User interfaces for managing controllable external devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10904029-B2
Application number	US-201916584743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	May 31, 2019
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device, with a display device, a communication device, one or more processors and memory, displays a first representation of a first controllable external device, where the first controllable external device is situated at a location. The device detects a first input corresponding to a selection of the first representation of the first controllable external device. In response to detecting the first input, the device transmits instructions, using the communication device, to the first controllable external device to perform a function if the first controllable external device is of a first type or displays, using the display device, a user interface for controlling characteristics of the first controllable external device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display device;
a communication device;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying, on the display device, a user interface including a first accessory affordance associated with a first controllable external device;
detecting a first input corresponding to selection of the first accessory affordance;
in response to detecting the first input:
in accordance with a determination that a set of command transmission criteria are met, wherein the set of command transmission criteria includes a criterion that is met if the first controllable external device is a first type of device, transmitting, via the communication device, a command to the first controllable external device to perform a first function; and
in accordance with a determination that the set of command transmission criteria are not met, wherein the set of command transmission criteria includes a criterion that is not met if the first controllable external device is a second type of device different from the first type of device, displaying, on the display device, a first accessory interface that includes:
a first control affordance that, when selected, transmits a command to the controllable external device to perform the first function; and
a second control affordance that, when selected, transmits a command to the controllable external device to perform a second function that is different than the first function.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first controllable external device is associated with the first function and the second function, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
in accordance with a determination that the set of command transmission criteria are met, transmitting, via the communication device, a command to the first controllable external device to perform the first function without transmitting, via the communication device, a command to the first controllable external device to perform the second function.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the set of command transmission criteria includes a first criterion that is satisfied when the first function associated with the first controllable external device is a primary function of the first controllable external device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of command transmission criteria includes a second criterion that is satisfied when the first function associated with the first controllable external device is associated with a first controllable component of the first controllable external device that has binary operating states; and
the first function is transitioning from a current operating state of the first controllable component of the first controllable external device to the other operating state of the of the first controllable component of the first controllable external device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein displaying, on the display device, the first accessory interface further comprises:
in accordance with a determination that a portion of the first accessory interface would be displayed in a position that exceeds a boundary of the display device, displaying the first accessory interface at a first position where the first accessory interface is aligned with the boundary; and
in accordance with a determination that the portion of the first accessory interface would not be displayed in a position that exceeds the boundary of the display device, displaying the first accessory interface at a second position that is based on a position of the first accessory affordance.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first accessory affordance includes an first graphical element and a first text element;
the first accessory interface includes a second graphical element that corresponds to the first graphical element and a second text element that corresponds to the first text element;
displaying the first accessory interface further comprises:
displaying an animation of the first graphical element visually transitioning into the second graphical element; and
displaying an animation of the first text element visually transitioning into the second text element; the one or more programs further including instructions for:

while displaying the first accessory interface, detecting a second input corresponding to a request to cease to display the first accessory interface; and
in response to detecting the second input, ceasing to display the first accessory interface, including:
displaying an animation of the second graphical element visually transitioning into the first graphical element; and
displaying an animation of the second text element visually transitioning into the first text element.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first accessory affordance:
in accordance with a determination that the first controllable external device is associated with a second controllable component, the second controllable component associated with the first function, includes a graphical indication of the second controllable component;
in accordance with a determination that the first controllable external device is associated with a third controllable component, the third controllable component associated with the second function, includes a graphical indication of the third controllable component; and
in accordance with a determination that the first controllable external device is associated with the second controllable component and the third controllable component, includes the graphical indication of the second controllable component and the graphical indication of the third controllable component.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first controllable external device is associated with the second controllable component and the third controllable component, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
while displaying the first accessory interface, detecting a first set of one or more inputs that includes an input corresponding to a control reconfiguration affordance; and
in response to detecting the first set of one or more inputs, displaying a second instance of the user interface that includes:
a second accessory affordance associated with the second controllable component of the first controllable external device and that is not associated with the third controllable component of the first controllable external device; and
a third accessory affordance associated with the third controllable component of the first controllable external device and that is not associated with the second controllable component of the first controllable external device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first accessory affordance has a first appearance prior to detecting the first input, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
in response to detecting the first input and in conjunction with transmitting the command to the first controllable external device to perform the first function, updating the first accessory affordance to a second appearance that is based on the first function.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second appearance includes an animation based on the first function.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first accessory interface includes the first control affordance and the second control affordance and wherein displaying the first accessory interface includes:
in accordance with the first function and the second function meeting

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Carrigan Taylor G
• Coffman Patrick L
• Foss Christopher Patrick

Classifications

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/04883 Primary

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F9/453

  Help systems · CPC title