Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Sean Thomas Congden

Arnaud Marie Froment

Brett Nathan Lynnes

Gy Stuart Fullmer

Kenneth Paul Kiraly

Levon Dolbakian

Nadim Awad

Wendy Chiu Fai Wong

Seetha Lakshmi Annamraju

Users can switch between applications using contextual interface elements. These elements can include icons for applications determined to likely be accessed by the user for a current context. Information is gathered to determine the current context, then information such as patterns of historical usage are utilized to determine and rank the applications by likelihood of use. Different contexts can include different icons, and a given context can include different icons for different points in time or locations. A user can access a contextual interface element by performing a swipe motion, for example. The user can continue the motion to an area associated with an icon of interest, and perform an action such as a tap or release to cause the associated application to be launched. Such an approach enables a user to quickly and easily launch another application independent of the application currently active on the device.

Contextual launch interfaces

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for generating a baseline use profile that indicates typical patterns of use of a device over time, transitioning the device to a challenge mode when sensor data indicates a deviation from the baseline use profile by more than a permissible tolerance, presenting challenges to the user while in the challenge mode, and determining whether to restrict or allow access to device functionality based on user responses to the challenges.

Automatic determination of device mode based on use characteristics

A handheld electronic device determines its position in a moving vehicle based on changes in air pressure that occur when the vehicle undergoes acceleration. Based on a direction of acceleration that correlates to a subsequent reduction in air pressure, a determination is made as to whether the device is in the front left, front right, back left, or back right quadrant of the vehicle. The device then alters its configuration based on the quadrant in which it is located.

Determining user's seating position in vehicle using barometer and motion sensors

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Sean Thomas Congden