System, Method and Computer Program for User-Friendly Social Interaction
First Claim
1. ) A method for navigating an interface of a computer program comprising the steps of:
- a) a user being provided with one or more input means to a computer, the computer program being executed on the computer, and the user interacting with the interface of the computer program using the one or more input means;
b) the interface displaying one or more program options to the user, such program options being of a number manageable to the user, and each program option being represented by a readily identifiable program icon that enables navigation of the program options, the readily identifiable program icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon;
c) the user selecting at most one of the program options by selecting the corresponding readily identifiable program icon, the selected program option corresponding to one of a plurality of active programs, each active program represented by a consistent layout;
d) the interface displaying one or more basic commands to the user, such commands being of a number manageable to the user, each basic command relating to the active program, the basic commands each represented by a readily identifiable command icon, the readily identifiable command icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; and
e) the user selecting at most one of the basic commands or returning to the display of the limited number of program options.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, in one aspect thereof, provides a computer interface whose primary directive is uncompromising simplicity and ease of use by providing a carefully selected subset of features most desirable by a new computer user. The invention teaches a method, system and computer program for navigating a software interface comprising the steps of: (a) a user being provided with one or more input means to a computer, the software interface being loaded on the computer, and the user interacting with the software interface using the one or more input means; (b) the software interface displaying one or more program options to the user, such program options being of a number manageable to the user, and each program options being represented by a readily identifiable icon that enables navigation of the program options; (c) the user selecting at most one of the program options by selecting the corresponding readily identifiable icon, the selected program option corresponding to one of a plurality of active programs, each active program represented by a consistent layout; (d) the software interface displaying one or more basic commands each relating to the active program, the basic commands each represented by a readily identifiable command icon; and (e) the user selecting one of the basic commands or returning to the display of the limited number of program options.
67 Citations
30 Claims
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1. ) A method for navigating an interface of a computer program comprising the steps of:
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a) a user being provided with one or more input means to a computer, the computer program being executed on the computer, and the user interacting with the interface of the computer program using the one or more input means; b) the interface displaying one or more program options to the user, such program options being of a number manageable to the user, and each program option being represented by a readily identifiable program icon that enables navigation of the program options, the readily identifiable program icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; c) the user selecting at most one of the program options by selecting the corresponding readily identifiable program icon, the selected program option corresponding to one of a plurality of active programs, each active program represented by a consistent layout; d) the interface displaying one or more basic commands to the user, such commands being of a number manageable to the user, each basic command relating to the active program, the basic commands each represented by a readily identifiable command icon, the readily identifiable command icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; and e) the user selecting at most one of the basic commands or returning to the display of the limited number of program options. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. ) A system for navigating an interface of a computer program comprising:
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a) one or more input means to a computer, the computer program being executed on the computer, and a user interacting with the interface of the computer program using the one or more input means; b) one or more program options displayed to the user by the interface, such program options being of a number manageable to the user, and each program option being represented by a readily identifiable program icon that enables navigation of the program options, the readily identifiable program icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; c) a plurality of active programs, each active program represented by a consistent layout, the user selecting at most one of the program options by selecting the corresponding readily identifiable program icon, the selected program option corresponding to one of active programs; and d) one or more basic commands displayed to the user by the interface, such commands being of a number manageable to the user, each basic command relating to the active program, the basic commands each represented by a readily identifiable command icon, the readily identifiable command icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; wherein the user selects at most one of the basic commands or returns to the display of the limited number of program options. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. ) A computer program product for navigating an interface of a computer program comprising:
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a) a computer readable medium including software instructions; and b) the software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations, the predetermined operations including the steps of; i) a user being provided with one or more input means to a computer, the computer program being executed on the computer, and the user interacting with the interface of the computer program using the one or more input means; ii) the interface displaying one or more program options to the user, such program options being of a number manageable to the user, and each program option being represented by a readily identifiable program icon that enables navigation of the program options, the readily identifiable program icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; iii) the user selecting at most one of the program options by selecting the corresponding readily identifiable program icon, the selected program option corresponding to one of a plurality of active programs, each active program represented by a consistent layout; iv) the interface displaying one or more basic commands to the user, such commands being of a number manageable to the user, each basic command relating to the active program, the basic commands each represented by a readily identifiable command icon, the readily identifiable command icon being of a size substantially larger than a typical computer icon; and v) the user selecting at most one of the basic commands or returning to the display of the limited number of program options. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. ) A system for distributing and remotely configuring a computer program comprising:
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a) a server operated by a service provider, the server making available the computer program via remote download; b) an enabling intermediary, familiar with a user, the enabling intermediary initiating a download of the computer program from the server, the enabling intermediary paying a fee to the service provider; c) a first computer belonging to the user, the enabling intermediary installing the computer program on the first computer; and d) a remote access utility enabling the enabling intermediary to remotely configure the computer program from a second computer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. ) A method for distributing and remotely configuring a computer program comprising:
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a) a server making available the computer program via remote download, the server operated by a service provider; b) an enabling intermediary initiating a download of the computer program from the server, the enabling intermediary being familiar with a user, the enabling intermediary paying a fee to the service provider; c) the enabling intermediary installing the computer program on a first computer, the first computer belonging to the user; and d) the enabling intermediary remotely configuring the computer program from a second computer using a remote access utility.
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Specification