# 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. - **Patent:** US 10977311 - **Original title:** Dynamically modifying elements of user interface based on knowledge graph - **Owner:** Samsung Electronics Co - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, ai_ml, telecommunications ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Personalized app suggestions on Android home screens 2. Smart widgets that change content based on time or location 3. Recommendation engines within operating systems 4. Context-aware notifications on smartphones 5. Adaptive search results in device-level searches ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10977311/dynamically-modifying-elements-of-user-interface-based-on-knowledge-graph **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10977311 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Software Recommends Dashboards Based on What You Click](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738365/dashboard-usage-tracking-and-generation-of-dashboard-recommendations) — This patent describes a system that watches how you interact with data dashboards and uses AI to suggest other dashboards you might find useful, making it easier to find the information you need. - [How Smartphones Let You Rearrange and Organize Your Home Screen Icons](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11449194/spatial-audio-with-dynamic-head-tracking) — Apple's patent describes the specific software logic used to let users drag, drop, and rearrange app icons on a touchscreen by entering a special 'jiggle' mode. - [How Devices Organize TV Shows in Program Guides](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739475/systems-and-methods-of-displaying-content) — This patent describes how a device can display a program guide that groups media content icons into sub-categories, and then dynamically reorganizes those icons when a group is selected to make browsing easier. - [How the iPhone's Jiggling App Icons Work](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7509588/os-x-spotlight-search) — This patent describes the 'jiggle mode' on iPhones, where app icons shake to show they can be moved or deleted. - [How to Build a Smart Knowledge Graph for Specific Topics](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12340316/techniques-for-building-a-knowledge-graph-in-limited-knowledge-domains) — Oracle's patent describes a method for automatically expanding a small, topic-specific knowledge graph by intelligently pulling relevant information from a much larger knowledge graph, helping applications understand user requests better.