Methods and apparatuses for controlling the appearance of a user interface

• US 7,487,458 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jalon, Julien, Colom, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thanh T
• Application Number:
  US10/665,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 715/747, 715/765, 715/835, 715/772, 715/790, 715/963
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Methods, systems and machine readable media for displaying (e.g., information from multiple calendars) using different secondary colors generated according to primary colors in a data processing system. In one exemplary method, a calendar interface is displayed on a display device, wherein the calendar interface is capable of displaying calendar events for a user, and a control interface is displayed, which control interface allows the user to selectively display calendar events simultaneously from at least two calendars of the user in the calendar interface. Each of the calendars can have a primary color for display; and, secondary colors are automatically determined based on the primary color for the user interface elements associated with a calendar.

Claims

1. A method to display user interface elements on a data processing system, the method comprising:

automatically determining, based on a primary color, a plurality of secondary colors for the user interface elements, wherein the plurality of secondary colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element is assigned a first secondary color from the plurality of secondary colors and wherein a second user interface element is assigned one of the plurality of secondary colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

displaying the user interface elements using the plurality of secondary colors;

displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the primary color is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the user interface elements displayed using the plurality of secondary colors are associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

selecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the one of the plurality of calendars.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the primary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantially same Hue.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of colors on a display device of the data processing system; and

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of colors as the primary color.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said determining comprises:

selecting the plurality of secondary colors from a plurality of pre-designed colors according to the primary color.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

computing color components of the plurality of secondary colors according to color components of the primary color.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

computing color components of one of the plurality of secondary colors based on color components of the primary color and color components of a plurality of pre-designed secondary colors that are associated respectively with a plurality of pre-designed primary colors.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are discontinuous functions of the color components of the primary color.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are continuous functions of the color components of the primary color;

and, the method further comprises;

selecting one from a plurality of candidates to color a user interface element, the plurality of candidates comprising the one of the plurality of secondary colors.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

determining which one of a plurality of regions in a color space is the primary color in.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said determining the plurality of secondary colors is performed based on a result of said determining which one of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primary color in.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

generating an icon image for the user interface elements using at least one of the plurality of secondary colors.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said generating comprises:

creating a plurality of icon images according to a plurality of image models, each of the plurality of image model being associated with one of a plurality of regions a color space; and

mixing the plurality of icon images according to a position of the primary color in relation with the plurality of regions in the color space.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of regions comprises a dark color region and a bright color region;

and said mixing is according to a measurement of distance to a boundary that separates the dark color region and the bright color region in the color space.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises:

selecting one from candidates including at least one of the plurality of secondary colors to apply to one of the user interface elements.

15. A computer storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to display user interface elements on the data processing system, the method comprising:

automatically determining, based on a primary color, a plurality of secondary colors for the user interface elements, wherein the plurality of secondary colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element is assigned a first secondary color from the plurality of secondary colors and wherein a second user interface element is assigned one of the plurality of secondary colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

displaying the user interface elements using the plurality of secondary colors;

displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the primary color is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the user interface elements displayed using the plurality of secondary colors are associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

selecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the one of the plurality of calendars.

16. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the primary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantially same Hue.

17. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a plurality of colors on a display device of the data processing system; and

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of colors as the primary color.

18. The computer storage medium as in claim 17, wherein said determining comprises:

selecting the plurality of secondary colors from a plurality of pre-designed colors according to the primary color.

19. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein said determining comprises:

computing color components of the plurality of secondary colors according to color components of the primary color.

20. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein said determining comprises:

computing color components of one of the plurality of secondary colors based on color components of the primary color and color components of a plurality of pre-designed secondary colors that are associated respectively with a plurality of pre-designed primary colors.

21. The computer storage medium as in claim 20, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are discontinuous functions of the color components of the primary color.

22. The computer storage medium as in claim 20, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are continuous functions of the color components of the primary color;

and, the method further comprises;

selecting one from a plurality of candidates to color a user interface element, the plurality of candidates comprising the one of the plurality of secondary colors.

23. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

determining which one of a plurality of regions in a color space is the primary color in.

24. The computer storage medium as in claim 23, wherein said determining the plurality of secondary colors is performed based on a result of said determining which one of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primary color in.

25. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

generating an icon image for the user interface elements using at least one of the plurality of secondary colors.

26. The computer storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said generating comprises:

creating a plurality of icon images according to a plurality of image models, each of the plurality of image model being associated with one of a plurality of regions a color space; and

mixing the plurality of icon images according to a position of the primary color in relation with the plurality of regions in the color space.

27. The computer storage medium as in claim 26, wherein the plurality of regions comprises a dark color region and a bright color region;

and said mixing is according to a measurement of distance to a boundary that separates the dark color region and the bright color region in the color space.

28. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein said displaying comprises:

selecting one from candidates including at least one of the plurality of secondary colors to apply to one of the user interface elements.

29. A system to process data and to display user interface elements, the system comprising:

means for automatically determining, based on a primary color, a plurality of secondary colors for the user interface elements, wherein the plurality of secondary colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element is assigned a first secondary color from the plurality of secondary colors and wherein a second user interface element is assigned one of the plurality of secondary colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

means for displaying the user interface elements using the plurality of secondary colors;

means for displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the primary color is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the user interface elements displayed using the plurality of secondary colors are associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

means for selecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the one of the plurality of calendars.

30. The system as in claim 29, wherein the primary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantially same Hue.

31. The system as in claim 29, further comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of colors on a display device of the data processing system; and

means for receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of colors as the primary color.

32. The system as in claim 31, wherein said means for determining comprises:

means for selecting the plurality of secondary colors from a plurality of pre-designed colors according to the primary color.

33. The system as in claim 29, wherein said means for determining comprises:

means for computing color components of the plurality of secondary colors according to color components of the primary color.

34. The system as in claim 29, wherein said means for determining comprises:

means for computing color components of one of the plurality of secondary colors based on color components of the primary color and color components of a plurality of pre-designed secondary colors that are associated respectively with a plurality of pre-designed primary color.

35. The system as in claim 34, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are discontinuous functions of the color components of the primary color.

36. The system as in claim 34, wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondary colors are continuous functions of the color components of the primary color;

and, the data processing system further comprises;

means for selecting one from a plurality of candidates to color a user interface element, the plurality of candidates comprising the one of the plurality of secondary colors.

37. The system as in claim 29, further comprising:

means for determining which one of a plurality of regions in a color space is the primary color in.

38. The system as in claim 37, wherein the plurality of secondary colors is determined based on a result of determining which one of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primary color in.

39. The system as in claim 29, further comprising:

means for generating an icon image for the user interface elements using at least one of the plurality of secondary colors.

40. The system as in claim 39, wherein said means for generating comprises:

means for creating a plurality of icon images according to a plurality of image models, each of the plurality of image model being associated with one of a plurality of regions a color space; and

means for mixing the plurality of icon images according to a position of the primary color in relation with the plurality of regions in the color space.

41. The system as in claim 40, wherein the plurality of regions comprises a dark color region and a bright color region;

and the plurality of icon images are mixed according to a measurement of distance to a boundary that separates the dark color region and the bright color region in the color space.

42. The system as in claim 29, wherein said means for displaying comprises:

means for selecting one from candidates including at least one of the plurality of secondary colors to apply to one of the user interface elements.

43. A method of controlling a graphical user interface of a data processing system, the method comprising:

presenting a range of colors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner;

receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors;

automatically determining, based on said color from said range of colors, a plurality of colors for a corresponding plurality of user interface elements, wherein the plurality of colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned a first color from the plurality of colors and wherein a second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned one of the plurality of colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

displaying said plurality of user interface elements with said plurality of colors displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color from the range of colors is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed using the plurality of colors is associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range of colors for the one of the plurality of calendars.

44. A method as in claim 43, wherein said automatically determining is based upon a predetermined mathematical process, executed by said data processing system, which selects said plurality of colors without user intervention.

45. A method as in claim 43, wherein said range of colors is presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.

46. A method as in claim 43, wherein said plurality of user interface elements include at least one of:

a) window title bar;

b) text highlight color;

c) text;

d) control button;

e) window resize control; and

f) scheduled events in a calendar.

47. A method as in claim 43, wherein one of said plurality of user interface elements is displayed in said color from said range of colors.

48. A method as in claim 43, wherein at least one of said plurality of user interface elements is a control, which upon activation by a user, causes said data processing system to perform an action.

49. A computer storage medium, containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method of controlling a graphical user interface of said data processing system, the method comprising:

presenting a range of colors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner;

receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors;

automatically determining, based on said color from said range of colors, a plurality of colors for a corresponding plurality of user interface elements, wherein the plurality of colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned a first color from the plurality of colors and wherein a second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned one of the plurality of colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

displaying said plurality of user interface elements with said plurality of colors displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color from the range of colors is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed using the plurality of colors is associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range of colors for the one of the plurality of calendars.

50. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein said automatically determining is based upon a predetermined mathematical process, executed by said data processing system, which selects said plurality of colors without user intervention.

51. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein said range of colors is presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.

52. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein said plurality of user interface elements include at least one of:

a) window title bar;

b) text highlight color;

c) text;

d) control button;

e) window resize control; and

f) scheduled events in a calendar.

53. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein one of said plurality of user interface elements is displayed in said color from said range of colors.

54. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein at least one of said plurality of user interface elements is a control, which upon activation by a user, causes said data processing system to perform an action.

55. A system to process data for a graphical user interface, the system comprising;

means for presenting a range of colors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner;

means for receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors;

means for automatically determining, based on said color from said range of colors, a plurality of colors for a corresponding plurality of user interface elements, wherein the plurality of colors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned a first color from the plurality of colors and wherein a second user interface element in the plurality of user interface elements is assigned one of the plurality of colors based on a first characteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in a first relation with the first user interface element, wherein the first user interface element is text and the second user interface element is a gradient background and the first characteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;

means for displaying said plurality of user interface elements with said plurality of colors

means for displaying information from a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color from the range of colors is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed using the plurality of colors is associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;

means for selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range of colors for the one of the plurality of calendars.

56. The system as in claim 55, wherein the plurality of colors are automatically determined based upon a predetermined mathematical process, executed by said data processing system, which selects said plurality of colors without user intervention.

57. The system as in claim 55, wherein said range of colors is presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.

58. The system as in claim 55, wherein said plurality of user interface elements include at least one of:

a) window title bar;

b) text highlight color;

c) text;

d) control button;

e) window resize control; and

f) scheduled events in a calendar.

59. The system as in claim 55, wherein one of said plurality of user interface elements is displayed in said color from said range of colors.

60. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said plurality of user interface elements is a control, which upon activation by a user, causes said data processing system to perform an action.