Computing device with improved user interface for applications

Abstract

The present invention offers a snap-shot view which brings together, in one summary window, a limited list of common functions and commonly accessed stored data which itself can be reached directly from the main menu listing some or all applications. This yields many advantages in ease and speed of navigation, particularly on small screen devices.

1 . A computing device comprising a display screen, the computing device being configured to display on the screen a menu listing at least a first application, and additionally being configured to display on the screen an application summary that can be reached directly from the menu, wherein the application summary displays a limited list of at least one function offered within the first application, each function in the list being selectable to launch the first application and initiate the selected function, and wherein the application summary is displayed while the application is in an un-launched state. 
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which an application launcher lists names and/or icons of several applications and selecting one of said names or icons causes the summary for that application to be opened. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the kinds of content of a summary for a given application is selected using a process in which the device learns what functionality is of interest to any given user. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the user can define what functionality is of interest to that user for the summary for an application. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the functionality for a summary for a given application varies with the environment of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the functionality for a summary for a given application varies with the actions of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the summary is a frame which includes the name of the first application. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1  in which the summary further display a list of data stored in that application. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , being a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , being a PC. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embodied in the medium which, when running on a computing device, causes the computing device to display on a screen of the device a menu listing at least a first application, and additionally causes the device to display on the screen an application summary that can be reached directly from the menu, wherein the summary displays a limited list of at least one function offered within the first application, each function in the list being selectable to launch the first application and initiate the selected function, and wherein the application summary is displayed while the application is in an un-launched state. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code comprises an operating system program. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code is operable to cause the screen to display an application launcher which lists the names and/or icons of several applications, wherein selecting a name or icon causes the summary for that application to be opened. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables the kinds of content of a summary for a given application to be selected using a process in which the device learns what functionality is of interest to any given user. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables a user to define what functionality is of interest to that user for the summary for an application. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables the functionality for a summary for a given application to vary with the environment of the device. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables the functionality for a summary for a given application to vary with the actions of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables the summary to be a frame which includes the name of the associated application. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable code enables the summary to further display a list of data stored in that application. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 11  wherein the limited list is a sub-set of all of the functions offered by a given application. 
     
     
         21 . The computing device of  claim 20  wherein the limited list displays only functions in the sub-set and thus cannot be scrolled to reveal additional functions outside the sub-set. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product according to  claim 11  wherein the limited list is a sub-set of all of the functions offered by a given application. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product according to  claim 21  wherein the limited list displays only functions in the sub-set and thus cannot be scrolled to reveal additional functions outside of the sub-set.