Method and apparatus controlling a user interface

Abstract

A computer device comprises a user interface configured to display time information associated with a feature. The time information indicates when the feature will change from one of being available and unavailable to the other of being available and unavailable. The time information changes at a first rate. At least one processor is configured, in response to a user interaction via the user interface, to cause the user interface to display content, the time information being configured to change at a second different rate while the content is displayed.

1 . A computer device configured to provide a computer implemented app, the computer device comprising:
 a user interface comprising a display configured to display time information associated with a reward in the computer implemented app, the time information indicating when the reward will be provided in the computer implemented app; and   at least one processor configured to control the user interface;   wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the displayed time information to change at a first rate;   the user interface is configured to receive a user input; and
 the at least one processor is configured, in response to the user input received via the user interface to determine content to be displayed on the user interface, the user interface being configured to display the determined content, and the at least one processor further being configured to cause the displayed time information to change at a second different rate while the content is displayed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user input is with respect to at least one of an area associated with the computer app and an area associated with the content to be displayed. 
     
     
         3 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determined when the content is paused or no longer displayed and in response thereto cause the time information to change at a third rate. 
     
     
         4 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the third rate is the same as the first rate. 
     
     
         5 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the content comprises advertising content. 
     
     
         6 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the computer implemented app comprises a computer implemented game app and the reward comprises a computer implemented game reward. 
     
     
         7 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first rate and the second rate comprise a real time rate. 
     
     
         8 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first rate is less than the second rate. 
     
     
         9 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control a value of the second rate in dependence on user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the user input to control the value of the second rate is associated with the displayed content. 
     
     
         11 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide one of a plurality of second rates in dependence on the user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the user input comprises a plurality of taps. 
     
     
         13 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a rate associated with the user input is configured to control the value of the second rate. 
     
     
         14 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the user interface to display an input area, the user input being with respect to the input area. 
     
     
         15 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the displayed time information indicates an amount of time until the reward will be provided. 
     
     
         16 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a timer, the timer being configured to control the time information displayed by the display, the at least one processor being configured to cause the timer to be updated at a respective rate. 
     
     
         17 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is provided by a touch screen. 
     
     
         18 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to display the determined content in a first area of the display of the user interface and the time information in a second area of the display of the user interface. 
     
     
         19 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to display a first screen of the computer app, said first screen being displayed when the user interface receives the user input to determine the content to be displayed, said content being displayed on a second different screen. 
     
     
         20 . The computer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to display a first screen of the computer app, said first screen being displayed when the user interface receives the user input to determine the content to be displayed, said content being displayed on the first screen. 
     
     
         21 . A computer implemented method provided by a computer device configured to provide a computer implemented app, the computer device comprising a user interface comprising a display and at least one processor, the computer device being configured to provide the method of:
 displaying by the display of the user interface time information associated with a reward in the computer app, the time information indicating when the reward will be provided in the computer implemented app:   causing, by the at least one processor, the display of the user interface to display the time information;   causing, by the at least one processor, the displayed time information to change at a first rate;   receiving, by the user interface, a user input;
 determining, by the at least one processor, in response to the user input, content to be displayed on the user interface; 
 displaying by the user interface the determined content, and causing, by the at least one processor, the displayed time information to change at a second different rate while the content is displayed. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the method comprises determining, by the at least one processor, when the content is paused or no longer displayed and in response thereto causing, by the at least one processor, the time information to change at a third rate. 
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the content comprises advertising content. 
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein computer implemented app comprises a computer implemented game app and the reward comprises a computer implemented game reward. 
     
     
         25 . A computer readable non-transitory storage medium carrying one or more computer executable instructions which when run on at least one processor of a computer device cause the computer device to be configured to be provide a computer implemented app, the computer device configured to provide a method comprising:
 displaying, by a display of a user interface of the computer device, time information associated with a reward in the computer app, the time information indicating when the reward will be provided in the computer implemented app causing by the at least one processor, the display of the user interface to display the time information;   causing by the at least one processor the displayed time information to change at a first rate;   receiving by the user interface a user input;
 determining by the at least one processor, in response to the user input, content to be displayed on the user interface; and 
 displaying by the user interface the determined content, and causing, by the at least one processor, the displayed time information to change at a second different rate while the content is displayed.