WO2007006759A1 - Method for viewing browsing on a terminal screen, corresponding terminal, server and computer programmes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for viewing browsing on a terminal screen including the following steps: sectioning said screen surface into a set of faceplates, and assigning to each of said faceplate at least one icon; viewing on said screen in a first so-called reduced mode and in at least one second so-called large mode; at least one step of shifting from the current viewing mode to a next viewing mode, under the action of at least one command; associating a representation with each of said faceplates, in said large display mode corresponding to a reduced view of said generic view of said faceplate such as in said reduced display mode or a view of the generic representation of the icons of said faceplate, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, in accordance with parameters of said faceplate.

Description

METHOD OF VISUALIZING NAVIGATION ON A SCREEN OF A TERMINAL, TERMINAL, SERVER AND CORRESPONDING COMPUTER PROGRAMS.

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of navigation through applications and files available within terminals. More precisely, the invention relates to the navigation and the visualization of elements, in the form of a representation (each representative of an application or a file) on a screen, in particular of small size, for example for terminals, such as mobile phones or personal assistants. 2. Solutions of the prior art

2.1 Prior Art

The vast majority of terminals have technical features that allow them to run many applications. These capabilities also allow you to ship more and more applications: media players, email readers, calendars, calendars, alarm clocks, document readers, connectivity applications, and more. However, the navigation functionalities within these applications are heterogeneous and complex, in particular because of the small size of the screens, and the lack of complete visualization. As a result, terminal manufacturers offer access to these new applications in the form of a list of icons or a list of descriptive texts, or both. These applications are generally accessible after a run through the functional menus and lists of elements displayed on the screens of the terminals. The same approach is used for the representation of the files. The general principle retained by all terminal manufacturers is to propose a "desk" where a set of icons is arranged. The number of icons displayed is usually limited. When the terminal has many applications and files, the user must first navigate through the representative icons until he finds the one he is looking for. When it selects the icon in question, the terminal then proposes a list of applications or files accessible. When this list is consistent, only some of the first items in the list are displayed. The user must then scroll through this list to find the desired application or file.

Other navigation principles have been proposed, such as the principle of scrolling on a wheel. The applications and files contained in the terminal are then displayed on a wheel represented in two or three dimensions. The user can rotate this wheel to scroll through the elements that compose it.

2.2 Disadvantages of the Prior Art A disadvantage of these techniques of the prior art is that the addition of new functions or applications in the graphical environment of the terminal greatly complicates navigation. This is for example the case of navigation using the principle of the wheel, whose aesthetic effect is undeniable, but the principle of adding new wheels to each new menu traveled destabilizes the user. This problem of presentation and ergonomics is all the more important as the screen is small.

Another disadvantage of these techniques of the prior art is that applications and files become difficult to find in the various menus when their number increases. Indeed, the more applications installed in the terminal, the more menus and sub-menus to access them. In addition, the newly installed menus and icons are often not very descriptive, so that the user may have great difficulty locating an application he has just installed.

Yet another disadvantage of these prior art techniques is that the user does not have a global view of the applications that are installed. Indeed, to find an application whose location it does not know, the user has no other option than to explore in turn all the menus hiding behind the icons that are displayed, until identifies the desired application. A corollary of the above drawback is that the user often has only a limited view of some of the proposed applications. Indeed, the applications being presented in the form of a list, of which each element generally comprises an icon followed or preceded by a descriptive text, the user does not usually see more than four constituent elements of this list at a time. Consequently, if the user wishes to search for a particular application whose location he does not know, he must also scroll through all the elements present in the lists in order to be sure not to miss the desired application. Another disadvantage of these techniques of the prior art is the low degree of customization available to the user. Indeed, in the majority of the cases, the user is not able to personalize the presentation of the applications installed on his terminal. At most, the customization possibilities are limited to moving the position of icons. 3. Objectives of the invention

The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

More precisely, an object of the invention is to provide a visualization and navigation technique within the applications installed on the mobile terminals and associated files which is simple and ergonomic for the users.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a technique that does not complicate navigation when the number of installed applications increases.

The invention also aims to provide such a technique that allows the user to have a global view of the applications installed on his terminal.

More precisely, an object of the invention is to provide such a technique that enables the user to easily reach the applications he is looking for using this global view. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a technique which allows a global and simplified configuration of the presentation of the applications installed on the user's terminal.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved by means of a method of visualization of at least one graphical representation, representing an application and / or a file. , and navigation on a screen of a terminal. According to the invention, such a method comprises the following steps: cutting the surface of said screen into a set of zones, called slabs, and assigning to each of said slabs a set of at least one icon; viewing on said screen:

in a first visualization mode, said reduced, of a single slab;

in at least one second, so-called wide, viewing mode of at least two of said slabs; at least one step of passing from one of said first mode and said second mode (s) to a following one of said first mode and said one or two second modes under the action of minus an order provided for this purpose; associating a representation with each of said slabs, in said wide presentation mode corresponding to:

a reduced view of said slab as viewed in said reduced presentation mode; or

a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, according to a threshold applied to the number and / or the format icons present in said set of icons assigned to said slab. Thus, the invention is based on a new approach to viewing applications and files installed on screen terminals, particularly well suited for terminals with small screens. In other words, the invention is based on a simple and ergonomic approach to navigation among the applications and the files installed on terminals by proposing a cutting of a screen into viewing slabs and providing the user with at least one two viewing modes to obtain a more or less wide or reduced view of the screen on the physical screen of the terminal. In wide view mode, icons representing applications or files are either collapsed or grouped together in a single generic representation to ensure optimal visibility of the information displayed on the screen. This display differentiation is determined based on a threshold applied to features of the icons displayed in the display slabs.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, this visualization and navigation method comprises at least two second presentation modes each allowing the presentation of a different number of slabs, and at least two iterations of said step of passage.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to carry out several enlargements and reductions, in order to propose modes of visualization more or less wide slabs where is disposed all the applications and files of the terminal. These enlargements and reductions allow the user to easily find the application or file searched on his terminal.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, said threshold corresponds to a predetermined minimum and / or parameterizable number of pixels between two icons.

Consequently, during the process of enlarging or reducing the areas displayed on the screen, a change of presentation mode of the flag icons is achieved when it is no longer possible to correctly display the icons on the screen , so when the threshold separating the representation of two icons on the screen is reached. The method then makes it possible to switch to generic display mode of the components of the slab, thus facilitating reading and recognition by the user. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the visualization and navigation method comprises a step of managing said screen, said real screen, and a virtual screen, with a surface greater than said real screen, and a step of relative movement of said virtual screen relative to said actual screen, according to at least one command of a user.

The invention therefore makes it possible, when the user only has a partial view of the applications and files available on his terminal, to move a viewing window, represented by his real screen, within a virtual screen consisting of a number of slabs greater than that potentially displayable by the actual screen. The user can easily browse his entire virtual screen and search for the desired application or file.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the method associates with each of said slabs a descriptive support, defining structures of said display slabs components said virtual screen. Thus, the slabs of the virtual screen are described within the terminal.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said structures contain information belonging to the group comprising at least: descriptive information of said terminal; descriptive information of said slabs; descriptive information of said applications and / or said files of the terminal; descriptive information of user preferences.

The descriptive structures thus make it possible to define compositional data of the slabs composing the virtual screen in terms of information relating to the terminal, the slabs of the virtual screen, the applications and files installed and the preferences of the user. This information facilitates the steps of transitions and movement of the actual screen relative to the virtual screen.

Advantageously, said structures are defined within an XML document. Thus, the interoperability of the structures defining the virtual screen is guaranteed.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, each of said display slabs allows a graphical or textual representation of a number N of applications and / or files of said terminal.

The display panels thus freeze the number of applications or files that can be represented on a slab of the virtual screen.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the visualization and navigation method comprises a step of configuring at least one characteristic of said slabs and / or said virtual screen.

Thus, various stakeholders, including the user, can configure the slabs or the virtual screen of the terminal.

Advantageously, the visualization and navigation method comprises a manual and / or automatic step of adding and / or deleting and / or modifying the contents of said slabs and / or said slabs composing the virtual screen.

This feature allows the user to modify and organize the display of the contents of his terminal according to his own parameters. Thus, the organization chosen by the user will allow him to navigate and find applications and files more efficiently. These modifications can also be carried out automatically by the terminal, as a function, for example, of the maximum number N of applications and files that can be displayed in a display panel.

According to a preferred mode of implementation of the invention, said display mode reduces said applications and / or said files of said slab comprises a step of listing all of said applications and / or said files contained in said slab.

Thus, when the presentation mode chosen does not make it possible to display the icons according to said threshold and a representation is used to replace the display of the constituent elements of the slab, the latter may, for example, through a command, be displayed in a list, thus allowing the user to reach the application or the file in question without the need to switch to a reduced viewing mode.

The invention also relates to the terminals implementing the method described above, as well as the corresponding computer programs.

The invention also relates to a method for transferring at least one descriptive support defining at least one structure of zones, or slabs, from a server to a terminal, by means of a communication network, the surface of a screen of said terminal being cut into a set of said slabs, each of which is assigned a set of at least one icon. According to the invention, such a method comprises the following steps: receiving a transfer request request for said one or more descriptive media sent by said terminal to said server; processing said request in said server and composing said one or more descriptive media; transfer to said terminal of one or more descriptive media, by means of a response to said request, each of said descriptive medium associating with at least one of said slabs, in a wide presentation mode corresponding to: - a reduced view of said slab as viewed in a reduced presentation mode; or - a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab.

The invention also relates to the servers implementing the above method, as well as the corresponding computer programs. 5. List of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which: FIG. 1 illustrates a mode of reduction of the visualization of the slabs constituting a virtual screen, according to the invention; FIG. 2 presents a two-dimensional navigation mode through the various slabs constituting a virtual screen of a terminal; FIG. 3 describes the mode of transfer, according to the invention, of a support for describing the slabs constituting a virtual screen; FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the hardware structure of the terminal of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates the hardware structure of the server of Figure 3.

6. Detailed description of the invention 6.1 Recall of the principle of the invention

In the context of the present invention, it is therefore interested in navigation in the various files and applications installed in the terminals with screen based on the principle of cutting a virtual screen into viewing slabs.

To do this, the system defines a virtual screen of a size N times greater than the actual size of the screen of the terminal, this screen being divided into slabs of the screen size of the terminal in question. Via a "backtrack" function, with a reduced mode of the virtual screen, the user can view all slabs and thus view the entire desktop represented by the virtual screen. On this "backtrack" function, all the icons (or pictograms) displayed on each display panel are represented: - either by a reduction of the icons displayed on each slab when the actual size of the terminal screen allows it ; either by one and the same icon (or a color or a text) representative of all the icons. This last representative icon gives access to a dynamic drop-down menu that gives access to the applications displayed on the basic visualization panel. So every slab can for example correspond to an application category contained in the terminal.

The slabs have properties that facilitate navigation through the terminal's virtual screen. 6.1.1 Principles and properties of slabs

The slabs constituting the office represented by the virtual screen can be created by the manufacturer of the terminal, by the operator (with the purchase of the terminal or also by download) and finally be updated (content reorganization, creation and deletion of slabs) by the user. In a particular embodiment, a slab may be characterized by a name and / or a visual icon and / or a color background or an image that can be updated. The slabs are used to support the reception of the application representation and / or files present on the terminal considered.

The user or an external system has the possibility to add one or more applications to the slabs. In order to avoid having to add scrollbars that force the user to use a scroll wheel to discover the entire contents of a slab, in this embodiment, the content of a slab will be limited. When the slab is in full display on the terminal screen

(that is to say that all the files and / or all the applications are represented with their own icons and that one is not in position of "return back"), there is a parameterizable threshold beyond which it is no longer possible to add an application on the slab considered. This threshold is reached when it is no longer possible to add an icon or text representative of the application or the file without there being at least a determined and parameterizable number X of spacing pixels between each of the representations on the slab concerned.

In the case where one wants to add a new application in a complete slab, this embodiment of the system foresees two possible behaviors: the system proposes to add a new slab manually, in which case the user himself defines the properties the new slab; the system automatically adds the slab. This new slab then has the same characteristics (same icon, close name), than that which is adjacent to it, and the new application is added. In this embodiment, there are also two possibilities for organizing the slabs: manual organization: Depending on the number of slabs to be positioned, the system calculates the optimum matrix to propose and draws it on the screen in the "backtrack" position. Maximum. The slabs are then displayed one by one superimposed and the user can position them as he wishes by operation of "drag and drop" or "copy / paste / move" if the terminal is not equipped with a stylus, by example; automatic organization: For the automatic organization, the choice of adding column or lines will depend on the characteristics of the welcome screen: - The number defined by the height multiplied by the width of the slabs is proportional to that defined by the height multiplied by the width of the terminal screen;

The principle is to build a new line and a new column of slabs in the virtual screen, knowing that in this new set only a slab is filled. This principle is used each time the addition of a slab gives a number of slabs whose square root (of the slab count minus one) provides an integer value. In the opposite case, the free spaces in the existing rows and columns are completed. The following example illustrates this principle: the virtual screen consists of 9 slabs present, and the user wants to add a slab, which will give 10 slabs; The square root of (10-1) = 3;

3 is an integer value, so add a row and a full column of slabs. In this new set, only one slab will contain a representation of the application or file added by the user.

6.1.2 Navigation principles

In this embodiment, the navigation possibilities available in the virtual screen are left, right, up, down and oblique. Displacements: can be forced to the physical matrix on its edges (abutment): for example, when the user has reached the right edge of the virtual screen, he can not go to the right; can allow circular movements. This circular mode allows the outer edge of the matrix to display the first slab of the line or column considered. For example, on a 4x4 matrix. if the user moves from the slab 1,1 (ordinate, abscissa) to the slab 1,4, if he continues on this direction of displacement, he is proposed the slab (1,1). The same will be done for a direction of vertical and oblique movement. The system also incorporates a so-called "back / zoom in" navigation mode. This mode is presented in relation with FIG. 1. In the "backtrack" function, (101) presenting the so-called "wide" display mode, depending on the characteristics of the terminal screen, a threshold is defined on the basis of which The set of icons will be summarized in one and only generic icon. This unique icon gives access to slab applications via a dynamic drop-down menu. In a particular embodiment, the threshold may be equal to the size from which a spacing of X pixels determined and parameterizable between the icons is no longer possible. This spacing may be parameterizable by the user when the value supplied is greater than X. In an advantageous embodiment, the value of X is equal to 2. Other values (1, 3, 4, ...) can be considered as needed. The slab of the virtual screen that is the most filled is used as a reference to determine the threshold from which the mutation (transformation of the icons into a single representation) is performed. When the virtual screen is displayed in "backspace" mode, the system proposes to switch to "front display" mode (100), presenting the so-called reduced display mode. In this case, the slab is displayed in full with all the representations of its components (applications and file). In this particular embodiment, there are different stages between the complete backspace (mode in which all the slabs are viewed) and the complete front display stage (in which only one slab is seen). There is an intermediate visualization stage each time the square root of the number of slabs is an integer. Considering a virtual screen with 25 slabs, there are 5 levels:

Maximum front display: 1 slab;

Intermediate display: 4 slabs;

Intermediate display: 9 slabs;

Intermediate display: 16 slabs; - Full back display: 25 slabs.

Based on these navigation techniques provided by the system, and in relation with Figure 2, two techniques are presented for displaying a non-visible slab (both techniques are possible at the user's choice):

The "slab by slab" movement mode 200: any action on the device for moving the terminal (for example, simply pressing on the directional pad) generates the complete visualization of the slab;

The "pixel by pixel" displacement mode 201: the new tile is displayed pixel by pixel. The system automatically adjusts the position on the semi-open slab: if it exceeds (slab width / 2) + 1 pixel, it displays the entire slab. On the contrary it returns to the previous slab if the user has stopped moving the slab and the excess is (slab width / 2) - 1 pixel.

When traveling in "backtrack" mode, the system offers two possibilities to the user: The active slab is always centered. This technique gives the impression that it is the slabs that move when the user moves the cursor; The active slab moves on the screen.

Subsequently, there is presented in particular the case of an embodiment of the system implemented on EDGE or UMTS type mobile communication terminals and using an XML file as descriptor slabs representing the virtual office. It is clear, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular application, but can also be implemented in many other fields, and for example in that of PDAs and more generally in all cases where the objectives listed by the Following are interesting.

6.2 Description of an embodiment

In a particular embodiment of the invention, implemented on an EDGE or UMTS mobile terminal, the system is in the form of: an application which is itself in the form of a local module. It is installed on the phone, and presents the applications of the terminal; an XML description document of the virtual desktop represented by all slabs composing it. This description of the slabs can be sent to the application by a server at the first connection. The XML document may further contain: customization options; installing new applications.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the navigation management application through the virtual screen can be made in the form of a Java application running through a Java Virtual Machine implanted on the mobile terminal. . In another embodiment, this application can also be integrated into the terminal in the programming language of the latter. In connection with FIG. 3, an embodiment of the transfer of the description medium of the slabs composing the virtual screen of a mobile terminal is presented.

During initialization or a request from the user: the terminal 30 sends 301, via an HTTP request

("HyperText Transfer Protocol" for "hypertext transfer protocol") a transfer request 302 to the server 31 hosting the XML configuration files.

After analyzing the request 311, the transfer server (312), an XML file 313 for configuring the generic virtual screen, in response to the HTTP request. This document can be the same for all users and for a given terminal at the start. In a complementary embodiment, the server 301 can advantageously use the field of the http request to identify the type of terminal. In yet another embodiment, the XML files may be stored within a configuration database. In yet another complementary embodiment, the generic XML file can be dynamically created according to the characteristics of the terminal by analyzing the contents of the HTTP request 301 and taking advantage of the UAP field which composes the header of this request.

Upon receipt 303, the XML document is stored (304) and used to configure the slabs composing the virtual screen of the terminal user. Subsequently, the user modifies the configuration 305 slabs and / or preferences of its virtual screen. These changes are saved in the XML description document on the handheld.

The XML document can be saved again (318) on the server

31 thereafter, in response (308) to a request 315 issued (316) by the server 31 to the mobile terminal 30. After analysis of the request 306 by the terminal 30, the latter returns (307) a response 308 containing the configuration XML document. The server 31 saves (317) the document. So, in case request for recovery of these parameters by the user, following improper handling, for example, the server is still able to provide a configuration of the virtual screen of the user.

The structure of the terminal is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. It comprises a memory M 41, and a processing unit 40 equipped with a microprocessor μP, which is controlled by a computer program (or application)

Pg 42. The processing unit 40 receives, via an input network interface module E 43, commands and / or server responses 44 that the microprocessor μP processes, according to the instructions of the program Pg 42, to generate requests and / or responses 44, which are transmitted via an S 45 network output interface module.

The structure of the server is illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. It also comprises a memory M 51, and a processing unit 50 equipped with a microprocessor μP, which is controlled by a computer program (or application) Pg 52. processing unit 50 receives, via an input network interface module E 53, requests and / or customer responses 54, which the microprocessor μP processes, according to the instructions of program Pg 52, to generate commands and / or responses 56, which are transmitted via an S 55 network output interface module. 6.3 Other Features and Benefits / Other Aspects

In a particular embodiment, the XML schema used in the description of the slabs for configuring and creating the virtual screen of a terminal is presented in an appendix.

In this embodiment, the diagram presented in the appendix can be used to create, for example, the following description XML file: <flagstones>

<! - Description of the terminal for which this office is intended ->

<device name = "P910" manufacturer = "Sony Ericsson" family = "Symbian" model = "P910i" touchpad = "true"> <! - screen size: it is used to calculate the size of the slabs when zoom out ->

<screenSize heigth = "208" width = "360" /> <OS name = "Symbian" version = "" /> </ device>

<! - Description of the slab matrix -> <matrix rows = "3" columns = "4">

<! - Each tile has a category to refer to and possibly a label -> <stone category = "messaging" label = "mail" row = "0" column = "0" icon = "" />

<stone category = "otherStone" row = "0" column = "l" icon = "" />

<! - The matrix is not necessarily filled, there may be empty slabs ->

<stone free = "true" row = "2" column = "2" icon = "emptyBox" /> <stone free = "true" row = "2" column = "3" icon = "emptyBox" /> </ matrix>

<! - List of applications referenced in the desktop -> <applications>

<! - Each application has a label, we can possibly associate it with icons different than those originally planned ->

<application label = "SMS" smalllcon = "" largelcon = ""> <shortcut application = "localpath / Application" />

<! - Each application can reference several slabs ->

<category name = "messaging"/><category name = "otherStone"/></application> </ applications><preferences>

<! - Possible values: auto, or an integer lower than the threshold calculated for this terminal -> <iconisationStep level = "auto" />

<! - Possible values: continuous or discrete -> <scrolling mode = "continuous" />

<! - Possible values: auto, or user in the case where one does not allow the update without asking the user -> <stoneUpdating mode = "auto" />

<! - Possible values: auto, or user -> <stoneSplitting mode = "auto" /> </ preferences> </ flagstones> The file is initially composed of a description of the terminal with which it is associated. This description is between the <device> and </ device> tags. There is particular defines a screen size. The file continues with a description of the slab matrix to indicate the number of rows and columns in the matrix. For each slab of this matrix, one indicates a category, allowing to classify it and to refer to a possible "label". Finally, if the matrix is not completely filled, empty slabs are indicated. This matrix description occurs between the <matrix> and </ matrix> tags.

The file then contains the list of applications referenced on the desktop virtual screen. This list is defined between the <applications> and </ applications> tags. For each application in the list defined between the <application> and </ application> tags, a reference to one or more icons and a label is indicated. It also indicates a path to launch the application and a list of at least one category of the application. Finally, the file includes the user's system usage preferences. These preferences (<preferences> ... </ preferences> tags) are used to define scrolling, updating, and so on.

In this same embodiment, the data that can be sent by a server in order to add a slab to the office defined by the virtual screen can be: <flagstones>

<Update>

<! - Added a slab and a category, we can possibly associate an icon -> <stone category = "starWars" icon = "http: // www .server .corn / ... / starWars .png" />

<! - Added a shortcut in this slab -> <application label = "Jedi Jones" smalllcon = "http: // ..." largelcon = "http: // ..."> <! - The local path can refer to an existing application (for example a browser), or if it is associated with an url, where to install an application to download ->

<shortcut application = "localpath / Application" url = "http: // ...">

<! - application parameter -> <parameter name = "url" value = "http: // ..." /> </ shortcut>

<category name = "starWars" /> </ application>

</ update> </ flagstones>

This file informs the terminal that its virtual screen (<flagstone>) must be updated (<update>), by adding a slab (<stone />) of the category "starwars" and whose icon refers to a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). This slab contains a single application, whose icons refer to URLs, as well as the shortcut of the application itself.

ANNEX

XML schema used for the description of slabs for configuring and creating the virtual screen of a terminal:

<? xml version = "l .0" encoding = "UTF-8" standalone = "yes"?> <! -W3C Diagram written by Simon Bécot

This schema is intended to configure an application in the form of slabs ->

<xs: xmlns schema: xs = "http: // www .w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault = "qualified"> <! - Root element to describe the terminal, and the various elements to organize:

If we are on the terminal we have a sequence, if we are in update, we specify "update" and what slab is updated, with which application -> <xs: element name = "flagstones"> <xs: complexType> <xs: choice>

<xs: sequence>

<xs: element ref = "device" /> <xs: element ref = "matrix" />

<xs: element ref = "applications" /> <xs: element ref = "preferences" /> </ xs: sequence> <xs: element name = "update"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: sequence>

<xs: element ref = "stone" />

<xs: ref element = "application"/> </ xs: sequence></ xs: complexType></ xs: element></ xs: choice></ xs: complexType>

</ xs: element>

<! - Description of the terminal type for which this configuration is intended ->

<xs: element name = "device"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: sequence>

<! - screen size: it is used to calculate the size of the slabs when zooming out ->

<xs: element ref = "screenSize" /> <xs: element ref = "OS" />

</ xs: sequence>

<xs: rattribute name = "name" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs: attribute name = "manufacturer" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs: rattribute name = "family" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs rattribute name = "model" type = "xs r string" use = "required" /> <xs rattribute name = "touchpad" type = "xs rboolean" use = "required" />

</ xs r complexType></ xs r element><! - Describes the type of OS that this configuration is for -> <xs: element name = "OS"><xs:complexType>

<xs =====================================================================================================

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - Allows to determine the size of slabs -> <xs: element name = "screenSize"> <xs: complexType>

<xs rattribute name = "heigth" type = "xs r short" use = "required" />

<xs rattribute name = "width" type = "xs r short" use = "required" />

</ xs r complexType> </ xs r element> <! - Description of the slab matrix ->

<xs r element name = "matrix"> <xs r complexType>

<xs r sequence minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "unbounded">

<xs r element ref = "stone" /> </ xs r sequence> <xs rattribute name = "rows" type = "xs r integer" use = "required" />

<xs rattribute name = "columns" type = "integer xs" use = "required" />

</ xs r complexType></ xs r element> <! - Allows to specify a slab -><xs: element name = "stone">

<! - Each slab has a category to refer to it and possibly a label -> <xs: complexType> <xs rattribute name = "category" type = "xs: string" use = "optional" />

<xs rattribute name = "label" type = "xs: string" use = "optional" />

<xs rattribute name = "row" type = "int xs rs" /> <xs rattribute name = "column" type = "int xs rs">

<xs rs ===============================================

<! - The free attribute is a true if the tile is free -> <xs rattribute name = "free" type = "xs rboolean" default = "false" />

</ xs r complexType> </ xs r element>

<! - Grouping of the applications contained in the slabs -> <xs r element name = "applications"> <xs r complexType>

<xs r sequence>

<xs r ref element = "application" maxOccurs = "unbounded" /> </ xs r sequence>

</ xs r complexType> </ xs r element>

<! - Description of the applications contained in the slabs -><xs r element name = "application"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: sequence>

<xs: element ref = "shortcut" />

<! - Each application can reference multiple slabs, as a category ->

<xs: ref element = "category" maxOccurs = "unbounded" />

</ xs: sequence> <! - Display Label -> <xs: attribute name = "label" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<! - Each application can be associated with two icons representing it ->

<xs: attribute name = "smalllcon" type = "xs: string" />

<xs: attribute name = "largelcon" type = "xs: string" />

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element> <xs: element name = "category"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "name" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs: attribute name = "icon" type = "xs: string" use = "optional" />

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - Description of the preferences of the user, to determine the way in which the slabs and the default behaviors will be organized when adding these slabs -> <xs: element name = "preferences"><xs:complexType>

<xs: sequence>

<xs: element ref = "iconisationStep" /> <xs: element ref = "scrolling" />

<xs: element ref = "stoneUpdating" /> <xs: element ref = "stoneSplitting" /> </ xs: sequence> </ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - Normally, the zoom out level from which the contents of a slab is replaced by an icon is calculated. But we can force this value. Possible values of level: auto, or an integer less than the threshold calculated for this terminal -> <xs: element name = "iconisationStep">

<xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "level" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - The scrolling mode can be chosen between a linear mode (continuous) where we can see the slabs slide, or a whole slabs mode by whole slabs (discrete) ->

<xs: element name = "scrolling"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "mode" use = "required"> <xs: simpleType>

<xs: restriction base = "xs: string">

<xs: enumeration value = "continuous"/> <xs: enumeration value = "discrete"/>

</ xs: restriction> </ xs: simpleType> </ xs: attribute>

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - shortcut allows to link the element of a slab to an application of the phone. In the case of an update, we can specify a url element that will download this application to install it, at the same time as configuring the slab ->

<xs: element name = "shortcut">

<xs: complexType> <xs: sequence>

<xs: element name = "parameter" minOccurs = "0" maxOccurs = "unbounded">

<xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "name" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs: attribute name = "value" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element> </ xs: sequence>

<xs: attribute name = "application" type = "xs: string" use = "required" />

<xs: attribute name = "url" type = "xs: string" use = "optional"/></ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - In preferences, to determine if the user is asked to add a slab or if it is done automatically, when adding an application on a saturated slab ->

<xs: element name = "stoneSplitting"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "mode" use = "required">

<xs: simpleType> <xs: restriction base = "xs: string">

<xs: enumeration value = "auto" /> <xs: enumeration value = "user" /> </ xs: restriction> </ xs: simpleType> </ xs: attribute>

</ xs: complexType> </ xs: element>

<! - Allows to determine if the reorganization of the slabs from an external system is subjected to the approval of a user (the mode attribute can take the values user or auto) ->

<xs: element name = "stoneUpdating"> <xs: complexType>

<xs: attribute name = "mode" use = "required"> <xs: simpleType>

<xs: restriction base = "xs: string">

<xs: enumeration value = "auto"/><xs: enumeration value = "user"/></ xs: restriction></ xs: simpleType> </ xs: attribute></ xs: complexType></ xs: element></ xs: schema>

Claims

1. Method for displaying at least one graphical representation, representative of application and / or file, and of navigation on a screen of a terminal, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - cutting of the surface said screen in a set of zones, called slabs, and assigning to each of said slabs a set of at least one icon; viewing on said screen: in a first visualization mode, said reduced, of a single slab; in at least one second, so-called wide, viewing mode of at least two of said slabs; at least one step of passing from one of said first mode and said second mode (s) to a following one of said first mode and said one or two second modes under the action of minus an order provided for this purpose; associating a representation with each of said slabs, in said wide presentation mode corresponding to: a reduced view of said slab as viewed in said reduced presentation mode; or a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, depending on a threshold applied to the number and / or the format of the icons present in said set of icons assigned to said slab. 2. Display and navigation method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two second presentation mode each for presenting a different number of slabs, and at least two iterations of said step of passage. 3. Display and navigation method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said threshold corresponds to a number predetermined and / or parameterizable minimum of pixels between two icons. 4. Display and navigation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a step of managing said screen, said real screen, and a virtual screen surface greater than said actual screen and a step of relative movement of said virtual screen relative to said real screen, according to at least one command of a user. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that associates each of said slabs a descriptive support, defining structures of said viewing slabs components said virtual screen. 6. Display and navigation method according to claim 5, characterized in that said structures contain information belonging to the group comprising at least: descriptive information of said terminal; descriptive information of said slabs; descriptive information of said applications and / or said files of the terminal; descriptive information of user preferences. 7. Presentation and navigation method according to claim 6, characterized in that said structures are defined within an XML document. 8. Display and navigation method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of said display panels allows a graphic or textual representation of a number N of applications and / or files of said terminal. 9. Display and navigation method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of configuring at least one characteristic of said slabs and / or said virtual screen. 10. Display and navigation method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a manual step and / or automatic addition and / or deletion and / or modification of contents components said slabs and / or said slabs constituting the virtual screen. 11. Display and navigation method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said reduced display mode of said applications and / or said files of said slab comprises a step of listing of the set said applications and / or said files contained in said slab. 12. Communication terminal comprising means for presenting icons, representative of applications and / or files, and navigation on a screen of a terminal, characterized in that it comprises: - means of cutting the surface of said screen in a set of zones, called slabs, and assignment to each of said slabs of a set of at least one icon; display means on said screen: in a first mode of presentation, called wide, of at least two of said slabs; in a second mode of presentation, said reduced, of a single slab; means for passing said first presentation mode to said second presentation mode, and conversely, under the action of a command provided for this purpose; means for associating a representation with each of said slabs, in said wide presentation mode corresponding to: a reduced view of said slab as viewed in said reduced presentation mode; or a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, depending on a threshold applied to the number and / or the format of the icons present in said set of icons assigned to said slab. 13. Computer program product downloadable from a network of communication and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a microprocessor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for the implementation of the steps of the visualization and navigation method according to one any of claims 1 to 12. A method of transferring at least one descriptive medium defining at least one structure of zones, or slabs, from a server to a terminal, by means of a communication network, the surface of a screen of said terminal being divided into a set of said slabs, each of which is assigned a set of at least one icon, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: receipt of a request for transfer request of said descriptive media issued by said terminal at destination said server; processing said request in said server and composing said one or more descriptive media; transfer to said terminal of one or more descriptive media, by means of a response to said request, each of said descriptive medium associating with at least one of said slabs, in a wide presentation mode corresponding to: a reduced view of said slab as viewed in a reduced presentation mode; or a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, according to a threshold applied to the number and / or the format icons present in said set of icons assigned to said slab. A server for transferring at least one descriptive medium defining at least one zone structure, or slabs, from a server to a terminal, by means of a communication network, the surface of a screen of said terminal being divided into a set of said slabs, each of which is assigned a set of at least one icon, characterized in that it comprises means for receiving a transfer request request for at least one descriptive support sent by said terminal to said server, means for processing said request and for composing said at least one descriptive support and means for transferring said at least one descriptive medium to said terminal, by means of a response to said request, each of said descriptive medium associating with at least one of said slabs, in a wide presentation mode corresponding to: a reduced view of said slab as viewed in a reduced presentation mode; or a view of a generic single representation representative of the set of icons assigned to said slab, the passage from said reduced view to said generic view being automatic, according to a threshold applied to the number and / or the format icons present in said set of icons assigned to said slab. 16. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a microprocessor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for the implementation of process steps of claim 14.