User interface for providing consolidation and access

• US 7,434,177 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ording, Bas, Jobs, Steven P., Lindsay, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/467,074
• Time in Patent Office: 3,214 Days
• Field of Search: 345/765, 345/779, 345/810, 345/835, 345/840, 345/856, 345/859, 345/860, 345/861, 345/862, 345/977, 715/765, 715/779, 715/810, 715/835, 715/840, 715/856, 715/860, 715/861, 715/862, 715/977
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a bar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a size of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display and for repositioning others of said plurality of tiles along said bar to accommodate the varied size of said one tile.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of tiles represents an object with which a user of said computer system can interact.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said objects include at least one of:

applications, documents, windows and uniform resource locators.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of a plurality of tiles includes a tile to which said cursor is closest and a plurality of tiles adjacent to said tile.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said processor repositions said others of said plurality of tiles in accordance with a predefined relationship between an effect width W, a default height h of said at least one of said plurality of tiles and a selected maximum height H of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein said predefined relationship includes a function S defined as:

S=((H−

h)÷

2)÷

sine(π

×

(h÷

2)÷

(W×

2)).

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein said others of said plurality of tiles each has a left edge and a right edge located at distances d₁ and d₂ from said cursor, and is moved to a position such that said left edge has a distance d₁ from said cursor and said right edge has a distance d₂′

from said cursor wherein;

d₁′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₁÷

W)

d₂′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₂÷

W).

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said at least one of said plurality of tiles is scaled by a factor of:

1+(d₂′

−

d₁′

)÷

(d₂−

d₁).

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said at least one of said plurality of tiles is scaled by a factor of:

1+(d₂′

−

d₁′

)÷

(d₂−

d₁)

wherein d₁ and d₂ are distances from said cursor to said left edge and right edge, respectively, of said at least one of said plurality of tiles prior to being moved to said position.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said processor varies the size of at least some of said others of said plurality of tiles based on a sine function.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said bar is rendered at a bottom of said display.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein there is a gap between said bar and said bottom of said display.

13. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user selection function for permitting a user to select a value of at least one characteristic of said bar.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein a maximum size to which said at least one of said plurality of tiles can be enlarged is said at least one characteristic.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein a default size for said plurality of tiles is said at least one characteristic.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein an effect width within which said at least one of said plurality of tiles have varied size is said at least one characteristic.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein a setting for an autohide capability for said bar is said at least one characteristic.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein a status of objects as permanent or nonpermanent on said bar is said at least one characteristic.

19. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said processor removes said bar from said display when said cursor moves away from said bar.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said processor removes said bar by invoking an animation routine which makes said bar appear to slide into an edge of said display.

21. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said processor removes said bar by invoking an animation routine which makes said bar appear to slide into an edge of said display in response to at least one keystroke.

22. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of tiles occupy a single row on said display.

23. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of tiles occupy multiple rows on said display.

24. The computer system of claim 1, wherein two of said plurality of tiles are permanent residents of said bar and define endpoints thereof, and other tiles can be selectively added to and deleted from positions intermediate said two tiles by a user.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein said other tiles can be selectively repositioned on said bar relative to one another among said intermediate positions by a user.

26. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said cursor is proximate said bar when said cursor is positioned on or within a border of one of said plurality of tiles.

27. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said cursor is proximate said bar when said cursor is within a predetermined distance of one of said plurality of tiles.

28. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said processor displays a label associated with said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said processor displays said label with a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from another of said plurality of tiles.

30. The computer system of claim 29, wherein said processor displays said label with a second predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from outside a region associated with said bar.

31. The computer system of claim 30, wherein said first and second fade-in rates are different.

32. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said processor fades out said label when said cursor moves away from said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein said processor uses a first fade out rate when said cursor moves into another of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein said processor uses a second fade out rate when said cursor moves out of a region associated with said bar.

35. The computer system of claim 34, wherein said first and second rates are different.

36. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a userbar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a position of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display, in accordance with a predefined relationship between an effect width W, a default height h of said at least one of said plurality of tiles and a selected maximum height H of said at least one of said plurality of tiles wherein said predefined relationship includes a function S defined as;

S=((H−

h)÷

2)÷

sine(π

×

(h+2)÷

(W×

2)).

37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein each of said plurality of tiles represents an object with which a user of said computer system can interact.

38. The computer system of claim 37, wherein said objects include at least one of:

applications, documents, windows and uniform resource locators.

39. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said at least one of said plurality of tiles has a left edge and a right edge and wherein said at least one of said plurality of tiles is moved to a position such that said left edge has a distance d₁′

from said cursor and said right edge has a distance d₂′

from said cursor wherein;

d₁′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₁÷

W)

d₂′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₂÷

W).

40. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said processor also varies a magnification of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

41. The computer system of claim 40 further comprising:

means for permitting a user to select a magnitude of said magnification.

42. The computer system of claim 41, wherein said magnification of said at least one of said plurality of tiles is varied based on a sine function.

43. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of tiles have a default size which can be set by said user.

44. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said userbar is rendered at an edge of said display.

45. The computer system of claim 44, wherein there is a gap between said userbar and said edge of said display.

46. The computer system of claim 36 further comprising:

a user selection means for permitting a user to select a value of at least one characteristic of said userbar.

47. The computer system of claim 46, wherein a maximum size to which at least another of said plurality of tiles can be enlarged is said at least one characteristic.

48. The computer system of claim 46, wherein a default size for said plurality of tiles is said at least one characteristic.

49. The computer system of claim 46, wherein an effect width within which at least another of said plurality of tiles have varied size is said at least one characteristic.

50. The computer system of claim 46, wherein a setting for an autohide capability for said userbar is said at least one characteristic.

51. The computer system of claim 46, wherein a status of objects as permanent or nonpermanent on said userbar is said at least one characteristic.

52. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said processor removes said userbar from said display when said cursor moves away from said userbar.

53. The computer system of claim 52, wherein said processor removes said userbar by invoking an animation routine which makes said userbar appear to slide into an edge of said display.

54. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said processor removes said userbar by invoking an animation routine which makes said userbar appear to slide into an edge of said display in response to at least one keystroke.

55. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of tiles occupy a single row on said display.

56. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of tiles occupy multiple rows on said display.

57. The computer system of claim 36, wherein at least two of said plurality of tiles are permanent residents of said userbar.

58. The computer system of claim 57, wherein said at least two of said plurality of tiles establish a left and right end for said userbar.

59. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said cursor is proximate said userbar when said cursor is positioned on or within a border of one of said plurality of tiles.

60. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said cursor is proximate said userbar when said cursor is within a predetermined distance of one of said plurality of tiles.

61. The computer system of claim 36, wherein said processor means displays a label associated with said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

62. The computer system of claim 61, wherein said processor means displays said label with a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from another of said plurality of tiles.

63. The computer system of claim 61, wherein said processor means fades out said label when said cursor moves away from said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

64. The computer system of claim 63, wherein said processor means uses a first fade out rate when said cursor moves into another of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

65. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a userbar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a position of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display, wherein said processor displays a label associated with said at least one of said plurality of tiles with a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from another of said plurality of tiles, and with a second predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from outside a region associated with said userbar.

66. The computer system of claim 65, wherein said first and second fade-in rates are different.

67. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a userbar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a position of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display, wherein said processor displays a label associated with said at least one of said plurality of tiles with a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from another of said plurality of tiles, and wherein said processor fades out said label when said cursor moves away from said at least one of said plurality of tiles using a first fade out rate when said cursor moves into another of said at least one of said plurality of tiles, and using a second fade out rate when said cursor moves out of a region associated with said bar.

68. The computer system of claim 67, wherein said first and second rates are different.

69. A method for displaying items in a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of said items in a region of said graphical user interface, each of said items having a default height associated therewith;

moving a cursor along said region; and

selectively magnifying at least one of said items closest to said cursor to a first level and magnifying items proximate to said one item to other levels less than said first level.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising the steps of:

displaying said plurality of items in said region at said default height unless said plurality of items exceeds a predetermined number; and

scaling said plurality of items when said plurality of items exceeds said number.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein said step of magnifying further comprises magnifying said items in accordance with a scaling factor S, wherein S is a predefined relationship between an effect width W, said default height h and a selected maximum height H of said items.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said predefined relationship is:

S=((H−

h)÷

2)÷

sine(π

×

(h÷

2)÷

(W×

2)).

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said plurality of items have a left edge and a right edge respectively located at distances d₁ and d₂ from said cursor, and wherein each of said proximate items is moved to a position such that its left edge has a distance d₁ from said cursor and its right edge has a distance d₂′

from said cursor wherein;

d₁′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₁÷

W)

d₂′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₂÷

W).

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said at least one of said plurality of items is scaled by a factor of:

1+(d₂′

−

d₁′

)÷

(d₂−

d₁).

75. The method of claim 69, further comprising the step of:

setting, by a user, said first level of magnification.

76. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of:

permitting a user to select a magnitude of said first level of magnification.

77. The method of claim 69, wherein said plurality of items have a default size which can be set by a user.

78. The method of claim 69, wherein said magnification of said at least one of said plurality of items is varied based on a sine function.

79. The method of claim 69, wherein said region is proximate a bottom of said graphical user interface.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein there is a gap between said region and said bottom of said graphical user interface.

81. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of:

permitting a user to select a value of at least one characteristic of said region.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein a maximum size to which at said at least one of said plurality of items can be enlarged is said at least one characteristic.

83. The method of claim 81, wherein a default size for said plurality of items is said at least one characteristic.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein an effect width within which said at least one of said plurality of items have varied size is said at least one characteristic.

85. The method of claim 81, wherein a setting for an autohide capability for said plurality of items is said at least one characteristic.

86. The method of claim 81, wherein a status of objects as permanent or nonpermanent within said plurality of items is said at least one characteristic.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising the step of:

automatically rendering permanent items in said region at startup of said graphical user interface.

88. The method of claim 69, further comprising the step of:

removing said plurality of items from said display when said cursor moves away from said region.

89. The method of claim 88, further comprising the step of:

removing said plurality of items by invoking an animation routine which makes said plurality of items appear to slide into an edge of said graphical user interface.

90. The method of claim 69, further comprising the step of:

removing said plurality of items by invoking an animation routine which makes said plurality of items appear to slide into an edge of said display in response to at least one keystroke.

91. The method of claim 69, wherein said plurality of items occupy a single row on said graphical user interface.

92. The method of claim 69, wherein said plurality of items occupy multiple rows on said graphical user interface.

93. The method of claim 69, wherein at least two of said plurality of items are permanent residents.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein said at least two of said plurality of tiles establish a left and right end for said plurality of items.

95. The method of claim 69, wherein said region extends beyond borders of said items.

96. The method of claim 69, further comprising the step of:

displaying a label associated with said at least one of said plurality of items.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of:

displaying said label with a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of items from another of said plurality of items.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of:

displaying said label with a second predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of items from outside said region.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein said first and second fade-in rates are different.

100. The method of claim 96, further comprising the step of:

fading out said label when said cursor moves away from said at least one of said plurality of item.

101. The method of claim 100, further comprising the step of:

using a first fade out rate when said cursor moves into another of said at least one of said plurality of items.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising the step of:

using a second fade out rate when said cursor moves out of said region.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein said first and second rates are different.

104. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for displaying items in a graphical user interface that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

providing a plurality of said items in a region of said graphical user interface, each of said items having a default height associated therewith;

detecting movement of a cursor along said region; and

selectively magnifying at least one of said items closest to said cursor to a first level and magnifying items proximate to said one item to other levels less than said first level.

105. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a bar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a size of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display and for varying a position of another of said plurality of tiles in accordance with a predefined relationship that includes a function S defined as;

S=((H−

h)÷

2)÷

sine(π

×

(h÷

2)÷

(W×

2)),

where W is an effect width, h is a default height of said at least one of said plurality of tiles and H is a selected maximum height of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

106. The computer system of claim 105, wherein said another of said plurality of tiles has a left edge and a right edge respectively located at distances d₁ and d₂ from said cursor, and wherein said another of said plurality of tiles is moved to a position such that said left edge has a distance d₁ from said cursor and said right edge has a distance d₂′

from said cursor wherein;

d₁=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₁÷

W)

d₂′

=S×

sine(π

÷

2×

d₂÷

W).

107. The computer system of claim 106, wherein said at least one of said plurality of tiles is scaled by a factor of:

1+(d₂′

−

d₁′

)÷

(d₂−

d₁)

wherein d₁ and d₂ are distances from said cursor to said left edge and right edge, respectively, of said another of said plurality of tiles prior to being moved to said position.

108. A computer system comprising:

a display;

a cursor for pointing to a position within said display;

a bar rendered on said display and having a plurality of tiles associated therewith; and

a processor for varying a size of at least one of said plurality of tiles on said display when said cursor is proximate said bar on said display and displaying a label associated with at least one of said plurality of tiles at a first predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from another of said plurality of tiles, and at a second predetermined fade-in rate when said cursor moves proximate said at least one of said plurality of tiles from outside a region associated with said bar.

109. The computer system of claim 108, wherein said first and second fade-in rates are different.

110. The computer system of claim 108, wherein said processor fades out said label when said cursor moves away from said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

111. The computer system of claim 110, wherein said processor uses a first fade out rate when said cursor moves into another of said at least one of said plurality of tiles.

112. The computer system of claim 111, wherein said processor uses a second fade out rate when said cursor moves out of a region associated with said bar.

113. The computer system of claim 112, wherein first and second rates are different.

114. A method for displaying representations of objects in a graphical user interface for a computer system, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of icons in a row, where each icon represents an object in the computer system;

displaying a movable cursor via which the user can select individual ones of said icons;

magnifying the size of at least one of said icons as said cursor is moved into the vicinity of said one icon; and

repositioning others of the icons along said row to accommodate the magnified size of said one icon.

115. The method of claim 114 further including the step of magnifying the size of other icons in said row that are proximate said one icon.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein said other icons are magnified by a factor that is inversely related to their distances from said cursor.

117. The method of claim 116 wherein the other icons that are magnified are those which are located within a defined distance of said cursor.

118. The method of claim 117 wherein the value for said defined distance is user-determinable.

119. The method of claim 116 wherein said factor is based upon the sine function.

120. The method of claim 117 wherein each icon is displayed within a corresponding tile area having two opposite edges that are respectively located at distances d₁ and d₂ from said cursor, and said other icons are magnified by the factor

1+(d₂′

−

d₁′

)/(d₂-d₁), where;

d₁=S×

sine(π

/2×

d₁/W) and

d₂′

=S×

sine(π

/2×

d₂/W), where

W is equal to said defined distance, and

(S=((H−

h)/2)÷

sine(π

×

(h/2)÷

(W×

2)), where

H is a magnified size for one dimension of said one icon, and

h is a default display size for said one dimension.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein values for H and h are user-definable.

122. The method of claim 114 where the icons at the outermost ends of said row are predetermined, and the other icons in said row are user-selectable.

123. The method of claim 114 wherein said row of icons is displayed adjacent one edge of a display for said computer system.

124. A method for displaying items in a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of user interface items along an edge of a display area in the form of a bar consisting of at least one row of said items;

detecting the positioning of a cursor within a predetermined distance from at least one of said items;

in response to said detection, magnifying the size of the item closest to said cursor to a designated level and magnifying other items proximate said closest item to levels less than said designated level; and

moving the items along said row to accommodate the magnified sizes of items so that items in the vicinity of said magnified items are not obscured.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein said other items are magnified to levels that are inversely related to their distance from said closest item.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein said user interface items are normally displayed at a default size in said bar and said designated level comprises a maximum magnified size for the items, and further including the steps of magnifying said closest item from said default size to said maximum size upon detecting that the cursor is positioned within said predetermined distance, and maintaining said closest item at said maximum size while said cursor is equal to or less than said predetermined distance from said closest item.

127. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions that when executed, cause a computer to present a graphical user interface that displays a plurality of user interface items along an edge of a display area in the form of a bar consisting of at least one row of said items, and that is responsive to the positioning of a cursor within a predetermined distance of at least one of said items to magnify the size of the item closest to said cursor to a designated level and magnify other items proximate said closest item to levels less than said designated level, and to move the items along said row to accommodate the magnified sizes of items so that items in the vicinity of said magnified items are not obscured.

128. The computer-readable medium of claim 127 wherein said other items are magnified to levels that are inversely related to their distance from said closest item.

129. The computer-readable medium of claim 127 wherein said user interface items are normally displayed at a default size in said bar and said designated level comprises a maximum magnified size for the items, and wherein said closest item is magnified from said default size to said maximum size upon detecting that the cursor is positioned within said predetermined distance, and maintained at said maximum size while said cursor is equal to or less than said predetermined distance from said closest item.