How Devices Personalize Their Screens Using Your Data and Smart Connections
This patent describes how an electronic device can gather information about how you use it, understand what that information means, and then automatically change its screen to be more helpful or relevant to you.
Original patent title: “Dynamically modifying elements of user interface based on knowledge graph”
This patent describes how an electronic device can gather information about how you use it, understand what that information means, and then automatically change its screen to be more helpful or relevant to you. Granted to Samsung Electronics Co in 2021 with 30 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a method for an electronic device to automatically adjust its user interface (UI). First, it "collates usage information of at least one data source" on the device, meaning it collects data about how you use apps, files, or other content. This collected data is then "categorized" into "knowledge clusters," grouping similar usage patterns or topics. These clusters form a "knowledge graph," which is like a map of all the related things you do or are interested in. Based on this knowledge graph, the device then "dynamically modifies" an element of its UI, such as changing an icon, suggesting an app, or altering a layout, using a "visual indicator associated with a first knowledge cluster." For example, if your phone learns you frequently search for hiking trails and camping gear, it might automatically show a weather widget for your local mountains or suggest a map app on your home screen.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover UI changes based solely on pre-set rules or fixed schedules, as it requires a dynamically updated knowledge graph.
- Does not cover UI modifications that are not based on collated usage information from data sources on the device.
- Does not cover simple UI changes that lack semantic understanding or the use of "word vectors" to extract meaning from data.
- Does not cover UI adjustments made only by explicit user settings without the device learning from usage patterns.
- Does not cover UI modifications that are purely random or aesthetic without a basis in user behavior analysis.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core innovation is connecting raw usage data to a "knowledge graph" through "semantic content" extraction using "word vectors." This allows the device to understand the *meaning* and *relationships* within your usage patterns, rather than just counting how often you open an app, enabling truly intelligent and context-aware UI adjustments.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Personalized app suggestions on Android home screens
Smart widgets that change content based on time or location
Recommendation engines within operating systems
Context-aware notifications on smartphones
Adaptive search results in device-level searches
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important because it allows electronic devices to become more intelligent and personalized. Instead of a static interface, devices can adapt to individual users, making them feel more intuitive and efficient. This enhances the user experience by proactively offering relevant information or shortcuts, reducing the need for manual navigation and searching. It also forms a foundation for more sophisticated AI-driven assistants and adaptive operating systems.
Filed
November 6, 2018
Granted
April 13, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Samsung Electronics, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to develop and integrate advanced personalization features into its Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. Other major technology companies like Google and Apple also heavily invest in similar technologies to enhance their operating systems and smart assistant capabilities, aiming to make devices more proactive and user-aware.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the broader trend of highly personalized user experiences in consumer electronics. It enables devices to move beyond static interfaces to dynamically adapt, making them more intuitive and efficient. This capability is crucial for differentiating products in a competitive market, influencing how operating systems are designed and how users interact with their devices daily. It underpins many 'smart' features that anticipate user needs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a method for an electronic device to automatically adjust its user interface (UI). First, it "collates usage information of at least one data source" on the device, meaning it collects data about how you use apps, files, or other content. This collected data is then "categorized" into "knowledge clusters," grouping similar usage patterns or topics. These clusters form a "knowledge graph," which is like a map of all the related things you do or are interested in. Based on this knowledge graph, the device then "dynamically modifies" an element of its UI, such as changing an icon, suggesting an app, or altering a layout, using a "visual indicator associated with a first knowledge cluster." For example, if your phone learns you frequently search for hiking trails and camping gear, it might automatically show a weather widget for your local mountains or suggest a map app on your home screen.
The clever bit
The core innovation is connecting raw usage data to a "knowledge graph" through "semantic content" extraction using "word vectors." This allows the device to understand the *meaning* and *relationships* within your usage patterns, rather than just counting how often you open an app, enabling truly intelligent and context-aware UI adjustments.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover UI changes based solely on pre-set rules or fixed schedules, as it requires a dynamically updated knowledge graph.
- Does not cover UI modifications that are not based on collated usage information from data sources on the device.
- Does not cover simple UI changes that lack semantic understanding or the use of "word vectors" to extract meaning from data.
- Does not cover UI adjustments made only by explicit user settings without the device learning from usage patterns.
- Does not cover UI modifications that are purely random or aesthetic without a basis in user behavior analysis.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$94K – $300K
Midpoint $187K · 12.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
30 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Singh, S., NEEMA, N., TETALI, R., Sathish, S. K., & YELESWARAPU, B. S. (2021). How Devices Personalize Their Screens Using Your Data and Smart Connections (U.S. Patent No. 10,977,311). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10977311/dynamically-modifying-elements-of-user-interface-based-on-knowledge-graph
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Devices Personalize Their Screens Using Your Data and Smart Connections cover?
This patent describes how an electronic device can gather information about how you use it, understand what that information means, and then automatically change its screen to be more helpful or relevant to you.
Who owns patent US 10977311?
Samsung Electronics Co owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 6, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10977311 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important because it allows electronic devices to become more intelligent and personalized. Instead of a static interface, devices can adapt to individual users, making them feel more intuitive and efficient. This enhances the user experience by proactively offering relevant information or shortcuts, reducing the need for manual navigation and searching. It also forms a foundation for more sophisticated AI-driven assistants and adaptive operating systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover UI changes based solely on pre-set rules or fixed schedules, as it requires a dynamically updated knowledge graph.
Same assignee
More from Samsung Electronics Co
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