Method and apparatus for arranging a plurality of icons on a screen

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for arranging icons on a screen of a device, wherein a first device receives information about a layout of a plurality of icons displayed on a screen of a second device, and then displays the plurality of icons on a screen of the first device, based on the received information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display for providing a first screen;   a communication unit configured to receive, from a server, screen layout information about a layout of visual display elements for a second screen displayed by another electronic device, the screen layout information comprising order information relating to an order for arranging the visual display elements on the second screen of the other electronic device, size information relating to respective sizes of the visual display elements, and application information for identifying applications installed on the other electronic device corresponding to the visual display elements; and   a processor configured to control the display to provide the visual display elements on the first screen based on at least one of a resolution of the first screen of the electronic device and the received screen layout information.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the size information comprises information about a number of horizontal and vertical cells for each respective visual display element. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the size information is indicative of one or more predetermined sizes. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed  claim 2 , wherein each cell has a square shape. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the display to provide the visual display elements on the first screen so that visual display elements for applications installed on the electronic device are distinguished from visual display elements for applications not installed on the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 when the communication circuitry receives changed screen layout information based on a change to at least one of arrangement and size of the visual display elements for the second screen of the other electronic device, the processor is configured to control the display to provide at least one changed visual display element on the first screen of the electronic device based on the received changed screen layout information.   
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the communication circuitry to access an account accessed by the other electronic device and the communication circuitry receives the screen layout information when the account is accessed. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer of an electronic device including a communication unit and a display for providing a first screen, causes the computer to control the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a server, via the communication circuitry, screen layout information about a layout of visual display elements for a second screen displayed by another electronic device, the screen layout information comprising order information relating to an order for arranging the visual display elements on the second screen of the other electronic device, size information relating to respective sizes of the visual display elements, and application information for identifying applications installed on the other electronic device corresponding to the visual display elements; and   controlling the display to provide the visual display elements on the first screen based on at least one of a resolution of the first screen of the electronic device and the received screen layout information.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the size information comprises information about a number of horizontal cells and vertical cells for each respective visual display element. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the size information is indicative of one or more predetermined sizes. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each cell has a square shape. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise controlling the display to provide the visual display elements on the first screen so that visual display elements for applications installed on the electronic device are distinguished from visual display elements for applications not installed on the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 when changed screen layout information based on a change to at least one of arrangement and size of the visual display elements for the second screen of the other electronic device is received, controlling the display to provide at least one changed visual display element on the first screen of the electronic device based on the received changed screen layout information.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device log into a same account on the server in order to share layout information. 
     
     
         15 . A server computer, comprising:
 a communication unit for communicating with a first electronic device for providing a first screen and a second electronic device for providing a second screen; and   a processor configured to control the server computer to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the second electronic device, screen layout information about a layout of visual display elements for the second screen of the second electronic device, the screen layout information comprising order information relating to an order for arranging the visual display elements on the second screen of the second electronic device, size information relating to respective sizes of the visual display elements, and application information for identifying applications installed on the second electronic device corresponding to the visual display elements; and 
 in response to a request communicated to the server by the first electronic device, transmitting the received screen layout information to the first electronic device for use by the first electronic device in determining a screen layout of the visual display elements for the first screen thereof. 
   
     
     
         16 . The server as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the size information comprises information about a number of horizontal cells and vertical cells for each respective visual display element. 
     
     
         17 . The server as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the size information is indicative of one or more predetermined sizes. 
     
     
         18 . The server as claimed  claim 16 , wherein each cell has a square shape. 
     
     
         19 . The server as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 when changed screen layout information based on a change to at least one of arrangement and size of the plurality of visual display elements for the second screen of the second electronic device is received, the processor is configured to transmit changed screen layout information to the first electronic device in response to a request therefrom.   
     
     
         20 . The server as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the screen layout information is received from the second electronic device when the second electronic device is logged into an account maintained on the server and the received screen layout information is transmitted to the first electronic device when the first electronic device logs into the same account. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program which, when executed by a processor of a server computer communicatively coupled to a first electronic device for providing a first screen and a second electronic device for providing a second screen, causes the server computer to perform operations comprising:
 receive, from the second electronic device, screen layout information about a layout of visual display elements for the second screen of the second electronic device, the screen layout information comprising order information relating to an order for arranging the visual display elements on the second screen of the second electronic device, size information relating to respective sizes of the visual display elements, and application information for identifying applications installed on the second electronic device corresponding to the visual display elements; and   in response to a request communicated to the server by the first electronic device, transmitting the received screen layout information to the first electronic device for use by the first electronic device in determining a screen layout of the visual display elements for the first screen thereof.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the size information comprises information about a number of horizontal cells and vertical cells for each respective visual display element. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the size information is indicative of one or more predetermined sizes. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed  claim 22 , wherein each cell has a square shape. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 when changed screen layout information based on a change to at least one of arrangement and size of the visual display elements for the second screen of the second electronic device is received, transmitting changed screen layout information to the first electronic device in response to a request therefrom.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the screen layout information is received from the second electronic device when the second electronic device is logged into an account maintained on the server and the received screen layout information is transmitted to the first electronic device when the first electronic device logs into the same account.