APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED USER INTERFACE

• US 20110010656A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ta Keo, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ta Keo, Ltd.
• Inventors: MOKOTOV, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US12/501,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010656A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/780
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for receiving information from a user of a computerized application. Within the method, application data is received, comprising one or more items with which a user can interact. Additional data relating to the application may be received as well. The application data is displayed on a display device, while the additional data is kept hidden. Upon receiving mouse hover event from a pointing device used by a user, the additional data relating to the application is displayed, together with an area for a user to enter content. The content entered by the user is submitted to the application or to another application.

Claims

1. A method for receiving information from a user of a computerized application, comprising:

receiving application data comprising at least one item to which a user can react;

receiving additional data relating to the application;

displaying on a display device the application data to a user using a pointing device;

receiving an event indicating that the pointing device hovered over one of the at least one item;

displaying on the display device a display container displaying the additional data relating to the at least one item, and an area for a user to enter content; and

submitting the content entered by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of publishing the information submitted by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the content provided by the user is viewable by a human being.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determination of a location in which the display container is placed on the display device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is determined in accordance with at least one of the conditions selected from the group consisting of:

no other item that invokes a hover event separates the at least one item and the display container, the display container does not hide another item that invokes a hover event, the display container does not hide an important area of the application, and the display container is fully contained within the display device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is determined so that the additional data is fully viewable by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking the display container so that no further events indicating that the pointing device hovered over one of the at least one item is handled.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional data comprises at least part of the contents of the at least one item.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the application data.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the additional data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of:

a forum, a discussion group or an online discussion service;

a video, audio or photo uploading or sharing platform;

a blog;

a file sharing application;

a social bookmarking applications, an e-mail application;

a bookmarking application;

a directory application, a search engine or a search service;

a map application;

a diagrams;

a travel application;

a retail or shopping application;

a price comparison or marketplace application;

a product review application;

an educational application;

a telecomm application;

a business application;

a financial application;

a reporting application;

an activity record application;

a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application;

an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application;

a news item application; and

a data feed handling application.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional data is embedded and hidden within the application data.

13. An apparatus for receiving information from a user of a computerized application executed on a computing platform, comprising:

a functionality providing component for providing application data and functionality associated with at least one item to which a user of the application can react;

an additional data generation component for generating additional data related to the application and adding the additional data to the application data; and

a window location determination component for determining a location on the display device at which a display container displaying the additional data and having an area for the user to enter content, is to be located.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an additional data presentation component for displaying the display container on a display device, when a pointing device hovers over the at least one item.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the application is a client-server application, and wherein the server-side application comprises an additional data generation component for generating additional data related to the at least one item and adding the additional data to the application data;

and the client-side application comprises an additional data retrieval component for retrieving the additional data from the application data.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the content provided by the user is published.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the content provided by the user is viewable by a human being.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the additional data comprises at least part of the contents of the at least one item.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the application is selected from the group consisting of:

a forum, a discussion group or an online discussion service;

a video, audio or photo uploading or sharing platform;

a blog;

a file sharing application;

a social bookmarking applications, an e-mail application;

a bookmarking application;

a directory application, a search engine or a search service;

a map application;

a diagrams;

a travel application;

a retail or shopping application;

a price comparison or marketplace application;

a product review application;

an educational application;

a telecomm application;

a business application;

a financial application;

a reporting application;

an activity record application;

a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application;

an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application;

a news item application; and

a data feed handling application.

20. A tangible computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions comprising:

receiving application data relating to an application comprising at least one item to which a user can react;

receiving additional data relating to the at least one item;

displaying on a display device the application data to a user using a pointing device;

receiving an event indicating that the pointing device hovered over one of the at least one item;

displaying on the display device a display container displaying the additional data relating to the application, and an area for a user to enter content; and

updating the application with the information entered by the user.