Information management system with user data-based user interface

• US 5,832,473 A
• Filed: 09/08/1995
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellisync Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starfish Software, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sonia, Kahn, Philippe R., Freund, Gregor P.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US08/526,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 395/615, 395/346, 395/60, 395/61, 707/2, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Information Management System and methods providing an improved user interface (UI) are described. In particular, the present invention provides a specialized region of the user interface which comprises a world or "landscape" which is a core representation or view of the user'"'"'s own data. To render the landscape with representations of the data most important to the user, the system, at runtime, actually examines the underlying data which has been stored by the user. The system then dynamically alters the user interface at runtime to include representations of information which is important to the user. In operation, the system presents an interface comprising a background bitmap and further comprises diverse objects which are "plugged into" the background. Each object which is plugged in is typically a completely separate object which represents particular user data which is of interest to a currently logged-on user. Multiple background bitmaps or landscapes are provided so that a user may select a preferred representation of his or her "world" (e.g., family), including selecting completely different landscape environments (e.g., office). The system automatically adapts the objects placed on the landscape for the particular background setting which the user has chosen. Based on the user'"'"'s actual data, the system regenerates the appropriate objects which are plugged into the landscape for representing the user'"'"'s own data.

Claims

1. In a computer system having an application program for manipulating and representing user data, said user data pertaining to actual physical objects of a user and which exist outside the computer system in an environment of interest to the user, a data-centric method for assisting the user with operation of said application program, the method comprising:

displaying a background image comprising a pictorial representation of said environment of interest to the user;

displaying on said background at least one object image comprising a pictorial representation of a particular one of said physical objects of the user for providing access to user data pertaining to said particular one of said physical objects of the user, wherein the system is configurable such that the user can selectively place object images on the background image for modifying which physical objects of the user are represented by said environment;

receiving first user input for selecting a particular one of said at least one object image, for obtaining access to user data pertaining to the particular physical object of the user;

displaying, in response to said first user input, a list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user;

receiving second user input for selecting a data item of interest from said list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user; and

launching execution of a particular portion of said application program for manipulating and representing said selected data item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said background image includes a bitmap landscape comprising a pictorial representation of said environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said bitmap landscape comprises an image representing a family environment.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one object image includes a bitmap icon comprising a pictorial representation of a person.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said particular object image selected is an image representing the user and wherein said list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user comprises information pertaining to the user personally.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user data comprises at least health information and insurance information about the user.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one object image includes a bitmap icon comprising a pictorial representation of a vehicle, said vehicle being the particular physical object of the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user comprises at least maintenance and insurance information pertaining to said vehicle.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one object image includes a bitmap icon comprising a pictorial representation of a person other than said user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user comprises personal information pertaining to said person other than said user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said person other than said user is a family member of said user.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one object image includes a bitmap icon comprising a pictorial representation of a house of the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user comprises information pertaining to said house of the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said user data comprises at least maintenance information and insurance information about said house of the user.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein said bitmap landscape comprises an image representing a business environment.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said particular portion of said application program comprises a functional module of said application program designed for displaying and manipulating said selected data item.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one launch icon for invoking various functional modules of said application program irrespective of data items selected by the user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one launch icon is displayed at a location other than on said background image.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying a list of user data pertaining to said particular physical object of the user comprises displaying a browser for navigating user data pertaining to said particular physical object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of receiving second user input for selecting a data item of interest comprises:

receiving first input signals for positioning a screen cursor at a position on said list corresponding to where a specific item of said user data is located; and

receiving second input signals for indicating user selection of a particular screen location, wherein said screen location is the position on said list corresponding to where said specific item of said user data is located.

21. A computer having an improved data-centric interface comprising:

a computer having a processor, a memory, and a screen display;

means for displaying on said screen display a background image comprising a pictorial image for modeling an environment of interest to a user and which exists outside of said computer;

means for displaying on said background image images of a user'"'"'s own physical objects which exist in said environment, each physical object being an actual object of the user and being associated with particular user information;

means for storing user information; and

means for providing access to the stored user information comprising;

an input device for selecting an image of one of said physical objects from said background image;

means for determining which user information is associated with the physical object whose image has been selected by the user; and

means for providing access to the user information associated with the physical object whose image has been selected by the user by displaying a representation of user information which is associated with the physical object.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for selecting particular user information from said representation of user information which is associated with the physical object; and

means for launching execution of application program code for representing and manipulating the particular user information which has been selected.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said background image which models an environment of interest to a user includes a bitmap image comprising a pictorial representation of the user'"'"'s family and home environment.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said images of objects which exist in said environment includes bitmap images comprising a pictorial representation of members of the user'"'"'s family.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said images of objects which exist in said environment includes bitmap images comprising pictorial representations of physical objects which the user owns.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said bitmap images comprising pictorial representations of physical objects which the user owns include at least an image of a house and an image of a vehicle.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for interviewing the user for automatically selecting a background image which best models the environment which is of interest to a user.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the environment which is of interest to a user is a family setting.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the environment which is of interest to a user is a business setting.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said system further comprises:

means for switching said environment to a new type of environment, so that said background image and said images of objects are automatically updated to images which represent said new type of environment and objects which exist in said new type of environment.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said means for switching includes means for switching from an environment which presents a family view of said user information to an environment which presents a financial view of said user information.

32. In an electronic mail system, a method for providing an improved interface for operating the system comprising:

displaying an electronic mail interface for providing from a single computer electronic mail for multiple users of the single computer, the interface comprising a set of screen images each of which represents a user of the system, said system initially displaying the same set of screen images for the multiple users regardless of which particular user is currently logged onto the system;

receiving user input for logging onto the system from a user who has previously established an electronic mail box with the system, whereupon said user from which said user input originates is accorded access as a user currently logged onto the system;

receiving user input from said user currently logged onto the system for selecting one of said screen images, the selected screen image representing a particular user of the system;

determining whether the user selecting one of said screen representations of a user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected;

if the user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, displaying an electronic mail box for the user currently logged onto the system, said electronic mail box including incoming messages to the user; and

if the user of the system is not the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, displaying an input screen for creating an outgoing message from the user currently logged onto the system to the particular user whose screen image has been selected.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of displaying screen images representing each user of the system comprises:

displaying an image of a refrigerator having a plurality of notes attached to it, each note including a name for one of the users of the system.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising creating an outgoing message to a user other than the one currently logged onto the system by:

selecting a note for the other user, the note including the name for the other user; and

displaying an editor for creating an outgoing message to the other user.

35. In a single computer system which is shared by a plurality of users, a method for controlling access to user information stored on said single computer system, the method comprising:

displaying screen images representing each user of the system;

receiving user input for logging onto the system, said user input specifying a user currently logged onto the system;

receiving user input from said user currently logged onto the system for selecting one of said screen images, the selected screen image representing a particular user of the system;

determining whether the user selecting one of said screen representations of a user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected;

if the user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, providing access to the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected; and

if the user of the system is not the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, denying access to the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving user input from one user granting others access to at least some of that user'"'"'s user information.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving user input from said user currently logged onto the system for selecting one of said screen images, the selected screen image representing a particular user of the system;

determining whether the user selecting one of said screen representations of a user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected;

if the user of the system is the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, providing access to the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected;

if the user of the system is not the same as the particular user whose screen image has been selected, determining whether the user has been granted access to at least some of the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected; and

if the user of the system has been granted access to at least some of the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected, providing access to said at least some of the user information for the user whose screen image has been selected.