System and method of producing user interface information messages

• US 20030103072A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ko, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/710
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for producing notification objects conveying computer warning or error notification information to a computer user is provided. The notification objects point to a target to which the information contained therein relates and are persistent until dismissed by a user or an application. The notification objects are aware of the bounds of their target, and where possible do not obscure any part of their target. These objects are collapsible, allowing the user to minimize the objects, and are also non-modal, allowing a user to fully interact with any running application while the notification objects are visible. These notification objects are only visible when the window containing the target to which the information in the notification object relates is the active window.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a computer user of a computer information message, comprising the steps of:

receiving an action performed on a computer by a user;

determining if a condition associated with the received action requires generation of an information message;

selecting an information message to be generated corresponding to said condition;

locating a target object associated with the action performed by the user, to which the information contained within the notification message relates; and

displaying a notification object which indicates the target object and contains said information message corresponding to said condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object comprises a warning.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object comprises an error message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object comprises a notification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object includes a cartouche which points to the target.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying includes providing a video animation sequence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying includes generating an audio indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object is collapsible.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said notification object collapses in response to a user action.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said notification object collapses in response to a mouse event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said notification object contains an icon, and collapses in response to a mouse click on the icon.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said notification object collapses in response to a keyboard command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object is persistent and remains displayed until said condition is removed.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object is displaced from said target object so that it does not obscure said target object.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification object is non-modal and enables the user to continue interaction with an application program corresponding to said target while said object is being displayed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said notification object enables a user to interact with application programs other than the application program corresponding to said target, while said object is being displayed.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

hiding the notification object when an application associated with said target is inactive; and

displaying the notification object when an application associated with said target is active.

18. A system for notifying a computer user of a computer information message, comprising:

means for receiving an action performed on a computer by a user;

means for determining if the received action requires generation of a computer information message;

means for selecting a computer information message to be generated corresponding to said action performed by the user;

means for locating a target object corresponding to the action performed by the user, to which the information contained within the notification message relates; and

means for displaying a notification object which indicates the target object and contains said information message corresponding to said target object.

19. A graphical user interface element for providing a user with information regarding a computer application being executed, comprising a notification object containing information relating to a target within said computer application and an indication mechanism which forms part of said object and points to the target with which the computer notification object is associated.

20. The user interface element of claim 19, wherein said information comprises text information.

21. The user interface element of claim 19, further comprising:

an icon disposed within said object relating to said information.

22. The user interface element of claim 21, wherein said icon comprises an on-screen button for receiving user interaction.

23. The user interface element of claim 19, wherein said indication mechanism comprises a cartouche.

24. The user interface element of claim 19, further comprising:

an audio indicator for indicating the display of the notification object on a computer screen to a user.

25. The user interface element of claim 19, wherein said notification object is displayed with animation.

26. A computer program stored in a computer-readable medium which executes the following steps:

receiving an action performed on a computer by a user;

determining if the received action requires generation of an information message;

selecting an information message to be generated corresponding to said action performed by the user;

locating a target object corresponding to the action performed by the user, to which the information contained within the notification message relates; and

displaying a notification object which indicates the target and contains said information message corresponding to said target object.