Management and generation of dashboards

• US 20080034314A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A., Louch, John O., Shebanek, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A dashboard manager can be used to create, manage and deploy dashboards. Each dashboard can include one or more user interface elements (“widgets”). The dashboard manager can be invoked for providing a variety of management functions. In another aspect, dashboards, widgets and other content can be bundled together and distributed to users over a distribution channel. Users can created custom bundles using a tool that is provided for such purpose.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining rules for managing the dashboard environment;

associating the one or more widgets with the dashboard environment; and

installing the dashboard environment in a display environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining rules includes:

determining a rule for managing the dashboard environment;

evaluating the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and

installing only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.

4. A method comprising:

receiving a dashboard for installation in a display environment;

previewing the dashboard in a preview environment; and

installing the dashboard after the preview in the display environment.

5. A method comprising:

identifying a number of widgets for display in one or more display areas associated with one or more dashboard environments;

determining a first set of widgets to be displayed in a first display area of a first dashboard environment;

associating the first set of widgets with the first dashboard environment; and

enabling the activation of the first dashboard environment in a display environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the first set of widgets includes receiving a user selection of a first widget for inclusion in the first set of widgets.

7. The method of claim 5, further including managing the first dashboard environment including maintaining a list of widgets included in the first set of widgets.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising invoking the first display area, including displaying at least one widget in the set of widgets.

9. A user interface, comprising:

a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a user interface;

a dashboard management environment configured to be invoked from the user interface, the dashboard management environment operable to manage the first dashboard environment.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the dashboard management environment is configured to be invoked from a display area associated with the first dashboard environment.

11. A method comprising:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining if an existing dashboard environment is available for installing at least one widget; and

if no existing dashboard environment is available, installing a new dashboard environment including

naming the new dashboard environment;

associating the one or more widgets with the new dashboard environment; and

enabling the display of the dashboard environment when invoked.

12. A dashboard manager, comprising:

a dashboard installer configured for installing one or more dashboard environments including importation means for importing a dashboard from an external process;

a display area manager configured for presenting display areas associated with the one or more dashboard environments on a user interface, and for managing interactions with the display areas.

13. The dashboard manager of claim 12, further comprising a widget installer configured for determining which dashboard environment to install a widget and installing the widget in the determined dashboard environment.

14. The dashboard manager of claim 12, further comprising:

a rule manager for enforcing rules associated with one or more dashboard environments.

15. The dashboard manager of claim 14, wherein at least some rules are access rules for determining who can install or use widgets in a dashboard environment.

16. The dashboard manager of claim 14, wherein at least some of the rules are security rules for assessing security risks associated with security events.

17. The dashboard manager of claim 12, further comprising:

export means for designating a dashboard environment for export to an external process, and instantiating the designated dashboard environment for distribution to the external process.

18. The dashboard manager of claim 12, further comprising:

a dashboard assistant configured for displaying a user interface for enabling users to select a preexisting template for a dashboard environment.

19. The dashboard manager of claim 18, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to select one or more properties of the dashboard environment.

20. A method comprising:

identifying a number of user interface elements to be included in a dashboard environment;

selecting the number of particular user interface elements from available user interface elements;

arranging the selected user interface elements in a display area;

associating the selected user interface elements and the arrangement with the dashboard environment; and

saving the dashboard environment.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising exporting the dashboard environment to an external process.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising importing one or more of the selected user interface elements.

23. The method of claim 20 where arranging includes importing arrangement data from another dashboard environment.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising defining a template for an arrangement of the dashboard environment.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising previewing the dashboard environment including the selected user interface elements and the arrangement.

26. The method of claim 20 where saving includes publishing the dashboard environment.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising recalling the saved dashboard environment including displaying the selected user interface elements in accordance with the arrangement.

28. A method comprising:

presenting items to a plurality of potential users of the items;

receiving a request from one of the potential users to receive one or more items, where at least one of the requested items is a dashboard; and

distributing the requested one or more items to the user.

29. A method comprising:

presenting items to a user;

providing a tool for enabling the user to create a bundle of items;

creating a bundle based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the tool, where the bundle includes at least one dashboard; and

distributing the bundle to the user.

30. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining rules for managing the dashboard environment;

associating the one or more widgets with the dashboard environment; and

installing the dashboard environment in a display environment.

31. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

receiving a dashboard for installation in a display environment;

previewing the dashboard in a preview environment; and

installing the dashboard after the preview in the display environment.

32. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying a number of widgets for display in one or more display areas associated with one or more dashboard environments;

determining a first set of widgets to be displayed in a first display area of a first dashboard environment;

associating the first set of widgets with the first dashboard environment; and

enabling the activation of the first dashboard environment in a display environment.

33. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a user interface;

a dashboard management environment configured to be invoked from the user interface, the dashboard management environment operable to manage the first dashboard environment.

34. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining if an existing dashboard environment is available for installing at least one widget; and

if no existing dashboard environment is available, installing a new dashboard environment including naming the new dashboard environment;

associating the one or more widgets with the new dashboard environment; and

enabling the display of the dashboard environment when invoked.

35. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

a dashboard installer configured for installing one or more dashboard environments including importation means for importing a dashboard from an external process;

a display area manager configured for presenting display areas associated with the one or more dashboard environments on a user interface, and for managing interactions with the display areas.

36. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying a number of user interface elements to be included in a dashboard environment;

selecting the number of particular user interface elements from available user interface elements;

arranging the selected user interface elements in a display area;

associating the selected user interface elements and the arrangement with the dashboard environment; and

saving the dashboard environment.

37. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

presenting items to a plurality of potential users of the items;

receiving a request from one of the potential users to receive one or more items, where at least one of the requested items is a dashboard; and

distributing the requested one or more items to the user.

38. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

presenting items to a user;

providing a tool for enabling the user to create a bundle of items;

creating a bundle based on the user'"'"'s interaction with the tool, where the bundle includes at least one dashboard; and

distributing the bundle to the user.

39. A method comprising:

identifying one or more user interface elements for installation in a unified interest layer, where each user interface element provides a fixed function;

determining rules for managing the unified interest layer;

associating the one or more user interface elements with the unified interest layer; and

installing the user interface elements in the unified interest layer.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein determining rules includes:

determining a rule for managing the unified interest layer;

evaluating the identified user interface elements to determine if each satisfies the rule; and

installing only identified user interface elements in the selected unified interest layer that satisfy the rule.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.

42. A method comprising:

receiving a unified interest layer;

previewing the unified interest layer in a preview environment; and

installing the unified interest layer after the preview.

43. A method comprising:

identifying a number of user interface elements for display in one or more display areas associated with one or more unified interest layers;

determining a first set of user interface elements to be displayed in a first display area of a first unified interest layer;

associating the first set of user interface elements with the first unified interest layer; and

enabling the activation of the first unified interest layer.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein determining the first set of user interface elements includes receiving a user selection of a first user interface element for inclusion in the first set of user interface elements.

45. The method of claim 43, further including managing the first unified interest layer, including maintaining a list of user interface elements included in the first set of user interface elements.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising invoking the first display area, including displaying at least one user interface element in the set of user interface elements.