System and method for effectively implementing a dynamic user interface in an electronic network

• US 20050039134A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gaxiola, David, Wiggeshoff, Elke
• Application Number:
  US10/638,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for effectively implementing a dynamic user interface in an electronic network may include a user interface application that is configured to generate a user interface upon a display of a user device in the electronic network. The user interface application may generate a main widget for controlling and utilizing various types of system functionality through the user interface. The user interface application may further dynamically generate a connect widget for performing network communications procedures between the user device and one or more buddy devices in the electronic network. The user interface application may also dynamically generate an alert widget for providing various types of system alert messages to a device user.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a user interface in an electronic device, comprising:

a user interface application configured to generate said user interface upon a display of said electronic device, said user interface application selectively generating a main widget, a connect widget, and an alert widget as parts of said user interface; and

a processor device coupled to said electronic device, said processor device being configured to control said user interface application for performing network communications procedures in an electronic network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said network communication procedures are performed between said electronic device and one or more buddy devices through a network server of said electronic network, said network communication procedures including instant messaging processes and sharing of content information for corresponding network services.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said main widget includes a presence tab, a MEET tab, a buddy tab, a content tab, an info tab, and a main window area.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said presence tab in a presence off-line mode for logging-in to a network server to gain access to said electronic network.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said presence tab in a presence on-line mode for logging-out from a network server of said electronic network, said device user alternately selecting said presence tab in said presence on-line mode for changing presence attributes of said electronic device, said presence attributes including a visibility attribute and a status attribute for said electronic device.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said buddy tab to add a new buddy device to a buddy list of communication partners for said electronic device, said device user alternately selecting said buddy tab to remove a current buddy device from said buddy list, said device user also selecting said buddy tab to edit buddy information corresponding to one or more of said communication partners.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said content tab in a content off-line mode for adding shareable content information, for editing said shareable content information, and for removing said shareable content information, said shareable content information being stored in a memory device for sharing with one or more buddy devices over said electronic network.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said content tab in a content on-line mode for viewing a list of previously-defined shareable content information, said device user then sending content sharing invitations to one or more buddy devices for sharing said previously-defined shareable content information.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein a device user selects said info tab to create and transmit a request for profile information regarding one or more buddy devices in said electronic network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said request for said profile information requests a user nickname, a user email address, a user URL, a user sex, a user age, a user birthday, a user blood type, a user country, a user state, a user hobby, a user photo, and a user description.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein said device user selects said MEET tab to display a MEET widget that includes one or more buddy entries that include buddy information corresponding to one or more buddy devices in said electronic network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said buddy information includes a buddy group name, an on-line/off-line status icon, a buddy screen name, a buddy resource name, and a listing of network services available for performing network service sharing procedures over said electronic network.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said device user utilizes said MEET widget to view a communications menu corresponding to a selected one of said one or more buddy entries, said device user then utilizing said communications menu to initiate said network communications procedures over said electronic network.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said device user selects an instant messaging mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to conduct bi-directional chat-type communications between said electronic device and a selected one of said one or more buddy devices.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said device user selects a single message mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to send a single message from said electronic device to a selected one of said one or more buddy devices.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said device user selects a content messaging mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to either share content information associated with a particular announced network service, or to view said content information while simultaneously conducting instant messaging over said electronic network.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said connect widget includes a series of buddy tabs for selecting which of said one or more buddy devices are designated for said network communications procedures, said connect widget further comprising a buddy scrolling tab for repositioning which of said buddy tabs are currently displayed on said connect widget if a greater number of said buddy tabs exist than may concurrently be displayed on said connect widget.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface application dynamically displays said alert widget upon a portion of said display for viewing corresponding alert messages relating to status changes or other events in at least one of said electronic device, one or more buddy devices, a network server device, and said electronic network.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said alert widget functions in a notification mode in which no response is required from a device user, said alert widget alternately functioning in a decision mode in which a decision is required by said device user to approve or disapprove a particular one of said alert messages.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said alert widget includes a series of alert tabs for selecting from among a plurality of alert messages, said alert widget further comprising an alert scrolling tab for repositioning which of said alert tabs are currently displayed on said alert widget if a greater number of said alert tabs exist than may concurrently be displayed on said alert widget.

21. A method for implementing a user interface in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

generating said user interface upon a display of said electronic device by utilizing a user interface application that selectively generates a main widget, a connect widget, and an alert widget as parts of said user interface; and

controlling said user interface application with a processor device that is coupled to said electronic device for performing network communications procedures in an electronic network.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said network communication procedures are performed between said electronic device and one or more buddy devices through a network server of said electronic network, said network communication procedures including instant messaging processes and sharing of content information for corresponding network services.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said main widget includes a presence tab, a MEET tab, a buddy tab, a content tab, an info tab, and a main window area.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said presence tab in a presence off-line mode for logging-in to a network server to gain access to said electronic network.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said presence tab in a presence on-line mode for logging-out from a network server of said electronic network, said device user alternately selecting said presence tab in said presence on-line mode for changing presence attributes of said electronic device, said presence attributes including a visibility attribute and a status attribute for said electronic device.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said buddy tab to add a new buddy device to a buddy list of communication partners for said electronic device, said device user alternately selecting said buddy tab to remove a current buddy device from said buddy list, said device user also selecting said buddy tab to edit buddy information corresponding to one or more of said communication partners.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said content tab in a content off-line mode for adding shareable content information, for editing said shareable content information, and for removing said shareable content information, said shareable content information being stored in a memory device for sharing with one or more buddy devices over said electronic network.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said content tab in a content on-line mode for viewing a list of previously-defined shareable content information, said device user then sending content sharing invitations to one or more buddy devices for sharing said previously-defined shareable content information.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein a device user selects said info tab to create and transmit a request for profile information regarding one or more buddy devices in said electronic network.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said request for said profile information requests a user nickname, a user email address, a user URL, a user sex, a user age, a user birthday, a user blood type, a user country, a user state, a user hobby, a user photo, and a user description.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said device user selects said MEET tab to display a MEET widget that includes one or more buddy entries that include buddy information corresponding to one or more buddy devices in said electronic network.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said buddy information includes a buddy group name, an on-line/off-line status icon, a buddy screen name, a buddy resource name, and a listing of network services available for performing network service sharing procedures over said electronic network.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said device user utilizes said MEET widget to view a communications menu corresponding to a selected one of said one or more buddy entries, said device user then utilizing said communications menu to initiate said network communications procedures over said electronic network.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said device user selects an instant messaging mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to conduct bi-directional chat-type communications between said electronic device and a selected one of said one or more buddy devices.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said device user selects a single message mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to send a single message from said electronic device to a selected one of said one or more buddy devices.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said device user selects a content messaging mode from said communications menu, said user interface application then dynamically displaying said connect widget upon a portion of said display, said device user utilizing said connect widget to either share content information associated with a particular announced network service, or to view said content information while simultaneously conducting instant messaging over said electronic network.

37. The method of claim 21 wherein said connect widget includes a series of buddy tabs for selecting which of said one or more buddy devices are designated for said network communications procedures, said connect widget further comprising a buddy scrolling tab for repositioning which of said buddy tabs are currently displayed on said connect widget if a greater number of said buddy tabs exist than may concurrently be displayed on said connect widget.

38. The method of claim 21 wherein said user interface application dynamically displays said alert widget upon a portion of said display for viewing corresponding alert messages relating to status changes or other events in at least one of said electronic device, one or more buddy devices, a network server device, and said electronic network.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said alert widget functions in a notification mode in which no response is required from a device user, said alert widget alternately functioning in a decision mode in which a decision is required by said device user to approve or disapprove a particular one of said alert messages.

40. The method of claim 21 wherein said alert widget includes a series of alert tabs for selecting from among a plurality of alert messages, said alert widget further comprising an alert scrolling tab for repositioning which of said alert tabs are currently displayed on said alert widget if a greater number of said alert tabs exist than may concurrently be displayed on said alert widget.

41. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for implementing a user interface in an electronic device, by performing the steps of:

generating said user interface upon a display of said electronic device by utilizing a user interface application that selectively generates a main widget, a connect widget, and an alert widget as parts of said user interface; and

controlling said user interface application with a processor device that is coupled to said electronic device for performing network communications procedures in an electronic network.

42. A system for implementing a user interface in an electronic device, comprising:

means for generating said user interface upon a display of said electronic device, said means for generating selectively generating a main widget, a connect widget, and an alert widget as parts of said user interface; and

means for controlling said means for generating to perform network communications procedures in an electronic network.