Displaying applications on a fixed orientation display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9767532-B2
Application number	US-201615207263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A method and system 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. The application sends a request to display output from the application in a second orientation with second dimensions, and receives from the electronic device a notification that a display associated with the electronic device is a fixed orientation display with a first orientation and first dimensions. The application then obtains application data verifying that it is able to scale the output for displaying in an orientation and dimensions different from the requested second orientation and second dimensions, and determines optimal dimensions to display the output from the application based on the first orientation and first dimensions associated with the fixed display. The electronic device then scales output data to match the determined optimal dimensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of displaying output from a first application on a fixed orientation display, 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 coupled to the electronic device, and the first application that is distinct from the display module and configured to display its output in a predetermined second orientation with predetermined second dimensions:
executing the first application on the electronic device, including:
sending to the display module of the electronic device a request to display output from the first application in the second orientation with the second dimensions;
in response to sending the request, receiving from the display module a notification concerning a target display device associated with the electronic device, the notification indicating that the target display (i) is the fixed orientation display, with (ii) a first orientation, and (iii) first dimensions, wherein the target display device is distinct from the electronic device and interacts with the display module of the electronic device;
obtaining, by the first application and from the memory, 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; and
determining by the first application optimal dimensions for scaling the output from the first application of the electronic device on the fixed orientation display based on the second orientation and second dimensions and the first orientation and first dimensions associated with the fixed orientation display; and

scaling by the electronic device the output from the first application of the electronic device to match the determined optimal dimensions associated with the fixed orientation display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output from the first application is scaled by one of the display module and the first application of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein an optimal aspect ratio of the determined optimal dimensions is the same as a second aspect ratio of the requested second dimensions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein an optimal aspect ratio of the determined optimal dimensions is different than a second aspect ratio of the second dimensions requested by the first application, such that displaying the output of the first application with the optimal aspect ratio uses a larger percentage of the fixed orientation display than is used when displaying the output with the second aspect ratio.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
changing by one of the display module and the first application the output from the first application of the electronic device to match the optimal aspect ratio of the determined optimal dimensions.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling by the electronic device the display of the scaled output on the fixed orientation display according to the determined optimal dimensions associated with the fixed orientation display.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein enabling by the electronic device the display of the scaled output data on the fixed orientation display 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.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein enabling by the electronic device the display of the scaled output data on the fixed orientation display further includes: sending instructions to center the displayed output of the first application at the center of the fixed orientation display.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein enabling by the electronic device the display of the scaled output data on the fixed orientation display further includes: sending instructions to black out regions of the fixed orientation display not displaying the output of the application.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification further indicates that the requested second orientation and second dimensions are different from the first orientation.

11. An electronic device, for displaying a first application on a fixed orientation display, 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 the first application that is distinct from the display module and configured to display its output in a predetermined second orientation with predetermined second dimensions;
the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
executing the first application on the electronic device, including:
sending to the display module of the electronic device a request to display output from the first application in the second orientation with the second dimensions;
in response to sending the request, receiving from the display module a notification concerning a target display device associated with the electronic device, the notification indicating that the target display (i) is the fixed orientation display, with (ii) a first orientation, and (iii) first dimensions, wherein the target display device is distinct from the electronic device and interacts with the display module of the electronic device;
obtaining, by the first application and from the memory, 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; and
determining by the first application optimal dimensions for scaling the output from the first application of the electronic device on the fixed orientation display based on the second orientation and second dimensions and the first orientation and first dimensions associated with the fixed orientation display; and

scaling by the electronic device the output from the first application of the electronic device to match the determined optimal dimensions associated with the fixed orientation display.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the output from the first application is scaled by one of the display module and the first application of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein an optimal aspect ratio of the determined optimal dimensions is the same as a second aspect ratio of the requested second dimensions.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein an optimal aspect ratio of the determined optimal dimensions is different than a second aspect ratio of the second dimensions requested by the first application, such that displaying the output of the first application with the optimal aspect ratio uses a larger percentage of the fixed orientation display than is used when displaying the output with the second aspect ratio.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the notification further indicates that the requested second orientation and second dimensions are different from the first orientation.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device with a fixed orientation display positioned in a first orientation, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
at the electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a display module for enabling display on the fixed or

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Brady Patrick
• Hackborn Dianne
• Bayer Jason

Classifications

• G09G2340/045

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

• G09G5/005 Primary

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

• 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

• G09G2340/0442

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

• G09G2340/0407

  Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas · CPC title