Electronic device and method for managing applications on an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334970-A1
Application number	US-201615151977-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing applications by an electronic device are provided. The method and apparatus include identifying, by a processor, a secondary application based on an application executed on the electronic device or content included in the application, displaying a representation corresponding to the secondary application on the electronic device, selecting the representation based on an input, and invoking the secondary application corresponding to the selected representation on the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for managing applications on an electronic device, the method comprising:
identifying, by a processor, at least one secondary application based on at least one of an application executed on the electronic device and content included in the application; displaying at least one representation corresponding to the at least one secondary application on the electronic device; selecting one of the at least one representation based on an input; and invoking one of the at least one secondary application corresponding to the selected representation on the electronic device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the at least one representation comprises dynamically positioning the at least one representation within a portion of a screen of the electronic device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically providing the content included in the application to the selected secondary application.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
performing an action via the selected secondary application; and invoking a supplemental application for the secondary application when the action is completed.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the secondary application, an input selecting at least one file; sending the at least one file to another electronic device via the secondary application; and dynamically associating the at least one file with the application.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a content in the selected secondary application; dynamically associating the selected content with a portion of the application; receiving an input in a selected content associated with the portion of the application; and rendering the selected content on the screen of the electronic device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
representing one of the at least one secondary application and the at least one of application on a multi window on a screen of the electronic device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically identifying a content in the secondary application; and dynamically associating the identified content with a portion of the application.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the at least one secondary application comprises:
determining whether an application is related to the content included in the application.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the at least one secondary application comprises:
detecting at least one neighboring device within a proximity of the electronic device; and providing a representation of the at least one neighboring electronic device on the electronic device.

11 . An electronic device for managing applications, comprising:
a display; at least one processor; and at least one memory storing computer program instructions configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device at least to perform:
identifying at least one secondary application based on at least one of an application executed on the electronic device and content included in the application;
displaying at least one representation corresponding to the at least one secondary application on the display;
selecting one of the at least one representation based on an input; and
invoking one of the at least one secondary application corresponding to the selected representation on the electronic device.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
dynamically positioning the at least one representation within a portion of a screen of the electronic device.

13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
automatically providing the content included in the application to the secondary application.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
performing an action via the selected secondary application; and invoking a supplemental application for the secondary application when the action is completed.

15 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
receiving, via the secondary application, an input selecting at least one file; sending the at least one file to another electronic device via the secondary application; and dynamically associating the at least one file with the application.

16 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
selecting a content in the selected secondary application; dynamically associating the selected content with a portion of the application; receiving an input in a selected content associated with the portion of the application; and rendering the selected content on the screen of the electronic device.

17 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
automatically identifying a content in the secondary application; and dynamically associating the identified content with a portion of the application.

18 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
identifying the secondary application by determining whether an application is related to the content included in the application.

19 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computer instructions are further configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device to perform:
identifying the secondary application by detecting a neighboring electronic device within a proximity of the electronic device; and providing at least one representation of the at least one neighboring device on the electronic device.

20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory storing computer program instructions configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to cause the electronic device at least to perform:
identifying at least one secondary application based on at least one of an application executed on an electronic device and content included in the application;
displaying at least one representation corresponding to the at least one secondary application on the electronic device;
selecting one of the at least one representation based on an input; and
invoking one of the at least one secondary application corresponding to the selected representation on the electronic device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mysore Veera Ragava
• Subramani Karthikeyan
• Kandur Raja Barath Raj
• Yalamarthi Venkata Sreenath
• Krishna Kamal
• Gargatti Ajith Indira Preethi Jain
• Bangalore Shiva Kumar Sharath Venkataram
• Srinivasa Murthy Sujay
• Kandhari Anup Kumar
• Bansal Abhishek Kumar
• Modi Dhruv
• Choudhary Shwetank
• Mani Sharmila
• Krishnan Ravi

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

• G06F3/04842 Primary

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

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F9/445

  Program loading or initiating (bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57) · CPC title