Methods and systems for visualizing categorized information

• US 20040155903A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian D. Schneeberg
• Original Assignee: Brian D. Schneeberg
• Inventors: Schneeberg, Brian D.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Categorized information is presented in a compelling, distilled, pictorial/thematic fashion. Information categories, importance weightings, and status-determining criteria may be defined by a user. A user'"'"'s custom-defined behaviors are used along with a category'"'"'s current status, time, and location to present such visual themes. Systems provided by the invention accommodate the interplay between what a given user has defined as important to other trusted users, vendors, and services, both in location and time-sensitive environments. Systems provide a customized look and feel (theme) based on user preferences. Users may, through simple drag-and-drop ‘meta-commands’, affect/make changes to such preferences.

Claims

1. A system for visualizing categorized information comprising:

a control unit operable to;

control the storage of a collection of graphical user elements and at least one background image;

control the display of one or more of the graphical user elements within the image to provide a user with a current status of a given information category associated with the element,

wherein the information categories are based on selected user criteria.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein the criteria comprises at least criteria selected from the group consisting of location and time.

3. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a dashboard operable to configure categories and user preferences.

4. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a data mining unit operable to perform data mining on user preferences and interests.

5. The system as in claim 4 further comprising at least one database operable to store a plurality of process information, said information at least used by said data mining section to perform such data mining.

6. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a collaboration unit operable to enable an exchange of information between a user and a relationship.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein the image comprises a screen saver.

8. A method for visualizing categorized information comprising:

controlling the storage of a collection of graphical user elements and at least one background image;

controlling the display of one or more of the graphical user elements within the image to provide a user with a current status of a given information category associated with the element,

wherein the information categories are based on selected user criteria.

9. The method as in claim 8 wherein the criteria comprises at least criteria selected from the group consisting of function and time.

10. The method as in claim 8 further comprising configuring categories and user preferences.

11. The method as in claim 8 further comprising performing data mining on user preferences and interests.

12. The method as in claim 11 further comprising storing a plurality of process information, said information at least used by said data mining section to perform such data mining.

13. The method as in claim 8 further comprising exchanging information between a user and relationship.