Time-based dynamic user interface elements

• US 6,567,104 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Andrew, Felix G. T. I., Smith, Michael D., Sobeski, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/315,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 345/762, 345/764, 345/781, 345/784, 345/835, 345/839, 345/853, 345/854, 707/4, 707/102, 707/501, 707/514
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing user interfaces that include content selected based on when the user interface is being provided are disclosed. A temporal engine residing on a host computer system provides a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided. The computer system includes a data store having one or more predefined time periods, each of which is defined, at least in part, by a span of time or by a set of conditions being satisfied, and is associated with a predefined set of user interface elements. The temporal engine determines, for each predefined time period, whether the set of conditions that defines the time period is satisfied. If so, the temporal engine causes a user interface to be provided that is based on the set of user interface elements associated with the time period. The temporal engine continues running in the background on the host computer system and dynamically updates the user interface whenever one predefined time period ends and another begins.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium comprising:

a data store that includes a plurality of predefined time periods, wherein each predefined time period is associated with a respective predefined set of user interface elements; and

computer-executable instructions for determining whether a current time is within at least one of the predefined time periods, and for providing a user interface that is based on the respective predefined set of user interface elements that is associated with the at least one predefined time period.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one predefined time period is defined by a set of prescribed conditions being satisfied.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, comprising further computer executable instructions for determining whether the set of prescribed conditions that defines the at least one predefined time period is satisfied.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 3, comprising further computer-executable instructions for updating the user interface, if the set of prescribed conditions that defines a second predefined time period is satisfied, based on the respective predefined set of user interface elements associated with the second predefined time period.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein at least one of the prescribed conditions is based on the time of day.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein at least one of the prescribed conditions is based on the date.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one predefined time period is defined by a span of time.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, comprising further computer executable instructions for determining, for the at least one predefined time period, whether a current user experience is occurring during the span of time.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, comprising further computer-executable instructions for updating the user interface, if the current user experience is occurring during the span of time, based on the respective predefined set of user interface elements associated with the at least one predefined time period.

10. A method for providing a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided, on a computer having a data store that includes at least one predefined time period, wherein each said time period is defined by a set of conditions being satisfied and is associated with a predefined set of user interface elements, the method comprising:

determining, for each said predefined time period, whether the set of conditions that defines the time period is satisfied; and

if the set of conditions that defines the time period is satisfied, providing the user interface based on the predefined set of user interface elements associated with the predefined time period.

11. A method for dynamically updating a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided, the method comprising:

defining a first time period that is defined at least in part by a first span of time;

associating at least one user interface element with the first defined time period;

making a first determination of the current time;

determining whether the current time falls within the first span of time; and

if the current time falls within the first span of time, providing a first user interface based on the user interface elements associated with the first defined time period.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

defining a second time period that is defined at least in part by a second span of time;

associating at least one user interface element with the second defined time period;

making a second determination of the current time;

determining whether the current time falls within the second span of time; and

if the current time falls within the second span of time, providing a second user interface based on the user interface elements associated with the second defined time period, whereby the user interface is dynamically updated.

13. A computer system for dynamically updating a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided, the computer system comprising:

a data store that includes a first time period that is defined at least in part by a first span of time, and a reference to at least one user interface element associated with the first defined time period; and

a temporal engine that makes a first determination of the current time;

determines whether the current time falls within the first span of time; and

if the current time falls within the first span of time, provides to a user at the host computer system a first user interface based on the user interface elements associated with the first defined time period.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data store further includes a second time period that is defined at least in part by a second span of time, and a reference to at least one user interface element associated with the second defined time period;

and

wherein the temporal engine makes a second determination of the current time;

determines whether the current time falls within the second span of time; and

if the current time falls within the second span of time, provides to the user a second user interface based on the user interface elements associated with the second defined time period.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the temporal engine identifies the user interface elements to an application, and the application builds the user interface based on the user interface elements.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the user interface elements provides functionality to the user interface.