TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention generally relates to manipulation of notifications in computing devices.
More particularly, the invention relates to methods and devices for performing actions from a
notification area in a graphical user interface.
BACKGROUND
With increasing number of applications that can be installed in smart devices, such as
smartphones, tablets, phablets, smart TV, etc., users are generally bombarded with a large
number of notifications. Conventionally, users have to open application corresponding to
each of such notification one by one, by clicking on the same through a notification area,
which is also called notification bar or notification drawer. It is a tedious and very timeconsuming
task, especially in case of large number of notifications. Such large number of
notifications is common nowadays due to increased internet connectivity and a large number
of applications provided and/or installed in the smart devices.
Some existing systems provide features such as: (1) eliminating a need to switch
between the applications to check if a particular event has happened or not; (2) displaying
multiple notifications and handling of this notification in terms of background and fore
ground process; (3) clubbing notifications together based on relatedness to save screen space;
(4) drawing multiple windows in a browser using applets; and (5) drawing multiple windows
and relating them to each other so that the action performed on one window can
automatically be applied to the other window. Despite the previously mentioned teachings, it
can be said that there is still need to provide for improvements in this area of technology as
existing system just define how the multiple notifications should be displayed and application
corresponding to it can be controlled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied
and broadly described herein, provides a solution that allows users to address multiple
notifications in a single go. For example, multiple applications pertaining to the received
notifications can be launched at a time. This solution provides an exemplary set of predefined
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gestures recognizable on the notification bar. This solution also provides exemplary actions
that can be preconfigured with said gestures. Gesture and action mapping can be
preconfigured or can be edited by the user as part of settings of the computing device.
Further, this solution allows a user to map gesture and actions corresponding to it in order to
create a unique and user-friendly approach specific to his/her device.
In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of notifications is received. Each of
the plurality of notifications notifies that an event has occurred. Then each notification is
displayed in a notification area of a graphical user interface. A gesture input pertaining to the
plurality of notifications may be received. Accordingly, an action preconfigured with said
gesture input may be performed.
In another embodiment of the invention, a notification notifying that an event has
occurred is received. The notification is displayed in the notification area of the graphical
user interface, while at least one other application is in use in foreground. A gesture input
pertaining to the notification displayed in the notification area is received. Accordingly, an
action preconfigured with said gesture input is performed. Said action involves the first
application as well as said at least one other application.
As of now, no gesture detection is available on notification bar in existing systems
and only one notification can be handled on notification bar at a time. Therefore, the present
solution is very useful for multi-window architecture and allows handling notifications in a
very user friendly, easy, and optimized manner.
These and other aspects as well as advantages will be more clearly understood from
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
To further clarify advantages and aspects of the invention, a more particular
description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof,
which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict
only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
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its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1-2 illustrate exemplary methods for performing actions from a notification
area in a graphical user interface of a computing device, in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary computing device capable of performing actions
from a notification area of its graphical user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a user case for performing actions from a notification area in a
graphical user interface of a computing device, according to prior art.
Figures 5-9 illustrate exemplary user cases for performing actions from a notification
area in a graphical user interface of a computing device, according to various embodiments of
the invention.
Figures 10-18 illustrate exemplary gestures for a notification area of graphical user
interface of a computing device, according to various embodiments of the invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals have been used to
represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been
necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the
drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of
aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented
in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific
details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to
obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the
embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be
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implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The
present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings,
and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation
illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended
claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.”
Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all”
would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no
embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments.
Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one
embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and
illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit,
restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,”
“comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact
limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more
features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude
the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise
stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once,
either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or
“at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or
more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature
or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one
or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific
terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one
having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an
embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements
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presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of
illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements
of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a
further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”
“multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further
embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do
NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more
particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments
may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be
found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more
features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment,
or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the
context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately
or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements
described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing
together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some
embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the
attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context
of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
In the present description examples of a gesture include but are not limited to touch
gesture and any of non-touch gestures. Touch gesture may be in form of tapping a finger,
swiping a finger, pinching fingers together, moving fingers apart, etc., against the touch
screen. Alternatively, the touch input may be provided thumb, stylus, S-pen®, etc. While
non-touch gestures include gestures, such as a hover gesture (e.g., waving a hand, pointing,
hovering for at least a threshold period of time, flicking a finger, swiping a palm or finger(s)
of the hand, pinching fingers together, moving fingers apart, etc., without touching the touch
screen), a gaze gesture (e.g., gazing for at least a threshold period of time), a look-and-blink
gesture (e.g., blinking while looking), a voice gesture (e.g., saying a command), etc., or any
combination thereof.
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Embodiments described herein focus on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone.
However, the described embodiments can be applied to any device with a touch screen or
non-touch screen, including laptop computers, tablets, phablets, desktop computers,
televisions, set top box (STB), gaming devices, wearable devices, etc.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary method (100) for performing actions from a
notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. Here, notification area is
dedicated space in the graphical user interface that indicates arrival of a notification to a user.
Generally, the user can expand this notification area to see the details of notification. The
notification area can also be called notification window, or notification panel, or notification
bar, or notification drawer etc.
In one embodiment, the method (100) comprises: receiving (101) a plurality of
notifications, each of the plurality of notifications notifying that an event has occurred;
displaying (102) the plurality of notifications in a notification area; receiving (103) a gesture
input pertaining to the plurality of notifications; and performing (104) an action
preconfigured with said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the method (100) comprises preconfiguring (105) the action
with said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the method (100) comprises receiving (106) a user input to
expand the notification area in the graphical user interface; and expanding (107), in response
to the user input, the notification area in the graphical user interface.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, performing (104) the action comprises performing
functionality other than just opening an application corresponding to each of the plurality of
notifications.
In a further embodiment, performing (104) the action comprises opening an
application corresponding to each of the plurality of notifications in a multi-window mode.
In a further embodiment, wherein performing (104) the action further comprises:
clubbing (108) the application with all other applications opened thereby; and storing (109)
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this clubbing preference for later use during display of a notification generated by said
application.
In a further embodiment, said clubbing preference can be edited or deleted though
another gesture input.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary method (200) for performing actions from a
notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device.
In one embodiment, the method (200) comprises: receiving (201), from a first
application, a notification notifying that an event has occurred; displaying (202) the
notification in the notification area while at least one other application is in use in
foreground; receiving (203) a gesture input pertaining to the notification displayed in the
notification area; and performing (204) an action preconfigured to with said gesture input, the
action involving the first application and said at least one other application.
In a further embodiment, performing (204) the action comprises opening the first
application with said at least one other application in a multi-window mode.
In a further embodiment, performing (204) the action comprises performing
functionality other than just opening the first application.
In a further embodiment, the method (200) comprises preconfiguring the action with
said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the method (200) comprises receiving (206) a user input to
expand the notification area of the graphical user interface; and expanding (207), in response
to the user input, the notification area of the graphical user input.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary computing device (300), which may comprise one
or more of a data processor (301), a data storage (302), a GUI, i.e., graphical user interface
display (303), a notification manager (301), a rendering engine (302), and a gesture
recognition (303).
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In one embodiment, the computing device (300) capable of performing actions from a
notification area of its graphical user interface comprises: a notification manager (304)
configured to receive a plurality of notifications, each of the plurality of notifications
notifying that an event has occurred; a rendering engine (305) configured to display the
plurality of notifications in the notification area of a graphical user interface of the computing
device; a gesture recogniser (306) configured to receive a gesture input pertaining to the
plurality of notifications; and a data processor (301) configured to perform an action
preconfigured with said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the graphical user interface (303) allows preconfiguring the
action with said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the notification manager (304) is configured to receive a
user input to expand the notification area of the graphical user interface (303), and wherein
the rendering engine (305) is configured to expand, in response to the user input, the
notification area of the graphical user interface (303).
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, the data processor (301) is configured to perform
functionality other than just opening an application corresponding to each of the plurality of
notifications.
In a further embodiment, the data processor (301) is configured to open an application
corresponding to each of the plurality of notifications in a multi-window mode.
In a further embodiment, the data processor (301) is configured to club the application
with all other applications opened thereby, and store this clubbing preference in the data
storage (302) for use during display of a notification generated by same application.
In a further embodiment, said clubbing preference can be edited or deleted though
another gesture input.
In one embodiment, the computing device (300) for performing actions from a
notification area of its graphical user interface (303) comprises: a notification manager (304)
configured to receive, from a first application, a notification notifying that an event has
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occurred; a rendering engine (305) configured to display the notification in the notification
area while at least one other application is in use in foreground; a gesture recogniser (306)
configured to receive a gesture input pertaining to the notification displayed in the
notification area; and a data processor (301) configured to perform an action preconfigured
with said gesture input, the action involving the first application and said at least one other
application.
In a further embodiment, the data processor (301) is configured to open the first
application with said at least one other application in a multi-window mode.
In a further embodiment, the data processor (301) is configured to perform
functionality other than just opening the first application.
In a further embodiment, the graphical user interface (303) allows preconfiguring the
action with said gesture input.
In a further embodiment, the notification manager (304) is configured to receive a
user input to expand the notification area of the graphical user interface (303), and wherein
the rendering engine (305) is configured to expand, in response to the user input, the
notification area of the graphical user interface (303).
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a touch gesture.
In a further embodiment, the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
Figure 4 illustrates a use case (400), as per prior art, for performing actions from a
notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. At the outset, a user
expands the notification bar, for instance, by pulling down the notification bar, upon
receiving notifications, for example, Notification 1 and Notification 2 (Step 401). After that,
the user clicks on any notification, say, Notification 2 (Step 402). An application
corresponding to notification 2 is opened (Step 403). To respond to other notifications, the
same process may be repeated.
Figure 5 illustrates a use case (500), as per invention, for performing actions from a
notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. Here also, a user
expands the notification bar, for instance, by pulling down the notification bar, upon
receiving notifications (Step 501). However, the user slides the desired notifications to left or
right direction simultaneously (Step 502). Accordingly, applications corresponding to these
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notifications are opened in multi-window mode/architecture (Step 503). This allows the user
to address multiple notifications at a single go rather than going by each notification
individually. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in examples used in this
specification relate to two touch scenarios, but the invention is applicable to any number of
touch gestures. For example, three notifications can be simultaneously manipulated with
three fingers, while four notifications can be manipulated with four fingers to open
applications corresponding to these notifications simultaneously.
In the present use case, there is a predefined mapping of a gesture to particular action,
i.e., the gesture of sliding notifications together on left side results into action of opening both
the applications simultaneously in multi window mode and this preference is stored for usage
with notifications. Apart from this, an additional functionality may also be performed. For
example, the computing device can store a specific combination of applications for opening
next time. Thus, user preference can be stored and the same can be used for future iterations.
Figure 6 illustrates another user case (600), as per invention, for performing actions
from a notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. The additional
functionality described above is depicted in this figure (Step 601). As shown, the
combination opened last time can be represented by icons clubbed together (605) on the right
hand side of the notification. If the user simply clicks that set of icons, both the applications
will open in Multi-window architecture. In this way, the user need not do left swipe on both
the notifications. Furthermore, the user can slide only one notification to left and application
corresponding to that notification together with the other application (saved originally when
both notifications were swept to left) of the combination will be opened in the multi window
mode/architecture. However, if the user, again swipes one notification (which is already
clubbed with other notification when swept to the left last time) with some new notification,
then this new set will override the old set. In this way, the user can store and modify the
preference for opening multiple applications from notification bar.
For example, the user has received three notifications in the notification bar with an
indication that Notification 1 and Notification 2 were opened together last time (step 601).
After that, the user slides notifications 2 & 3 together to left (step 602). Now the
corresponding applications will be opened in multi window mode (step 603). At the same
time, the store user preference will be modified to a new combination (606) of applications
corresponding to the notifications 2 & 3. In this way, if the user wants to open and store the
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different combination of applications for quick open from notification bar, the user simply
needs to swipe both the notifications on the left side. Even if the application corresponding to
that notification is clubbed with any other application due to the user previously swiping it
with that notification on left side last time, such changes will be overridden and the latest
two notifications slided together on left will be clubbed for future iterations.
The overall left swipe operation is summarized below. Whenever the user slides any
two notifications on left (irrespective of that they are already clubbed with any other
notification), both the applications will open in the multi window mode and this preference is
stored. If the user only swipes one notification to the left which is already clubbed with other
notification last time, both the applications will open in the multi window mode. If the user
clicks the clubbed notification icon displayed on right hand side corner of notification, both
the applications will open in the multi window architecture. If the user slides only one
notification to the left, which is not clubbed, with any other notification, then it will be
removed from notification bar as it ideally happens.
Figure 7 illustrates another user case (700), as per invention, for performing actions
from a notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. In this use case,
the gesture of sliding notifications together on right side is preconfigured to the action of
opening both the applications simultaneously in multi window mode without storing the
preference. In other words, sliding the multiple notifications together on right side will open
the applications (corresponding to those notifications) in a multi window mode irrespective of
whether it is already clubbed with any other notification or not as shown in the Figure 7 as a
whole. Therefore, even if Notifications 1 & 2 are clubbed (705) to open corresponding
applications together in multi window mode (step 701), yet the user wants to open
applications corresponding to Notifications 1 and 3 together. Then, the user can simply slide
the notifications 1 & 3 to right side (step 702) and the applications corresponding to both the
notifications will open in multi window mode (step 703). However, the user preference will
not change, i.e., notifications 1 & 2 will remain clubbed with each other for future iterations.
The overall right swipe operation is summarized below. If the user slides multiple
notifications together on the right hand side, applications corresponding to that notification
will be opened in multi window mode. It will not affect the user preference of previously
clubbed notifications. If the user slides only one notification to the right, which is not clubbed
with any other notification, then it will be removed from notification bar.
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Figure 8 illustrates another user case (800), as per invention, for performing actions
from a notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. In this use case,
the action of sliding notification downwards is preconfigured with the action of giving the
user option to edit/delete the preference stored for corresponding notifications. In other
words, when the user slides the single notification downwards on the notification bar, the user
will get the option to either delete the stored preference (stored while sliding different
notifications together on left hand side) or define the new preferences for that notification.
First, the user opens the notification bar by pulling it downwards. One or more of the
applications corresponding to the notifications shown in the expanded notification bar may be
clubbed (805) with any other application. Then the user drags down a particular notification,
say Notification 1 (step 801). Then the option to delete (806) the already set notification
clubbing preference and/or the option to define (807) the new preference will appear (step
802). Suppose, the user chooses the option defines the new preference (step 803). This new
preference will be stored and will appear in future iterations (step 804)
Figure 9 illustrates another user case (900), as per invention, for performing actions
from a notification area in a graphical user interface of a computing device. In this use case,
the action of sliding a notification upwards is preconfigured with the action of opening that
application for the notification clicked (or selected from notification bar) in the multi window
simultaneously with the application already running on the computing device before opening
the notification window. In other words, when the user opens the notification bar and slides
the notification upwards, the application corresponding to that notification will open
simultaneously with the application already running (before dragging the notification bar) on
the main screen in multi window mode/architecture. For example, suppose, a user is using
App 3 on the computing device (step 901). The user receives the notifications from App 1 &
2 (step 901). After that, the user opens the notification bar to see these notifications. Now the
user opens wants to open the App 2 (for which notification 2 is received) together with the
App 3 (application running before the notification bar was dragged down), the user slides the
notification corresponding to App 2 in upwards direction (step 902). App 2 (corresponding to
the notification slided upwards) open ups simultaneously with the App 3 (running on the
main screen when notification bar was dragged) in the multi window mode (step 903).
In one implementation, any gesture can be preconfigured with any action by the user
based on his/her convenience; otherwise, a predefined mapping may be used for this purpose.
This gives more control to the user over the computing device, which optimizes the usage of
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Multi-window mode/architecture in the computing device. Further, it will help to enhance the
user experience, where the user can address multiple notifications from notification bar
simultaneously. Further, it saves lots of time, as the user does not have to open each
notification individually.
Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary gesture (1000) for the notification area, according
to an embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is left slide of at least two notifications
together. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1001), the user may put his/her
fingers on desired notifications (step 1002) and then left swipe the desired notifications
together (step 1003). In one example, the action of “opening both the applications
simultaneously in multi window and store this preference to be used with notifications” may
be preconfigured with said gesture. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
preconfigured combinations of gestures and actions are illustrative only and any gesture can
be preconfigured with any action by the user. For instance, the left swipe gesture may be
rather preconfigured with the action of “opening applications corresponding to both the
notifications in opposite direction (at an angle of 180 degree) so that two users can work at
the same time on a computing device having sufficiently wide display screen, such as tablet
or phablet type devices.
Figure 11 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1100) for the notification area,
according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is right slide of at least two
notifications together. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1101), the user
may put his/her fingers on desired notifications (step 1102) and then right swipe the desired
notifications together (step 1103). In one example, the action of “opening both the
applications simultaneously in multi window without storing the preference” may be
preconfigured with said gesture.
Figure 12 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1200) for the notification area,
according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide one notification to
left and another to right simultaneously. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step
1201), the user may put his/her fingers on desired notifications (step 1202) and then swipe
one notification to left and other to right at the same time (step 1203). In one example, the
action of “giving the user option to edit/delete the preference stored for corresponding
notifications” may be preconfigured with said gesture.
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Figure 13 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1300) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide notification
downwards. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1301), the user may put a
finger on a desired notification (step 1302) and then swipe it downwards (step 1303). In one
example, the action of “opening the application for the notification clicked (or selected from
notification bar) in the multi window simultaneously with the application already running on
the phone prior to opening the notification window” may be preconfigured with said gesture.
Figure 14 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1400) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide notification
upwards. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1401), the user may put a
finger on a desired notification (step 1402) and then swipe it upwards (step 1403). In one
example, the action of “opening both the application simultaneously one after another (not
together in Multi window) in a standalone screen” may be preconfigured with said gesture.
Figure 15 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1500) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide one
notification upwards and other downwards (moving away with each other). When multiple
notifications appear on a screen (step 1501), the user may put his/her fingers on desired
notifications (step 1502) and then swipe one notification upwards and other one to downward
to move them away from each other (step 1503). In one example, the action of “opening
application corresponding to one application in full screen mode and open the other
application (corresponding to other notification) on the top of it with smaller size like PIP
(picture in picture)” may be preconfigured with said gesture.
Figure 16 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1600) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide notifications
toward each other in vertically direction, i.e., collide the notifications with each other. When
multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1601), the user may put his/her fingers on
desired notifications (step 1602) and then swipe one notification upwards and other one to
downward to collide them with each other (step 1503). In one example, the action of
“securing applications corresponding to those notifications and requiring password to open
them” may be preconfigured with said gesture.
Figure 17 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1700) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to drag one
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notification on another. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1701), the user
may put a finger on a desired notification (step 1702) and then drag it over another
notification (step 1703) in order to combine said two notifications (step 1704). In one
example, the action of “barring selected notifications from reappearing in the notification bar
unless unblocked from the Settings >> Notifications menu” may be preconfigured with said
gesture.
Figure 18 illustrates another exemplary gesture (1800) for the notification area,
according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, the gesture is to slide notifications
in a zigzag way together. When multiple notifications appear on a screen (step 1801), the user
may put his/her fingers on desired notifications (step 1802) and then to slide notifications in
zigzag way together (step 1803). In one example, the action of “opening application
corresponding to both the notifications, but for one application window will be frozen, i.e.,
touch will be disable on that window” may be preconfigured with said gesture. For example,
If a user opens a video player in one application with any other application, based on the
gesture, the video player window will open in frozen mode, i.e., video will keep on playing
but touch will be disabled. It is useful in cases, when the user just wants to watch the other
window while simultaneously work in one window.
While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated
and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For
example, the invention is not limited to the gestures and actions illustrated and described
therein. Any other gestures than those described in the present description may be
implemented to perform any sort of action from notification area within the scope of the
invention. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within
the scope of the following claims.

WE CLAIMS:-
1. A method for performing actions from a notification area in a graphical user interface of
a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of notifications, each of the plurality of notifications
notifying that an event has occurred;
displaying the plurality of notifications in a notification area;
receiving a gesture input pertaining to the plurality of notifications; and
performing an action preconfigured with said gesture input.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
preconfiguring the action with said gesture input.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a user input to expand the notification area in the graphical user
interface;
expanding, in response to the user input, the notification area in the graphical user
interface.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gesture input is a touch gesture.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the action comprises: performing
a functionality other than just opening an application corresponding to each of the
plurality of notifications.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the action comprises: opening an
application corresponding to each of the plurality of notifications in a multi-window
mode.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein performing the action further comprises:
clubbing the application with all other applications opened thereby; and
storing this clubbing preference for later use during display of a notification
generated by said application.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said clubbing preference can be edited or
deleted though another gesture input.
10. A method for performing actions from a notification area in a graphical user interface of
a computing device, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a first application, a notification notifying that an event has
occurred;
displaying the notification in the notification area while at least one other
application is in use in foreground;
receiving a gesture input pertaining to the notification displayed in the
notification area; and
performing an action preconfigured with said gesture input, the action involving
the first application and said at least one other application.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein performing the action comprises:
opening the first application with said at least one other application in a multiwindow
mode.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein performing the action comprises:
performing a functionality other than just opening the first application.
13. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:
preconfiguring the action with said gesture input.
14. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:
receiving a user input to expand the notification area of the graphical user
interface; and
expanding, in response to the user input, the notification area of the graphical user
input.
15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gesture input is a touch gesture.
16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gesture input is a non-touch gesture.
17. A computing device capable of performing actions from a notification area of its
graphical user interface, the computing device comprising:
a notification manager configured to receive a plurality of notifications, each of
the plurality of notifications notifying that an event has occurred;
a rendering engine configured to display the plurality of notifications in the
notification area of a graphical user interface of the computing device;
a gesture recogniser configured to receive a gesture input pertaining to the
plurality of notifications; and
a data processor configured to perform an action preconfigured with said gesture
input.
18. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface
allows preconfiguring the action with said gesture input.
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19. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the notification manager is
configured to receive a user input to expand the notification area of the graphical user
interface, and wherein the rendering engine is configured to expand, in response to the
user input, the notification area of the graphical user interface.
20. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the gesture input is a touch
gesture.
21. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the gesture input is a non-touch
gesture.
22. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data processor is configured
to perform a functionality other than just opening an application corresponding to each of
the plurality of notifications.
23. The computing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data processor is configured
to open an application corresponding to each of the plurality of notifications in a multiwindow
mode.
24. The computing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the data processor is configured
to club the application with all other applications opened thereby, and store this clubbing
preference in a data storage for use during display of a notification generated by same
application.
25. The computing device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said clubbing preference can be
edited or deleted though another gesture input.
26. A computing device for performing actions from a notification area of its graphical user
interface, the computing device comprising:
a notification manager configured to receive, from a first application, a
notification notifying that an event has occurred;
a rendering engine configured to display the notification in the notification area
while at least one other application is in use in foreground;
a gesture recogniser configured to receive a gesture input pertaining to the
notification displayed in the notification area; and
a data processor configured to perform an action preconfigured with said gesture
input, the action involving the first application and said at least one other application.
27. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the data processor is configured
to open the first application with said at least one other application in a multi-window
mode.
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28. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the data processor is configured
to perform a functionality other than just opening the first application.
29. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphical user interface
allows preconfiguring the action with said gesture input.
30. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the notification manager is
configured to receive a user input to expand the notification area of the graphical user
interface, and wherein the rendering engine is configured to expand, in response to the
user input, the notification area of the graphical user interface.
31. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gesture input is a touch
gesture.
32. The computing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gesture input is a non-touch
gesture.