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Method and apparatus for accessing information, computer programs and electronic communications across multiple computing devices using a graphical user interface

  • US 6,850,255 B2
  • Filed: 02/28/2002
  • Issued: 02/01/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for accessing information, computer programs and electronic communications across multiple computing devices using a portable graphical user interface (GUI) executing in a computer that is connected to a computer network comprising:

  • a. establishing a communication session between said computer and a server computer having means for supplying said GUI with configuration data, data objects, application objects, and other items necessary for the operation of said GUI;

    b. presenting within a display device connected to said computer an initial presentation of said GUI containing a plurality of container objects that represent the root-level of a containment hierarchy that controls the presentation of all items contained within said container objects;

    c. limiting the quantity of said container objects to be less than, or equal to, the maximum number of such container objects that can be recognizably presented by the display device of lowest pixel-resolution among other computer systems a typical user of said GUI would seek to operate, such operation including the execution, reproduction, and use of said GUI;

    d. grouping, by groups of similar type and function, the object items, application objects, and other items said typical user of said GUI would seek to access within said GUI, the quantity of such groups being equal to the quantity of said container objects, and assigning each group of objects and items to a container object within the group of said container objects, such assignment establishing a second hierarchal branch of said containment hierarchy extending from said containment hierarchy'"'"'s root-level;

    e. further defining the hierarchal distribution of object items, application objects, and other items contained within said container objects so that objects and items of similar type and function are organized into groups and subgroups, the organization of which is used to define further hierarchal branches within said containment hierarchy, the objects and items then being distributed to those further hierarchal branches;

    f. further defining the hierarchal distribution of object items, application objects, and other items contained within said container objects so that those objects and items that said typical user of said GUI would most frequently access when operating said GUI will be distributed to branches of said containment hierarchy that are closest to said containment hierarchy'"'"'s root-level;

    g. providing, within said container objects, means of navigating branches of said containment hierarchy thereby enabling a user of said GUI to access object items, application objects, and other items that are contained within said container objects;

    h. controlling the presentation of said container objects within said initial representation so that each container object of the group of said container objects are displayed in a closed representation, said closed representation meaning that the contents of any container object displaying said closed representation are not visible to a user of said GUI, however, such container object is represented in a manner that allows its selection by said user operating a input device connected to said computer;

    i. controlling the presentation of said container objects so that any container object within the group of said container objects, if displaying said closed representation, will be displayed in a open representation in response to a selection event generated by said user'"'"'s selection of that container object by operation of said input device connected to said computer, said open representation meaning that the contents of any container object displaying said open representation are made visible to said user within that container object;

    j. controlling the presentation of said container objects so that any container object within the group of said container objects, if displaying said open representation, will be displayed in said closed representation in response to a selection event generated by said user'"'"'s selection of a portion of that container object by using said input device connected to said computer;

    k. providing means of executing and presenting, within said GUI, application objects retrieved by said GUI from said server computer;

    l. providing means for receiving and transmitting electronic communications using said server computer and presenting and creating such communication within said GUI;

    m. providing a means of scaling the visual representation of said GUI and all visual elements contained therein so that said GUI may be rendered with visual consistency in the display systems of a variety of computer systems;

    n. providing means of storing configuration data, data objects, application objects, computer files and other items in the storage system of said server computer so that said user of said GUI will be able to manage portions of said hierarchy, store and retrieve computer files from said server, and configure operating parameters of said GUI that will persist when such a user operates said GUI at another time using said computer or using another computer connected by said computer network to said server computer, whereby said GUI may be operated across a wide range of computer devices and provide said user with access to information, computer programs and electronic communications.

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