APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTING WITH MULTIPLE INFORMATION FORMS ACROSS MULTIPLE TYPES OF COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20100122196A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyandia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyandia, Inc.
• Inventors: KEY, Rupert, THERIAULT, Thomas, DINGMAN, Mark, WETZER, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A system and method for interacting with multiple information forms across multiple types of computing devices and platforms is provided. A computer-readable storage media for interacting with multiple information forms across computing devices is also provided and includes computer-readable instructions to cause one or more computer processors to execute operations including authenticating a user; establishing a channel grid framework for the user on a first platform, the channel grid framework providing access to a first computer application displayed on a display device as a channel; deploying the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform to a second platform in response to a user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform and performing a copy operation of the channel to the second platform; and establishing a run time application of the first computer application on the second platform.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage media for interacting with multiple information forms across computing devices, the computer-readable storage media including computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

authenticating a user;

establishing a channel grid framework for the user on a first platform, the channel grid framework providing access to a first computer application displayed on a display device as a channel;

deploying the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform to a second platform in response to a user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform and performing a copy operation of the channel to the second platform; and

establishing a run time application of the first computer application on the second platform.

2. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform and performing the copy operation of the channel to the second platform includes performing a drag and drop operation.

3. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the channel is a computer application capable of at least one of launching other computer applications, receiving data regarding other computer applications, displaying streaming data, or polling external computer applications.

4. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the channel grid framework provides access to twelve channels conveying information.

5. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the first and second platforms comprise different members from a group consisting of a server, a network of servers, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a telephone, a cell phone device, a handheld device, a smart phone, an interactive display, a portable digital assistant (PDA), an enterprise digital assistant, a personal navigation device, a network connected device, an optical disk player, an in-vehicle device, a set-top television box, a virtual machine, and a game console.

6. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein deploying the channel from the channel grid framework includes:

displaying an icon on the first platform, the icon instantiating a representation of the second platform; and

identifying the selected channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform and displaying a representation of the selected channel; and

dragging the representation of the selected channel out of the channel grid framework on the first platform and displaying a representation of the selected channel with the icon of the second platform.

7. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the first computer application displayed on the display device as a channel includes at least one of a streaming video application, an audio application, a voice-over-IP application, an environmental monitoring application, a financial services application, an enterprise resource planning application, a building information modeling application, a product lifecycle management application, a project management application, an immersive three dimensional environment application, a video conferencing application, an RSS reader application, a channel application repository application, an end-user preferences and localization application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a presentation-slide show application, an email application, an address book application, an instant messaging application, an enterprise content management application, a text application, a graphics application, a picture application, a video application, a remote control-interaction application, and a three-dimensional graphic visualization of objects application.

8. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

interrogating the channel in the channel grid framework on the display device to evaluate content provided by the first computer application.

9. The computer-readable storage media of claim 8 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

configuring the channel grid framework to provide an intelligent alert object;

comparing the evaluated content provided by the first computer application to a predetermined intelligent alert threshold condition; and

displaying an alert condition on the first and second platforms when the evaluated content meets the predetermined threshold condition.

10. The computer-readable storage media of claim 8 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

selecting an object from the first computer application displayed on the display device as a three-dimensional workspace; and

interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace.

11. The computer-readable storage media of claim 8 further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the operations comprising:

selecting an object displayed by the first computer application in a three-dimensional workspace, the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace corresponding to a physical device in a physical space;

interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace; and

implementing a virtual change in the digital instance of the selected object using the second computer application to implement a corresponding physical change in the physical device.

12. The computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace includes interacting with a 3D avatar of a second user in a 3D workspace to be displayed on both the user'"'"'s platform and the second user'"'"'s platform.

13. A computer-implemented method for interacting with multiple information forms across computing devices, the computer-implemented method comprising:

authenticating a user;

establishing a channel grid framework for the user on a first computing device platform, the channel grid framework providing access to a first computer application displayed on a display device as a channel;

deploying the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform to a second computing device platform in response to a user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and performing a copy operation of the channel to the second computing device platform; and

establishing a run time application of the first computer application on the second computing device platform.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and performing the copy operation of the channel to the second computing device platform includes performing a drag and drop operation.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the channel is a computer application capable of at least one of launching other computer applications, receiving data regarding other computer applications, displaying streaming data, or polling external computer applications.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the channel grid framework provides access to twelve channels conveying information.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first and second computer device platforms comprise different members from a group consisting of a server, a network of servers, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a telephone, a cell phone device, a handheld device, a smart phone, an interactive display, a portable digital assistant (PDA), an enterprise digital assistant, a personal navigation device, a network connected device, an optical disk player, an in-vehicle device, a set-top television box, a virtual machine, and a game console.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein deploying the channel from the channel grid framework includes:

displaying an icon on the first computing device platform, the icon instantiating a representation of the second computing device platform; and

identifying the selected channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and displaying a representation of the selected channel; and

dragging the representation of the selected channel out of the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and displaying a representation of the selected channel with the icon of the second computing device platform.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first computer application displayed on the display device as a channel includes at least one of a streaming video application, an audio application, a voice-over-IP application, an environmental monitoring application, a financial services application, an enterprise resource planning application, a building information modeling application, a product lifecycle management application, a project management application, an immersive three dimensional environment application, a video conferencing application, an RSS reader application, a channel application repository application, an end-user preferences and localization application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a presentation-slide show application, an email application, an address book application, an instant messaging application, an enterprise content management application, a text application, a graphics application, a picture application, a video application, a remote control-interaction application, and a three-dimensional graphic visualization of objects application.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising:

interrogating the channel in the channel grid framework on the display device to evaluate content provided by the first computer application.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 further comprising:

configuring the channel grid framework to provide an intelligent alert object;

comparing the evaluated content provided by the first computer application to a predetermined intelligent alert threshold condition; and

displaying an alert condition on the first and second computing device platforms when the evaluated content meets the predetermined threshold condition.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 further comprising:

selecting an object from the first computer application displayed on the display device as a three-dimensional workspace; and

interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 further comprising:

selecting an object displayed by the first computer application in a three-dimensional workspace, the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace corresponding to a physical device in a physical space;

interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace; and

implementing a virtual change in the digital instance of the selected object using the second computer application to implement a corresponding physical change in the physical device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace includes interacting with a 3D avatar of a second user in a 3D workspace to be displayed on the user'"'"'s computing device platform and on the second user'"'"'s computing device platform.

25. A system for interacting with multiple information forms across computing devices, the system comprising:

an identity management server configured to authenticate a user;

a channel grid framework established for the user on a first computing device platform, the channel grid framework providing access to a first computer application displayed on a display device as a channel; and

an application host and transfer tool configured to deploy the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform to a second computing device platform in response to a user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and performing a copy operation of the channel to the second computing device platform and further configured to establish a run time application of the first computer application on the second computing device platform.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the application host and transfer tool is further configured to receive a copy of the channel in response to the copy operation, including the user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and performing a drag and drop copy operation of the channel to the second computing device.

27. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a Web services gateway configured to integrate subordinate application functions in the channel, the subordinate applications functions including at least one of launching other computer applications, receiving data regarding other computer applications, displaying streaming data, or polling external computer applications.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the channel grid framework provides access to twelve channels conveying information.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second computer device platforms comprise different members from a group consisting of a server, a network of servers, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a telephone, a cell phone device, a handheld device, a smart phone, an interactive display, a portable digital assistant (PDA), an enterprise digital assistant, a personal navigation device, a network connected device, an optical disk player, an in-vehicle device, a set-top television box, a virtual machine, and a game console.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the application host and transfer tool is further configured to:

display an icon on the first computing device platform, the icon instantiating a representation of the second computing device platform;

identify the selected channel from the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform and display a representation of the selected channel; and

display a representation of the selected channel with the icon of the second computing device platform in response to a user dragging the representation of the selected channel out of the channel grid framework on the first computing device platform.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the first computer application displayed on the display device as a channel includes at least one of a streaming video application, an audio application, a voice-over-IP application, an environmental monitoring application, a financial services application, an enterprise resource planning application, a building information modeling application, a product lifecycle management application, a project management application, an immersive three dimensional environment application, a video conferencing application, an RSS reader application, a channel application repository application, an end-user preferences and localization application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a presentation-slide show application, an email application, an address book application, an instant messaging application, an enterprise content management application, a text application, a graphics application, a picture application, a video application, a remote control-interaction application, and a three-dimensional graphic visualization of objects application.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the identity management server and the web services gateway are further configured to interrogate the channel in the channel grid framework on the display device to evaluate content provided by the first computer application.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a channel server configured to provide the first computer application displayed on the display device as the channel;

a channel alert server configured to provide an intelligent alert object to the channel grid framework and further configured to compare the evaluated content provided by the first computer application to a predetermined intelligent alert threshold condition and display an alert condition on the first and second computing device platforms when the evaluated content meets the predetermined threshold condition.

34. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a virtual world server configured to select an object from the first computer application displayed on the display device as a three-dimensional workspace and interact spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the virtual world server is further configured to:

select an object displayed by the first computer application in a three-dimensional workspace, the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace corresponding to a physical device in a physical space;

interact spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace; and

implement a virtual change in the digital instance of the selected object using the second computer application to implement a corresponding physical change in the physical device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein interacting spatially with a digital instance of the selected object in the three-dimensional workspace to access a second computer application providing additional content related to the selected object displayed in the three-dimensional workspace includes interacting with a 3D avatar of a second user in a 3D workspace to be displayed on the user'"'"'s computing device platform and on the second user'"'"'s computing device platform.