Application suggestion features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12032552-B2
Application number	US-202117356475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

This application relates to features for a mobile device that allow the mobile device to assign utility values to applications and thereafter suggest applications for a user to execute. The suggested application can be derived from a list of applications that have been assigned a utility by software in the mobile device. The utility assignment of the individual applications from the list of applications can be performed based on the occurrence of an event, an environmental change, or a period of frequent application usage. A feedback mechanism is provided in some embodiments for more accurately assigning a utility to particular applications. The feedback mechanism can track what a user does during a period of suggestion for certain applications and thereafter modify the utility of applications based on what applications a user selects during the period of suggestion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising, at a computing device:
receiving at least one circumstance property;
identifying a plurality of applications based on the at least one circumstance property, wherein each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective utility value;
displaying, based on the respective utility values of the plurality of applications, a prioritized ordering of at least some applications of the plurality of applications, wherein:
each application is associated with a respective unique priority within the prioritized ordering, and
the respective unique priority corresponds to the respective utility value; and

in response to receiving a selection of an application from the prioritized ordering:
identifying, based on the selection, the respective unique priority of the application relative to other applications of the plurality of applications within the prioritized ordering, and
applying the respective unique priority of the application against the respective utility value of at least the application to modify the respective utility value of at least the application.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is associated with at least one of a geographical location, a time of day, a calendar event, and a presence of one or more devices external to the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the respective utility value comprises increasing or decreasing the respective utility value based on the respective unique priority.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is received in conjunction with a finger being dragged across a display with which the computing device is communicably coupled.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each application included in the prioritized ordering is represented with a respective icon.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
assigning, to a highest-recommended application within the prioritized ordering, an eligibility timer that causes the respective utility value of the highest-recommended application to be artificially lowered until the eligibility timer lapses.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the respective utility values of the plurality of applications are ordered in a descending order when a higher utility value indicates higher priority, and
the respective utility values of the plurality of applications are ordered in an ascending order when a lower utility value indicates higher priority.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to carry out steps that include:
receiving at least one circumstance property;
identifying a plurality of applications based on the at least one circumstance property, wherein each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective utility value;
displaying, based on the respective utility values of the plurality of applications, a prioritized ordering of at least some applications of the plurality of applications, wherein:
each application is associated with a respective unique priority within the prioritized ordering, and
the respective unique priority corresponds to the respective utility value; and

in response to receiving a selection of an application from the prioritized ordering:
identifying, based on the selection, the respective unique priority of the application relative to other applications of the plurality of applications within the prioritized ordering, and
applying the respective unique priority of the application against the respective utility value of at least the application to modify the respective utility value of at least the application.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is associated with at least one of a geographical location, a time of day, a calendar event, and a presence of one or more devices external to the computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the respective utility value comprises increasing or decreasing the respective utility value based on the respective unique priority.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is received in conjunction with a finger being dragged across a display with which the computing device is communicably coupled.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each application included in the prioritized ordering is represented with a respective icon.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further include:
assigning, to a highest-recommended application within the prioritized ordering, an eligibility timer that causes the respective utility value of the highest-recommended application to be artificially lowered until the eligibility timer lapses.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:
the respective utility values of the plurality of applications are ordered in a descending order when a higher utility value indicates higher priority, and
the respective utility values of the plurality of applications are ordered in an ascending order when a lower utility value indicates higher priority.

15. A computing device, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to carry out steps that include:
receiving at least one circumstance property;
identifying a plurality of applications based on the at least one circumstance property, wherein each application of the plurality of applications is associated with a respective utility value;
displaying, based on the respective utility values of the plurality of applications, a prioritized ordering of at least some applications of the plurality of applications, wherein:
each application is associated with a respective unique priority within the prioritized ordering, and
the respective unique priority corresponds to the respective utility value; and

in response to receiving a selection of an application from the prioritized ordering:
identifying, based on the selection, the respective unique priority of the application relative to other applications of the plurality of applications within the prioritized ordering, and
applying the respective unique priority of the application against the respective utility value of at least the application to modify the respective utility value of at least the application.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is associated with at least one of a geographical location, a time of day, a calendar event, and a presence of one or more devices external to the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the respective utility value comprises increasing or decreasing the respective utility value based on the respective unique priority.

18. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one circumstance property is received in conjunction with a finger being dragged across a display with which the computing device is communicably coupled.

19. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein each application included in the prioritized ordering is represented with a respective ico

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Peters Stephen C
• Wan Kit-Man
• Kapoor Gaurav

Classifications

• G06F16/23 Primary

  Updating · CPC title

• G06F9/453 Primary

  Help systems · 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

• G06F3/04817 Primary

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title