Preview including theme based installation of user interface elements in a display environment

• US 20070101288A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Forstall, Scott, Peyton, Eric, Louch, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided including a method for displaying a user interface element in a display environment. The method includes receiving a selection of a user interface element to be displayed in a display environment, and selectively displaying the user interface element in a preview environment prior to installing the user interface element and prior to displaying the interface element in the display environment. Preview includes instantiating the user interface element in a preview environment including displaying the user interface element in a presentation window along with a preview designator and supporting interaction of the user interface element with a user; and selectively installing the user interface element in the display environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

previewing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the frame along with the user interface element during the preview.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining, after the preview, if the user interface element is to be installed;

and

if so, installing the user interface element without the frame.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising

determining, after the preview, if the user interface element is not to be installed;

and

if so, then not installing the user interface element in the display environment.

4. The method of claim 2 further wherein installing the user interface element includes installing the user interface element at a same location as the installation area in the display environment.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising

limiting, during the preview, at least one aspect of an operation of the user interface element.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein limiting operation is selected from the group including limiting access to a resource, limiting access to a network, limiting capability to read or write data, limiting interactions of the user interface element and limiting locations where the user interface element may access.

7. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the preview designator is a carpet.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the preview designator bounds the presentation area on at least one side.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein determining an installation area includes locating a preview area of the display environment and installing the user interface element includes displaying the user interface element in the preview area.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein display environment is a dashboard.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the user interface element is a widget.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of determining the installation area includes receiving user input designating a location on the user interface for installation.

14. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the user interface to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

previewing the user interface element in the installation area including

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising

determining if a timeout has expired since the previewing the user interface element without receiving a user interaction to cancel installation;

and

if so, installing the user interface element without the preview designator in the display environment.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining a plurality of user interface elements to install, and for each element performing the determining and previewing steps.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising serially installing the plurality of user interface elements.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the installation area is in the display environment.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the installation area is in another display environment, the previewing occurs in the another display environment, and further comprising installing the user interface element after the preview in the display environment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the another display environment is an e-mail environment.

21. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining a preview area in a user interface to install the user interface element, the preview area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

previewing the user interface element in the preview area including

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising sizing the presentation area in accordance with the user interface element.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sizing the preview designator in accordance with the sizing of the presentation area.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving user interaction to resize the user interface element during the preview, and resizing the presentation area in accordance with the resized user interface element.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising

accentuating the display of one or more of the preview designator and the user interface element during the preview.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising

de-emphasizing one or more user interface elements in the display environment while previewing the user interface element.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising

emphasizing the display of one or more of one or more of the preview designator and the user interface element during the preview.

28. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in user interface to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including

installing the user interface element in the presentation area;

identifying a frame for display with the user interface element; and

displaying the frame along with the user interface element.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein identifying a frame includes identifying a theme to be associated with the user interface element, and displaying the frame includes displaying a frame associated with the theme.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein identifying a frame includes identifying a theme associated with the user interface element including examining data associated with the user interface element to determine the theme, and displaying the frame includes displaying a frame associated with the theme.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein displaying the frame includes displaying a theme-based frame.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising receiving user input to determine a theme associated with the user interface element, and displaying a frame includes displaying a frame associated with the theme.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising determining a frame using a file type of the user interface element.

34. The method of claim 28 where the installation area is in the display environment.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the display environment is a dashboard and the user interface element is a widget.

36. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including

temporarily installing the user interface element in the presentation area including conditionally enabling the user interface element;

displaying the frame along with the user interface element;

determining if the user interface element is to be unconditionally installed; and

if so, then installing the user interface element in the display environment without the frame.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein conditionally enabling the user interface element includes determining an access level for the user interface element, and disabling functionality of the user interface element in accordance with the access level.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the access level defines a risk associated with an unconditional installation of the user interface element.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the access level defines functionality of the user interface element to be restricted during the temporary installation.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising managing a location and a size of the installation area.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein managing a location includes determining an installation location for a user interface element in the display environment.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein managing a size of the installation area includes considering a number of user interface elements to be installed in the display environment.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising determining a number of user interface elements to be installed, and sizing the installation area in accordance therewith.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising sizing the installation for serial installation of the number of user interface elements.

45. A method comprising:

identifying an element for installation in a display environment;

determining an preview area to install the element, the preview area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

installing the user interface element in the preview area including temporarily installing the element in the presentation area but limiting at least one aspect of operation of the element;

displaying the preview designator along with the element;

determining if the element is to be installed without limitation; and

if so, then installing the element in the display environment without the preview designator and without limiting the at least one aspect of operation.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the preview area is in the display environment.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein determining a preview area includes sizing the presentation area and the preview designator in accordance with the element to be installed.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein limiting at least one aspect of operation of the user interface element includes limiting operations based on a risk assessment of the element.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the preview designator bounds at least one side of the preview area.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein determining if the element is to be installed without limitation includes receiving a user indication thereof.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein the element is a user interface element.

52. The method of claim 45 wherein displaying the preview designator along with the element includes displaying the element on top of the preview designator.

53. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

previewing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the frame along with the user interface element during the preview.

54. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

55. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the user interface to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

previewing the user interface element in the installation area including;

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

56. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining a preview area in a user interface to install the user interface element, the preview area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

previewing the user interface element in the preview area including;

installing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the preview designator with the user interface element.

57. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in user interface to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

installing the user interface element in the presentation area;

identifying a frame for display with the user interface element; and

displaying the frame along with the user interface element.

58. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

temporarily installing the user interface element in the presentation area including conditionally enabling the user interface element;

displaying the frame along with the user interface element;

determining if the user interface element is to be unconditionally installed; and

if so, then installing the user interface element in the display environment without the frame.

59. A computer-readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of:

identifying an element for installation in a display environment;

determining an preview area to install the element, the preview area including a presentation area and a preview designator;

installing the user interface element in the preview area including;

temporarily installing the element in the presentation area but limiting at least one aspect of operation of the element;

displaying the preview designator along with the element;

determining if the element is to be installed without limitation; and

if so, then installing the element in the display environment without the preview designator and without limiting the at least one aspect of operation.

60. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operation of;

identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

previewing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

displaying the frame along with the user interface element during the preview.

61. A system comprising:

means for identifying a user interface element for installation in a display environment;

means for determining an installation area in the display environment to install the user interface element, the installation area including a presentation area and a frame;

means for installing the user interface element in the installation area including;

means for previewing the user interface element in the presentation area; and

means for displaying the frame along with the user interface element during the preview.