output of the application.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
associating the scaled output from the first application with a border.

10. An electronic device, for displaying a first application on a fixed orientation display having a first orientation and first dimensions, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, wherein the memory is configured to store a display module for enabling display on the fixed orientation display and the first application that is distinct from the display module, and the display module is configured to display its output in a predetermined second orientation with predetermined second dimensions, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
sending by the first application to the display module a request to display output from the first application in the second orientation with the second dimensions;
in response to sending the request, receiving by the first application from the display module information concerning a target display device associated with the electronic device, the information indicating that the target display is the fixed orientation display, with the first orientation and the first dimensions;
obtaining application data associated with the first application, wherein the application data further includes a type of the first application and whether the first application is able to scale the output for display in an orientation and dimensions different from the requested second orientation and second dimensions;
determining by the first application a standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application;
in accordance with a determination that the first application is able to scale the output, scaling by the first application the output from the first application based on (1) the standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application and (2) the first dimensions of the target display device, thereby enabling the output of the first application to be displayed with the standard aspect ratio by the display module on the target display device; and
in accordance with a determination that the first application is not able to scale the output, scaling by the display module the output from the first application based on (1) the standard aspect ratio designated for the type of the first application and (2) the first dimensions of the target display device, thereby enabling the output of the first application to be displayed with the standard aspect ratio by the display module on the target display device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first application is one of a plurality of applications that are installed on the electronic device to run thereon.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein enabling the output of the first application to be displayed by the display module on the target display device further includes: sending the scaled output data by the first application to the display module of the electronic device for display on the fixed orientation display.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the standard aspect ratio is the same as a second aspect ratio of the first application associated with the requested second dimensions.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Brady Patrick
• Hackborn Dianne
• Bayer Jason

Classifications

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G09G2340/045

  Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it · CPC title

• G06F3/0487

  using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser · CPC title

• G09G5/005 Primary

  Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal · CPC title

• G09G2340/0442

  Handling or displaying different aspect ratios, or changing the aspect ratio · CPC title