Communications device state transitions

Abstract

Methods and devices for configuring and displaying individual display screens of a multi-display device relative to the device state and/or user orientation of the device. More particularly, the device is equipped with one or more sensors that facilitate the detectability of the relationship of the primary screen to the secondary screen, and the general orientation of the device. The method includes correlating or controlling device state to management of windows, and correlating or controlling transitional states between open and closed states to device behavior and/or window operations. The method and device may present, for example, a closed state with both windows viewable, an open state with both windows viewable or a semi-open state with one or more of the windows viewable.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling a multi-screen device comprising:
 providing the multi-screen device having at least a first and second screens and a processor, wherein each of the first and second screens are configured to display a first display mode or a second display mode, each display mode configured to display at least one user interface element, wherein the multi-screen device is in one of:
 an open state, wherein in the open state both the first and second screens are facing a same direction and are viewable by a user; 
 a closed stated, wherein in the closed state both the first screen faces an opposite direction of the second screen and only one of the first screen or second screen is viewable by the user; 
 a special state includes one of an easel state or a modified easel state, wherein in the special state the first screen is at an angle to the second screen, wherein the angle is less than 180° but more than 0°; 
 a transition state, wherein the transition state occurs when the multi-screen device is in a process of moving from one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state to a different one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state; 
   receiving a first input from a first sensor indicating a position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein the first input includes an open indication, a closed indication, or a third indication between open and closed;   continuously receiving a second input from a second sensor indicating a movement of the first screen relative to the second screen when the first screen is moving relative to the second screen, wherein the second input includes a moving indication or a not moving indication;   determining a state of the device based on both the first input associated with the position and the second input associated with the movement, wherein the state of the device is in the transition state when the first input is the third indication and the second input is the moving indication;   based at least on the state of the device being in the transition state, the processor both:
 prohibiting input into the at least one user interface element while in the transition state; and 
 prohibiting a transition from the first display mode to the second display mode while in the transition state. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one user interface element of each screen is controlled. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of a first and second display mode of each screen is controlled. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the special state is the modified easel state. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the special state is the easel state. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the transition state comprises an opening state, a closing state and a first state to a second state transitioning state. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the open state is a state wherein the first and the second screen are planar or substantially planar. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  4 , wherein the closed state is a state wherein the first screen is back-to-back with the second screen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the transition state exists when there is a predefined angular relationship between the first screen and the second screen. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second sensor provides an indication when the two screens reach a relative position in relation to one another. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the state of the device is determined based on at least the first and the second input and a timer. 
     
     
         32 . A multi-screen user device comprising:
 a first and a second screen configured to display at least one of a first display mode and a second display mode, each display mode configured to display at least one user interface element, wherein the multi-screen device is in one of:
 an open state, wherein in the open state both the first and second screens are facing a same direction and are viewable by a user; 
 a closed stated, wherein in the closed state both the first screen faces an opposite direction of the second screen and only one of the first screen or second screen is viewable by the user 
 a special state includes one of an easel state or a modified easel state, wherein in the special state the first screen is at an angle to the second screen, wherein the angle is less than 180° but more than 0°; 
 a transition state, wherein the transition state occurs when the multi-screen device is in a process of moving from one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state to a different one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state; 
   at least one sensor;   a memory;   a processor in communication with the memory, the first screen, and the second screen, the processor operable to:
 receive a first input from a first sensor indicating a position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein the first input includes an open indication, a closed indication, or a third indication between open and closed; 
 continuously receive a second input from a second sensor indicating a movement of the first screen relative to the second screen, when the first screen is moving relative to the second screen, wherein the second input includes a moving indication or a not moving indication; 
 determine a state of the device based on both the first input associated with the position and the second input associated with the movement, wherein the state of the device is in the transition state when the first input is the third indication and the second input is the moving indication; and 
 based on at least the state of the device being in the transition state, both:
 prohibit input into the at least one user interface element while in the transition state; and 
 prohibit a transition from the first display mode or the second display mode while in the transition state. 
 
   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one user interface element of each screen is controlled. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second display mode of each screen is controlled. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the special state is the modified easel state. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the special state is the easel state. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the transition state comprises an opening state, a closing state and a first state to a second state transitioning state. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the open state is a state wherein the first and the second screen are planar or substantially planar, and the closed state is a state wherein the first screen is back-to-back with the second screen. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a device to execute a method for controlling a multi-screen device, wherein the device has at least a first and second screen, wherein each of the first and second screens are configured to display at least in a first display mode and a second display mode and configured to display at least one user interface element, wherein the multi-screen device is in one of: an open state, wherein in the open state both the first and second screens are facing a same direction and are viewable by a user, a closed stated, wherein in the closed state both the first screen faces an opposite direction of the second screen and only one of the first screen or second screen is viewable by the user, a special state includes one of an easel state or a modified easel state, wherein in the special state the first screen is at an angle to the second screen, wherein the angle is less than 180° but more than 0°, or a transition state, wherein the transition state occurs when the multi-screen device is in a process of moving from one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state to a different one of the open state, the closed state, or the special state, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a first input from a first sensor indicating a position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein the first input includes an open indication, a closed indication, or a third indication between open and closed; 
 instructions to receive, continuously, a second input from a second sensor indicating a movement of the first screen relative to the second screen, when the first screen is moving relative to the second screen, wherein the second input includes a moving indication or a not moving indication; 
 instructions to determine a state of the device based on both the first input associated with the position and the second input associated with the movement, wherein the state of the device is in the transition state when the first input is the third indication and the second input is the moving indication; 
 based on at least the state of the device being in the transition state, both:
 instructions to prohibit input into the at least one user interface element while in the transition state; and 
 instructions to prohibit a transition from the first display mode or the second display mode while in the transition state. 
 
 
     
     
         40 . The medium of  claim 39 , wherein at least one user interface element of each screen is controlled.