Dashboard Surfaces

• US 20090021486A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A., Louch, John O.
• Application Number:
  US11/867,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5033 considering data affinity

Abstract

Information can be displayed on a variety of dashboard surfaces. In some implementations, the technology for displaying information on a dashboard surface can be different, depending on the environment and/or intended use of the dashboard surface. In some implementations, the visualization may be different as well. In some implementations, each type of dashboard surface provides its own metadata or information, which can be used to configure or reconfigure the dashboard surface for interaction with one or more users.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving information from or through a dashboard surface; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface for interaction with one or more users based on the information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a widget on the dashboard surface; and

presenting content through the widget.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving environment information associated with the environment where the dashboard surface is located; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the environment information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard surface is from a group of dashboard surfaces consisting of:

a billboard, a sign, a wall, a whiteboard, a picture frame, a glass surface, a mirror surface, one or more liquid crystal display panels, one or more light emitting diode panels, a surface on an appliance, a surface on a consumer electronic device and a hologram.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a dashboard surface coupled to the processor, the processor operable to configure or reconfigure the dashboard surface for interaction with one or more users.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dashboard surface is touch-sensitive.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dashboard surface is from a group of dashboard surfaces consisting of:

a billboard, a sign, a wall, a whiteboard, a picture frame, a glass surface, a mirror surface, one or more liquid crystal display panels, one or more light emitting diode panels, a surface on an appliance, a surface on a consumer electronic device and a hologram.

9. A method comprising:

receiving input data;

determining one or more properties based on the input; and

generating a dashboard surface having the properties.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting a widget on the dashboard surface, the widget including the properties.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium operationally coupled to the processor and configurable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations, comprising;

receiving information from or through a dashboard surface; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface for interaction with one or more users based on the information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor performs operations, further comprising:

presenting a widget on the dashboard surface; and

presenting content through the widget.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor performs operations, further comprising:

receiving environment information associated with the environment where the dashboard surface is located; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the environment information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor performs operations, further comprising:

receiving user input; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the user input.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the dashboard surface is from a group of dashboard surfaces consisting of:

a billboard, a sign, a wall, a whiteboard, a picture frame, a glass surface, a mirror surface, one or more liquid crystal display panels, one or more light emitting diode panels, a surface on an appliance, a surface on a consumer electronic device and a hologram.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the dashboard surface area is touch-sensitive.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the dashboard surface information is received from a network resource.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the dashboard surface information is received through an application programming interface (API).

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

receiving information from or through a dashboard surface; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface for interaction with one or more users based on the information.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

presenting a widget on the dashboard surface; and

presenting content through the widget.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving environment information associated with the environment where the dashboard surface is located; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the environment information.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving user input; and

configuring or reconfiguring the dashboard surface based on the user input.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the dashboard surface is from a group of dashboard surfaces consisting of:

a billboard, a sign, a wall, a whiteboard, a picture frame, a glass surface, a mirror surface, one or more liquid crystal display panels, one or more light emitting diode panels, a surface on an appliance, a surface on a consumer electronic device and a hologram.