CONFIGURATION BAR FOR LAUNCHING LAYER FOR ACCESSING USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS

• US 20110078616A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew M. Grignon, Gregory N. Christie, Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch
• Original Assignee: Andrew M. Grignon, Gregory N. Christie, Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch
• Inventors: Louch, John, Grignon, Andrew M., Christie, Gregory N., Chaudhri, Imran A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user'"'"'s screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a desktop user interface of the computer system, a computer implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the method comprising:

executing an operating system, the operating system providing both a desktop user interface and a widget layer that is distinct from the desktop user interface, the operating system configured to execute applications associated with the desktop user interface and desktop widgets associated with the widget layer;

responsive to a trigger event, activating, in the desktop user interface, the widget layer according to layer configuration information describing the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer;

displaying a first desktop widget in the widget layer according to the layer configuration information;

receiving a user input within the widget layer to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar displaying a plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the second desktop widget within the widget layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user input within the widget layer to activate the configuration bar comprises receiving a selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface element is an icon.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the icon.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the icon is displayed within the widget layer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the icon is a plus sign.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second desktop widget is associated with a primary functionality performed by the second desktop widget and adding the second desktop widget to the widget layer activates the primary functionality.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to receiving the selection of the second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar comprises:

receiving a user input dragging and dropping the second desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, responsive to dragging and dropping the second desktop widget to the widget layer:

automatically retrieving, from a server, software code for the second desktop widget; and

installing the software code for the second desktop widget.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an animation indicating that the second desktop widget was added to the widget layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration bar is substantially transparent.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets is capable of being instantiated a plurality times within the widget layer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a second trigger event, dismissing the widget layer, thereby removing access to the group of user interface elements.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

responsive to the trigger event, displaying a first transitional animation indicating the activation of the widget layer; and

responsive to the second trigger event, displaying a second transitional animation indicating the dismissal of the widget layer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the widget layer such that the widget layer at least partially obscures the desktop user interface.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the widget layer such that the widget layer replaces the desktop user interface.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the widget layer overlaying the desktop user interface.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information specifies configuration options for displaying the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the configuration information further specifies two or more widget layer configurations for one or more users.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the computer program instructions when executed by a computer processor perform the steps comprising:

executing an operating system, the operating system providing both a desktop user interface and a widget layer that is separate from the desktop user interface, the operating system configured to execute applications associated with the desktop user interface and desktop widgets associated with the widget layer;

responsive to a trigger event, activating, in the desktop user interface, the widget layer according to layer configuration information describing the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer;

displaying a first desktop widget in the widget layer according to the layer configuration information;

receiving a user input within the widget layer to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar displaying a plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the second desktop widget within the widget layer.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein receiving the user input within the widget layer to activate the configuration bar comprises receiving a selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the second desktop widget is associated with a primary functionality performed by the second desktop widget and adding the second desktop widget to the widget layer activates the primary functionality.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein responsive to receiving the selection of the second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar comprises:

receiving a user input dragging and dropping the second desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the configuration information specifies configuration options for displaying the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the configuration information further specifies two or more widget layer configurations for one or more users.

28. A computer system for adding widgets to a widget layer, the computer system comprising:

a computer processor;

an operating system that provides both a desktop user interface and a widget layer that is separate from the desktop user interface, the operating system configured to execute applications associated with the desktop user interface and desktop widgets associated with the widget layer; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions that when executed by the computer processor perform the steps comprising;

responsive to a trigger event, activating, in the desktop user interface, the widget layer according to layer configuration information describing the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer;

displaying a first desktop widget in the widget layer according to the layer configuration information;

receiving a user input within the widget layer to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar displaying a plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the second desktop widget within the widget layer.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein receiving the user input within the widget layer to activate the configuration bar comprises receiving a selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar.

30. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the second desktop widget is associated with a primary functionality performed by the second desktop widget and adding the second desktop widget to the widget layer activates the primary functionality.

31. The computer system of claim 28, wherein responsive to receiving the selection of the second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar comprises:

receiving a user input dragging and dropping the second desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

32. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.

33. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the configuration information specifies configuration options for displaying the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer.

34. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the configuration information further specifies two or more widget layer configurations for one or more users.