Patent Application
20150261424
The field of the invention generally relates to tablet computer systems. More particularly, the field of the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a tablet computer system comprising transition screens to entertain an end-user during otherwise boring periods while background operations are performed by the tablet computer.
Tablet computer typically include an interactive display screen, such as a touch screen, one or more navigation controls, and options provided by a software operating system to enable the end-user to interact with the operating system, and thus to use the tablet computer productively. While the end-user is interacting with the tablet computer, the operating system software performs a wide variety of continual background operations that are not directly observable to the end-user. Often times, these background operations require extensive quantities of computer memory, require a sharing of CPU cycles, or may cause a conflict in the use of shared resources, all of which potentially causing the computer to become unresponsive to the end-user's input. Many of these background operations occur at predetermined time periods, during which periods the end-user is presented with an icon, or other similar symbol such as an hourglass, which indicates that the end-user must wait for the background operations to finish before proceeding to further use the tablet computer. For some end-users, these time periods can be problematic. In the case of tablet computers that are intended for younger end-users, such as a child, for example, when the hourglass or other symbol appears for more than a few seconds, the child may become quickly bored with the tablet computer, put down the tablet computer, and then move on to other activities. What is needed, therefore, is a tablet computer that provides interesting content to end-users, such as young children, so to keep the end-users interested in the tablet computer during otherwise boring periods during which the tablet computer performs background operations and/or calculations.
The present invention describes an apparatus and a method for a tablet computer system to convey information to an end-user about background operations being performed by the tablet computer. The tablet computer comprises navigation controls and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when executed by the machine causes the machine to perform operations according to the instructions. An operating system stored on the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium enables the end-user to interact, with the operating system by way of options provided by the operating system and by way of the navigation controls. Transition screens stored on the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium are each configured to display symbolic imagery and relevant words on a display screen at predetermined times during operation of the tablet computer. The symbolic imagery and the words convey interesting information to the end-user about background operations being performed by the operating system. Audio soundtracks corresponding to the symbolic imagery and words on the display screen are configured to be played by way of loudspeakers of the tablet computer. The symbolic imagery may be a still image or an animated sequence which is context sensitive, where the context may be the operating environment, related operations, or even user settable. The symbolic imagery, the relevant words, and the audio soundtracks preferably share a common theme. For instance, the symbolic imagery may be an animated skit performed by a cartoon character, and the relevant words may be popular slogans or comments that are associated with the cartoon character. In another example, the transition screen may display an animation of a popular movie actor accompanied by well known sayings associated with the actor. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that an animated cartoon character and animated text advantageously serves to keep children interested in the tablet computer during otherwise boring periods during which the tablet computer and/or the operating system performs background operations.
In an exemplary embodiment, a tablet computer system comprises a tablet computer comprising one or more navigation controls and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when executed by the machine causes the machine to perform operations according to the instructions, an operating system comprising instructions that enable an end-user to interact with the operating system by way of the one or more navigation controls, wherein at least a portion of the operating system is stored on the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, at least one transition screen which is stored on the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, a display screen configured to display the at least one transition screen at predetermined times during operation of the tablet computer, and one or more loudspeakers configured to play audio soundtracks at predetermined times during operation of the tablet computer.
In another exemplary embodiment, the predetermined times are selected so as to entertain the end-user while other operations are performed by the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one transition screen comprises a software portion of the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one transition screen comprises a software program which is installed onto the tablet computer in addition to the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one transition screen is implemented as a portion of an internal hardware configuration of the tablet computer.
In another exemplary embodiment, each of the at least one transition screen further comprises a symbolic descriptor configured to display symbolic imagery on the display screen and a text descriptor configured to display words on the display screen. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor is a still image which is relevant to background operations being performed by the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor is a logo, an image of a popular sports personality, a picture of a famous movie star, a cartoon character, or any other similar image suitable for displaying on the display screen. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor and the text descriptor share a common theme. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor is a cartoon character and the text descriptor comprises popular slogans or comments that are associated with the cartoon character. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor is a movie actor and the text descriptor comprises well known sayings associated with the actor.
In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor is an animated sequence which conveys information to the end-user in an interesting manner about the background operations being performed by the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the tablet computer system is designed for children of a specific age group, wherein the symbolic descriptor is an animated sequence of a popular cartoon character performing a skit, and wherein the text descriptor comprises relevant words to accompany the symbolic descriptor. In another exemplary embodiment, the text descriptor is animated in addition to the symbolic descriptor, and the text descriptor moves according to the animated sequence comprising the symbolic descriptor. In another exemplary embodiment, the letters comprising the text descriptor change size, shape, color, order, orientation, or other similar attributes, according to the animation comprising the symbolic descriptor.
In another exemplary embodiment, the tablet computer system plays audio soundtracks, by way of the one or more loudspeakers, which shares the common theme with the symbolic descriptor and the text descriptor. In another exemplary embodiment, the symbolic descriptor and the one or more loudspeakers are synchronized such that the animated cartoon character appears to be saying the words played over the one or more loudspeakers.
In an exemplary embodiment, a method of providing a tablet computer system to an end-user comprises providing a tablet computer comprising one or more navigation controls and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when executed by the machine causes the machine to perform operations according to the instructions, storing an operating system onto the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, wherein the operating system contains instructions that enable the end-user to interact with the operating system by way of options provided by the operating system and by way of the one or more navigation controls, storing at least one transition screen on the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, displaying the at least one transition screen on the display screen at predetermined times during operation of the tablet computer, and configuring one or more loudspeakers to play audio soundtracks at predetermined times during operation of the tablet computer.
In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one transition screen comprises a software portion of the operating system, or comprises a software program which is installed onto the tablet computer in addition to the operating system. In another exemplary embodiment, the method of providing a tablet computer system to an end-user further comprising configuring each of the at least one transition screens to display symbolic imagery and relevant words on the display screen, wherein the symbolic imagery and the words convey interesting information to the end-user while background operations are being performed by the operating system.
The drawings refer to embodiments of the present invention in which:
While the present invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Further specific numeric references such as “a first opening,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first opening” is different than a “second opening.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In general, the present invention describes an apparatus and a method for a tablet computer system to convey information to an end-user about background operations being performed by the tablet computer. The tablet computer comprises navigation controls and a software operating system that enables the end-user to interact with the operating system by way of options provided by the operating system and by way of the navigation controls. Transition screens stored on a storage medium of the tablet computer are each configured to display symbolic imagery and relevant text, or words, on a display screen at predetermined times, and for predetermined durations, during operation of the tablet computer. The transition screens convey context sensitive information to the end-user in an interesting manner about background operations being performed by the operating system, related operations, or may be user settable. The transition screens may comprise still images or animated sequences that are relevant to the operations being performed by the operating system. Audio soundtracks corresponding to the content of the transition screens are configured to be played by way of loudspeakers of the tablet computer. Preferably, the content of the transition screens and the audio soundtracks share a common theme. For example, the transition screen may be comprised of an image or an animated skit performed by a cartoon character, and the relevant text may be popular slogans or comments that are associated with the cartoon character. Similarly, the transition screen may display an animation of a famous actor accompanied by well known sayings attributed to the actor.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The navigation controls 124 enable the end-user to operate the tablet computer 104, in addition to software controls which may be displayed on the touch screen 116. Typical navigation controls 124 that are familiar to end-users may include, but are not necessarily limited to, a Back button, a Home button, and a Shortcut Menu button. Also familiar to many end-users are the status indicators 128, which may include, but are not necessarily limited to, a Clock, a WiFi Signal Strength indicator, and a Recycle Bin or Trash Can icon. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of symbols and functions may be used for, or associated with, the navigation controls 124 and the status indicators 128 without deviating from the scope of the invention.
As illustrated in
The tablet computer 104 further comprises a Micro Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 212 which is suitably configured to enable the end-user to connect the tablet computer 104 to an external computer by way of a USB cable. In one embodiment, the Micro USB connection may enable the end-user to install software applications from the tablet computer 104 onto the external computer. In another embodiment, the Micro USB connection may enable transferring photographs and video data files from the Micro SD card to the external computer. Moreover, the Micro USB connection may enable the tablet computer 104 to be powered by the external computer by way of the USB cable. It will be recognized that the Micro USB connection may be further utilized to charge an internal battery of the tablet computer 104 by way of power from the external computer or a power adapter which receives electrical power form a power outlet.
The tablet computer 104 further comprises a power adapter port 216 which is suitably configured to receive a power adapter cord which receives electrical power from a power outlet. In one embodiment, the power adapter port 216 may be configured to receive direct current (DC) at 5.0 volts (V) from the power adapter. In another embodiment, the power adapter may be configured to receive alternating current (AC) at between substantially 100V and 240V from the power outlet.
In the exemplary embodiment of
The tablet computer 104 further comprises a headphone jack 224 which enables the end-user to plug in external headphone speakers. When external headphone speakers are plugged into the headphone jack 224, audible sounds that are otherwise played by way of the loudspeakers within the tablet computer 104 are instead played by way of the external headphone speakers. In an embodiment, the loudspeakers within the tablet computer 104 are disabled when the external headphone speakers are plugged into the headphone jack 224. In one embodiment, the headphone jack 224 is a 3.5 mm Standard Audio Jack. In another embodiment, the headphone jack 224 may be configured for use with external loudspeakers that are larger and/or more powerful than the loudspeakers within the tablet computer 104. A wide variety of uses, configurations, and alternative forms of the headphone jack 224 will be apparent to those skilled in the art without deviating from the present invention.
In the exemplary embodiment of
It is envisioned that the transition screens 130 will be not only interesting to the end-user, but also be contextual and convey information to the end-user about background operations being performed by the tablet computer 104 during the time the transition screen 130 is displayed. For example, the transition screen 130, as illustrated in
In an embodiment, the symbolic descriptor 134 may be a still image which is relevant to the background operations being performed by the tablet computer 104. For example, the symbolic descriptor 134 may be, but is not necessarily limited to, a logo, an image of a popular sports personality, a picture of a famous movie star, a cartoon character, or any other similar image suitable for displaying on the touch screen 130. Moreover, it is envisioned that the symbolic descriptor 134 and the text descriptor 138 share a common theme. For instance, in an embodiment wherein the symbolic descriptor 134 is a cartoon character, the text descriptor 138 may comprise popular slogans or comments that are associated with the cartoon character. Similarly, in an embodiment wherein the symbolic descriptor 134 is a movie actor, the text descriptor 138 may be well known sayings associated with the actor. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of different context-based transition screens 130 may be utilized with the tablet computer 104.
In an embodiment, the symbolic descriptor 134 may be an animated sequence which conveys interesting information to the end-user about the background operations being performed by the tablet computer 104. For example, in an embodiment illustrated in
It will be appreciated that audio may be advantageously included with the text and animations discussed above. In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in
It will be appreciated that, in one embodiment, the software used to facilitate the transition screens discussed herein may be embodied onto a non-transitory machine-readable medium. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism that stores information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; Digital VideoDisc (DVD's), EPROMs, EEPROMs, FLASH memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.
While some specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown the invention is not to be limited to these embodiments. For example, most functions performed by electronic hardware components may be duplicated by software emulation. Thus, a software program written to accomplish those same functions may emulate the functionality of the hardware components in input-output circuitry. The invention is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.
