Being Manan is reporting on a recently published Apple patent application that describes the ability to add individual contacts to the homescreen. This would allow quick access to specific contacts and all the functions associated with them(email, phone, etc).
Users can create icons for a mobile device, where the icons can represent often accessed user contacts. User created icons can allow convenient access to all information and applications related to a contact. Thus, consecutive access to applications related to a contact can be greatly diminished.
The patent application goes on to mention a feature where a contact would appear on a user’s homescreen, when in close proximity to that person. The patent also suggests the use of proximity-based advertising using a functionality similar to the proximity-based contacts. This advertising model would allow nearby businesses to offer information to users in the form of a contact.
In some implementations, a contact 610 can temporarily appear on a mobile device 100 when the mobile device 100 is within a determined proximity of a contact host. The contact host can be a server or device operated by an individual, entity or service capable of providing the icon and related application information. In the present example, the contact host is a server operated by a coffee house called “Rocket Java”. An alert can be presented on the mobile device 100 to indicate that a temporary contact or application is available to the mobile device 100. In one example, the alert can have two options: “dismiss” and “view contact.” After the contact has been viewed, other options can be presented, including options like “add to local contacts” or “save to the home screen.”
This system would allow for user customization, so the user could chose wether to allow the ad to automatically show up on the homescreen or be prompted with options on what to do next.
This patent application was filed on July 9th, 2008 and was published yesterday.
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