Adaptable user interface with dual screen device

Abstract

A dual-screen client device includes a user interface for providing content and application tools to a user in an easy to use manner. Different inputs of the user interface are presented to the user on one or both of the screens depending on a current state of the device and in response to user operation. Content such as an item of interest in a particular application is presented on one screen while tools or other inputs for that application are provided on the other screen. Through user operation of the interface or physical manipulation of the client device, the content and tools are swapped between the dual screens. For instance, buttons and menus can be brought up front to a closer screen for quick input, while active content (e.g., video chat, full image, drawings) is presented on the farther screen.

1 . A computer-implemented presentation method, the method comprising:
 generating, by one or more processors, a first set of items for presentation on a first display device of a multi-display computer system, the first set of items including one or more virtual input devices configured to receive user input information from a user of the multi-display computer system;   generating, by the one or more processors, a second set of items for presentation on a second display device of the multi-display computer system;   upon receiving input information, the one or more processors modifying presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items, wherein the received input information indicates that an orientation of the first display device and an orientation of the second display device have changed as detected by one or more sensors, the detected orientation changes indicating physical rotations of the first and second display devices; and   displaying the modified presentation of the at least one of the first and second sets of items on at least one of the first and second display devices.   
     
     
         2 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items comprises swapping at least one item of content in either the first or the second set of items between the first display device and the second display device. 
     
     
         3 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items comprises rotating the at least one of the first and second sets of items in at least one of the first display device or the second display device. 
     
     
         4 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual input devices includes a virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         5 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual input devices includes a virtual mousepad. 
     
     
         6 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the presentation comprises replacing a given one of the one or more virtual input devices with an element of interest. 
     
     
         7 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second set of items comprises a set of user interface tools and a set of content of interest; and   displaying the modified presentation comprises rotating the set of user interface tools while the set of content of interest remains unrotated.   
     
     
         8 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second set of items corresponds to a log-in interface. 
     
     
         9 . The presentation method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one item of the second set of items comprises a plurality of user icons each corresponding to a different user account. 
     
     
         10 . The presentation method of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of items includes active content presented to the user in response to user input received by the one or more virtual input devices. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-display computer system, comprising:
 a first display housing including a first display device therein;   a second display housing including a second display device therein;   one or more position and orientation sensors operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second display housings;   one or more processors operatively coupled to the first and second display devices and to the one or more position and orientation sensors, the one or more processors being configured to:
 generate a first set of items for presentation on the first display device, the first set of items including one or more virtual input devices configured to receive user input information from a user of the multi-display computer system; 
 generate a second set of items for presentation on the second display device; 
 upon receiving input information, modify presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items, wherein the received input information indicates that an orientation of the first display device and an orientation of the second display device have changed as detected by one or more sensors, the detected orientation changes indicating physical rotations of the first and second display devices; and 
 cause the modified presentation of the at least one of the first and second sets of items to be displayed on at least one of the first and second display devices. 
   
     
     
         12 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein modification of the presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items comprises swapping at least one item of content in either the first or the second set of items between the first display device and the second display device. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein modification of the presentation of at least one of the first and second sets of items comprises rotating the at least one of the first and second sets of items in at least one of the first display device or the second display device. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more virtual input devices includes a virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more virtual input devices includes a virtual mousepad. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein modification of the presentation comprises replacing a given one of the one or more virtual input devices with an element of interest. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second set of items comprises a set of user interface tools and a set of content of interest; and   display of the modified presentation comprises rotation of the set of user interface tools while the set of content of interest remains unrotated.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the second set of items corresponds to a log-in interface. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one item of the second set of items comprises a plurality of user icons each corresponding to a different user account. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-display computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the second set of items includes active content presented to the user in response to user input received by the one or more virtual input devices.