Multiple sidebar module open states

• US 20070157106A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Marc
• Application Number:
  US11/433,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Typical sidebars comprise a plurality of application modules stacked in a vertical column. Thus, each application module has a limited amount of space to display useful information to the user. In one embodiment, the application module of a sidebar can exist in one of a plurality of display states comprising, a closed state, which displays a title and a button to change states, a full open state, which displays a complete list of information associated with the application module and a preferred open state, which displays a subset of the information associated with the application module. The subset of information is selected based on instruction that can be predefined by a sidebar user and/or a sidebar provider.

Claims

1. An application module of a sidebar configured to be in one of a plurality of display states, the application module comprising:

a closed state, the closed state displaying a title section, the title section comprising a title of the sidebar application module and an application module control button, the application module control button being selectable by a sidebar user to switch between display states;

a full open state, the full open state displaying the title section and a first display area having a predetermined size, the first display area displaying as much information associated with the application module as fits in the predetermined size; and

a preferred open state, the preferred open state displaying the title section and a second display area, the second display area displaying a subset of the information associated with the application, the subset of information being selected based on predefined selection instructions.

2. The application module of claim 1, wherein the predefined selection instructions are defined by a user of the sidebar so that the user can maximize the importance of information displayed in the second display area.

3. The application module of claim 1, wherein the predefined selection instructions are defined by a provider of the sidebar so that the sidebar provider can emphasize information to a sidebar user.

4. The application module of claim 1, wherein the application module is an instant messaging application module, and wherein the preferred open state displays a list of instant messenger users that most recently conversed with the sidebar user.

5. The application module of claim 4, wherein the list comprises instant messenger users who have contacted the sidebar user through the sidebar and through a separate instant messaging application.

6. The application module of claim 1, wherein the application module is an instant messaging application module, and wherein the preferred open state displays a list of instant messenger users that most frequently converse with the sidebar user.

7. The application module of claim 1, wherein the application module is an email application module, and wherein the preferred open state displays a list of unread messages.

8. The application module of claim 1, wherein the application module is an email application module, and wherein the preferred open state displays a list of messages from a predetermined group.

9. The application module of claim 8, wherein the group comprises the user'"'"'s family members.

10. The application module of claim 1, wherein the application module is an email application module, and wherein the preferred open state displays a list of messages from a sidebar provider.

11. The application module of claim 1, further comprising a full open state slidesheet, the full open state slidesheet comprising a complete list of information that is associated with the application module.

12. The application module of claim 1, wherein the full open state slidesheet comprises a slidesheet display area with a predetermined slidesheet display area size, and wherein a scrollbar is displayed on one side of the slidesheet if the information associated with the application module cannot fit in the predetermined slidesheet display area size.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining one of a plurality of display states to display the application module comprises following sidebar display settings stored in a user database maintained by the sidebar provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determined display state is selected by the sidebar user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the determined display state is selected by the sidebar provider.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the application module is an instant messaging module and wherein a user computer further comprises a separate messenger application, the method further comprising:

saving both sidebar instant message activity and messenger application activity to a user database maintained by the sidebar provider; and

accessing instant message activity to display in the sidebar from the user database, so that both sidebar instant message activity and messenger application activity are reflected when displayed in the sidebar.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the application module is an instant messaging module and wherein a user computer further comprises a separate messenger application, the method further comprising:

receiving a message from the messenger application comprising user activity upon a user interaction with the messenger application; and

adding the received user activity to the instant messaging module for display.

13. A method of displaying an application module in a sidebar, the method comprising:

determining, by the sidebar, one of a plurality of display states to display the application module, the plurality of display states comprising,

a closed state, the closed state displaying a title section, the title section comprising a title of the sidebar application module and an application module control button, the application module control button being selectable by a sidebar user to switch between display states,

a full open state, the full open state displaying the title section and a first display area having a predetermined size, the first display area displaying as much information associated with the application module as fits in the predetermined size, and

a preferred open state, the preferred open state displaying the title section and a second display area, the second display area displaying a subset of the information associated with the application, the subset of information being selected based on predefined selection instructions;

retrieving the information displayable in the application module; and

displaying the application module in the determined display state.

19. A user interface, displayable on a user computer, the user interface configured to be in one of a plurality of display states comprising:

a closed state, the closed state displaying a title section, the title section comprising a title of the sidebar application module and an application module control button, the application module control button being selectable by a sidebar user to switch between display states;

a full open state, the full open state displaying the title section and a first display area having a predetermined size, the first display area displaying as much information associated with the application module as fits in the predetermined size; and

a preferred open state, the preferred open state displaying the title section and a second display area, the second display area displaying a subset of the information associated with the application, the subset of information being selected based on predefined selection instructions.

20. The user interface of claim 19, further comprising a full open state slidesheet, the full open state slidesheet comprising a complete list of information that is associated with the application module.