System, method and computer-readable medium for providing a sidebar functionality as an aspect of a gadget
First Claim
1. A software architecture for integrating a sidebar into a gadget, the architecture comprising:
- a sidebar software configured to display a sidebar within a desktop image of a visual display of a computational system;
a gadget software configured to present the sidebar in association with a visually displayed gadget and enable actuation of at least one sidebar functionality associated with the sidebar software and at least one additional functionality; and
a graphics generator configured for rendering the sidebar in association with the gadget.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and computer-readable media for associating additional fuctionalities with a sidebar GUI of a computational device are included. An operating system may be provided that includes a sidebar software that will typically have limitations that are intended or unintended by the operating system developer. A user may wish to extend the capabilities that are associated with the sidebar in the interest of usability, efficiency and/or GUI appeal. The method of the present invention may provide a gadget which enables access to the sidebar, while associating additional capabilities with the sidebar. Alternately or additionally, a reseller of the operating system or a third party software provider, may offer software products that enable access to the functionality of the sidebar as provided by the sidebar developer, while associating additional capabilities with a display of the sidebar or an icon representative of a sidebar or sidebar functionality.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A software architecture for integrating a sidebar into a gadget, the architecture comprising:
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a sidebar software configured to display a sidebar within a desktop image of a visual display of a computational system; a gadget software configured to present the sidebar in association with a visually displayed gadget and enable actuation of at least one sidebar functionality associated with the sidebar software and at least one additional functionality; and a graphics generator configured for rendering the sidebar in association with the gadget. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for enabling a user to add to a functionality suite of a sidebar gadget, comprising:
- (a) rendering a gadget image within a desktop image of a display device, the gadget image enabling actuation of a sidebar set of functionality and at least one gadget functionality;
(b.) displaying at least one widget icon within the desktop; and
(c.) enabling the user to drag and drop the widget icon into the gadget image and in response including the at least one widget icon within the gadget image, whereby a widget functionality associated with the widget icon may be actuated by means of the sidebar gadget. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- (a) rendering a gadget image within a desktop image of a display device, the gadget image enabling actuation of a sidebar set of functionality and at least one gadget functionality;
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17. A computational system comprising:
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means to visually display a gadget; means to visually display a sidebar as an aspect of the gadget; and means to enable a user to direct the computational system to instantiate a functionality of the gadget. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions which when executed by a computational system cause the computational system to perform a method comprising:
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visually associating a sidebar as an aspect of gadget; and visually associating access to at least one additional functionality as an aspect of the gadget.
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Specification