User interface element with auxiliary function
First Claim
1. A method for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:
- displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality;
responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and
receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user'"'"'s screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying the auxiliary controls; receiving changes to the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for displaying an auxiliary function for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality.
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33. A computer-implemented system for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:
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a computer processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising; displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element.
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34. A computer-implemented system for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:
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a computer processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising; displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group; responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application.
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35. A computer-implemented system for displaying an auxiliary function for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:
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a computer processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising; displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality.
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Specification