User interface with repeating interactive background elements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising:
- a desktop having a workspace with a background;
wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and
means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user.
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Abstract
A user interface for a data processing system includes a desktop workspace with a background containing one or more sets of interactive graphical elements arranged in respective repeating patterns. Each of the graphical elements of the one or more sets is responsive to user input for performing various functions associated with one or more application programs. The graphical elements of the one or more sets may change appearances in response to changes in status of one or more of the application programs.
33 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising:
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a desktop having a workspace with a background; wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising:
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a desktop having a workspace with a background; a first window overlying the background within the workspace, the first window having a first application program associated therewith; wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program; and means for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program; and accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set having a changed appearance to perform a second function associated with the first application program. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising:
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computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first or second sets in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for providing a data processing system graphical user interface, comprising:
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a display; means for providing on the display a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and means for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising:
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a desktop having a workspace with a background; and a first set of graphical elements arranged in a first repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and a second set of graphical elements arranged in a second repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the second set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program, wherein the second function has a lower priority relative to a priority of the first function, and wherein the number of graphical elements in the second repeating pattern is less than the number of graphical elements in the first repeating pattern. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising:
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computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification