USER INTERFACES AND ASSOCIATED PROCESSES FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

• US 20140298257A1
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sudheer Grandhi
• Original Assignee: Cosmic Eagle, LLC
• Inventors: Grandhi, Sudheer A.
• Application Number:
  US14/229,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for user interfaces and associated processes in computer applications and operating systems to provide an information resource area with information resources. In some embodiments, an information resource area is opened in response to detection of a user being idle for a predefined length of time with respect to an executing software program. In other embodiments an information resource area is opened in response to detection of a gesture by a user on the user interface displaying an executing software program. Various embodiments for rendering the information resource area and information resources are disclosed. Maintenance of the information resource area and the information resources may be based on user preferences. Embodiments for rendering the information resource area in conjunction with screen lock are also provided. In addition a multi-passcode security feature allowing device access at different levels of partial functionality is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for rendering an information resource area, executed at least in part in a computer system with a user interface system supporting a touch screen display, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a detection of a user of the computer system being idle for a predefined length of time with respect to at least one computer software program executing in the computer system; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication, opening on the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer software program is a computer application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer software program is an operating system shell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer software program is a screen lock application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of a user being idle for a predefined length of time comprises detecting no input from the user on the user interface of the at least one computer software program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of a user being idle for a predefined length of time comprises determining user interest based on user gaze information, wherein the user interface system is capable of obtaining user gaze information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined length of time is determined based at least in part on the current user-interface of the at least one computer software program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the content for the at least one information resource included in the information resource area is received through a network connection supported by the computer system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information resource is an interface to a computer application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information resource is an advertisement.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the information resource area based at least in part on user preferences in the information resource area.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening the information resource area from an edge of the touch screen display supported by the user interface system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second gesture from the user with respect to the at least one information resource;

prompting for a passcode input from the user to allow access to the at least one information resource; and

in response to receiving a correct passcode input from the user, allowing access to the at least one information resource.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising detection of a user of the computer system being idle for a predefined length of time with respect to the at least one computer software program executing in the computer system.

15. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

a user interface system supporting a touch screen display;

memory accessible to the one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory which when executed by the one or more processors causes the computer system to perform a method for rendering an information resource area comprising;

receiving an indication of a detection of a user of the computer system being idle for a predefined length of time with respect to at least one computer software program executing in the computer system; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication, opening on the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.

16. One or more programs for rendering an information resource area including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the one or more programs configured to be executed by a computer system with a user interface system supporting a touch screen display, the one or more programs including instructions for:

receiving an indication of a detection of a user of the computer system being idle for a predefined length of time with respect to at least one computer software program executing in the computer system; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication, opening on the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.

17. A method for rendering an information resource area, executed at least in part in a computer system with a user interface system supporting a touch screen display, the method comprising:

detecting a gesture by a user of the computer system on a user interface of at least one computer software program executing in the computer system, wherein the gesture comprises an action by the user to slide out the information resource area from the bottom edge of the touch screen display; and

in response to the detection of the gesture, opening from the bottom edge of the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the action by the user comprises a finger swipe to slide out the information resource area from the bottom edge of the touch screen display.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one computer software program is a computer application.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one computer software program is an operating system shell.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one computer software program is a screen lock application.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one information resource is an interface to a computer application.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one information resource is an interface to an audio application.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one information resource is an advertisement.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying at the bottom edge of the touch screen display an Open icon for opening of the information resource area wherein the action by the user comprises an activation of the Open icon.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining the information resource area based at least in part on user preferences in the information resource area.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing the information resource area in response to detecting a second gesture by a user of the computer system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second gesture comprises a finger swipe on the information resource area to slide the information resource area away towards the bottom edge of the touch screen display.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying at the top edge of the information resource area a Close icon for closing of the information resource area wherein the second gesture comprises an activation of the Close icon.

30. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

a user interface system supporting a touch screen display;

memory accessible to the one or more processors; and

one or more programs stored in the memory which when executed by the one or more processors causes the computer system to perform a method for rendering an information resource area comprising;

detecting a gesture by a user of the computer system on a user interface of at least one computer software program executing in the computer system, wherein the gesture comprises an action by the user to slide out the information resource area from the bottom edge of the touch screen display; and

in response to the detection of the gesture, opening from the bottom edge of the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.

31. One or more programs for rendering an information resource area including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the one or more programs configured to be executed by a computer system with a user interface system supporting a touch screen display, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting a gesture by a user of the computer system on a user interface of at least one computer software program executing in the computer system, wherein the gesture comprises an action by the user to slide out the information resource area from the bottom edge of the touch screen display; and

in response to the detection of the gesture, opening from the bottom edge of the touch screen display supported by the user interface system the information resource area including at least one information resource.