Method for modifying a GUI for an application

• US 20030206195A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vincent, Christopher R., Spitzer, Christopher D., Matsa, Moshe E., Quiaot, Julius Q.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A method, system and computer readable medium for providing an editing mode for a graphical user interface (GUI) is described. A toggle widget is provided to a user of a GUI during execution of the application presenting the GUI. When the user presses the toggle widget, the GUI is placed in an editing mode, whereby the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, are suspended. While in editing mode, the user is allowed to modify the locations of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget. The user subsequently modifies the locations of widgets of the GUI. Then, the user presses the toggle widget again and the GUI is exited from editing mode. Once exited from editing mode, the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI are restored and the new locations of the widgets are fixed.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:

providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget;

placing, as a result of the step of detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget;

allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

exiting, as a result of the second step of detecting, the editing mode of the application, wherein modification of the location of any widgets of the GUI is no longer allowed; and

restoring, as a result of the second step of detecting, normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI, wherein the toggle widget is visible immediately upon execution of the application presenting the GUI and wherein the toggle widget continues to be visible during execution of the application presenting the GUI.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing comprises immediately placing, as a result of the first step of detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, wherein the application is placed in editing mode as a result of pressing only the toggle widget.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step before the step of allowing of:

changing the color of the toggle widget as a result of the first step of detecting.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step before the step of restoring of:

restoring the color of the toggle widget as a result of the second step of detecting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing comprises allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode, wherein the location of a widget is modified using any one of:

clicking and dragging the widget; and

utilizing a keystroke or keystrokes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an instant messaging application presenting the GUI.

8. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for modifying a graphical user interface (GUI), the computer instructions comprising instructions for:

providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget;

placing, as a result of the instruction for detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget;

allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

exiting, as a result of the second instruction for detecting, the editing mode of the application, wherein modification of the location of any widgets of the GUI is no longer allowed; and

restoring, as a result of the second instruction for detecting, normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instruction for providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI, wherein the toggle widget is visible immediately upon execution of the application presenting the GUI and wherein the toggle widget continues to be visible during execution of the application presenting the GUI.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for placing comprises immediately placing, as a result of the first instruction for detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, wherein the application is placed in editing mode as a result of pressing only the toggle widget.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for changing the color of the toggle widget as a result of the first instruction for detecting.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further instructions for restoring the color of the toggle widget as a result of the second instruction for detecting.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for allowing comprises allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode, wherein the location of a widget is modified using any one of:

clicking and dragging the widget; and

utilizing a keystroke or keystrokes.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for allowing comprises allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode, wherein a widget is moved to any location within the viewing area of the GUI.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an instant messaging application presenting the GUI.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instruction for providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI, wherein the application does not require the simultaneous execution of another application, other than the operating system or a common system library or file, in order to execute properly.

17. A system for modifying a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

means for providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI;

means for detecting pressing of the toggle widget;

means for placing, as a result of the means for detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget;

means for allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

means for detecting pressing of the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

means for exiting, as a result of the second means for detecting, the editing mode of the application, wherein modification of the location of any widgets of the GUI is no longer allowed; and

means for restoring, as a result of the second means for detecting, normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing comprises providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI, wherein the toggle widget is visible immediately upon execution of the application presenting the GUI and wherein the toggle widget continues to be visible during execution of the application presenting the GUI.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for placing comprises immediately placing, as a result of the first means for detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, wherein the application is placed in editing mode as a result of pressing only the toggle widget.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for changing the color of the toggle widget as a result of the first means for detecting.

21. The system of claim 20, further means for restoring the color of the toggle widget as a result of the second means for detecting.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for allowing comprises allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode, wherein the location of a widget is modified using any one of:

clicking and dragging the widget; and

utilizing a keystroke or keystrokes.

23. A method for modifying a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:

providing a GUI during execution of an application presenting the GUI, wherein the application reacts to a toggle keystroke;

detecting the toggle keystroke;

placing, as a result of the step of detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI;

allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI while the application is in editing mode;

detecting the toggle keystroke, while the application is in editing mode;

exiting, as a result of the second step of detecting, the editing mode of the application, wherein modification of the location of any widgets of the GUI is no longer allowed; and

restoring, as a result of the second step of detecting, normal functions of all widgets of the GUI.

24. A method for modifying a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:

providing a GUI with a toggle widget, during execution of an application presenting the GUI;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget;

placing, as a result of the step of detecting, the application in an editing mode that suspends normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget;

allowing modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI while the application is in editing mode;

detecting pressing of the toggle widget, while the application is in editing mode;

exiting, as a result of the second step of detecting, the editing mode of the application, wherein modification of the location of all widgets of the GUI is no longer allowed; and

restoring, as a result of the second step of detecting, normal functions of all widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget.