Unified interest layer for user interface
First Claim
1. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
- the computer system performing the steps of;
detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system;
responsive to the first trigger event;
displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the plurality of widgets comprise a weather widget comprising a visual layout specific to the weather widget;
detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and
responsive to the second trigger event;
dismissing the unified interest layer; and
reactivating the user interface;
wherein the visual layout specific to the weather widget comprises;
a first area displaying a current time associated with a geographic location;
a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a temperature associated with the current time and the geographic location; and
a third area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area and the second area that displays a low temperature and a high temperature, for the geographic location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
317 Citations
60 Claims
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1. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the plurality of widgets comprise a weather widget comprising a visual layout specific to the weather widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the weather widget comprises; a first area displaying a current time associated with a geographic location; a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a temperature associated with the current time and the geographic location; and a third area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area and the second area that displays a low temperature and a high temperature, for the geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, for; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the plurality of widgets comprise a weather widget comprising a visual layout specific to the weather widget; wherein the visual layout specific to the weather widget comprises; a first area displaying a current time associated with a geographic location; a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a temperature associated with the current time and the geographic location; and a third area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area and the second area that displays a low temperature and a high temperature for the geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen, the system comprising:
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an input device for detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; a processor, for processing user input received from the user input device; and a display screen, coupled to the processor and comprising an area displaying a user interface, the display screen for, responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the plurality of widgets comprise a weather widget comprising a visual layout specific to the weather widget; wherein the visual layout specific to the weather widget comprises; a first area displaying a current time associated with a geographic location; a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a temperature associated with the current time and the geographic location; and a third area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area and the second area that displays a low temperature and a high temperature for the geographic location.
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26. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user input in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a flight tracker widget for an airplane flight, the flight tracker widget comprising a visual layout specific to the flight tracker widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the flight tracker widget comprises; a flight information area displaying information associated with the airplane flight; and a map area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the flight information area that displays a map including an airplane'"'"'s current travel trajectory between a departure city and an arrival city associated with the airplane flight. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a movie information widget, the movie information widget comprising a visual layout specific to the movie information widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the movie information widget comprises; a movie listing area configured to display a list of movie titles; a theater area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie listing area, and responsive to a selection of a movie title from the movie listing area, configured to display a list of theaters playing the selected movie title; a show time area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie listing area, and responsive to the selection of a theater from the theater area, configured to display times at which the selected movie title is being played at the selected theater. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising an online rental queue management widget, the online rental queue management widget comprising a visual layout specific to the online rental queue management widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the online rental queue management widget comprises; a movie category area configured to display a listing of movie categories; a movie recommendation area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie category area, and responsive to a selection of a movie category from the movie category area, configured to display a listing of movie titles associated with the selected movie category; and a functionality area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie category area and the movie recommendation area, configured to receive a selection between a display of the movie recommendation area or a current rental queue area, wherein the movie recommendation area or the current rental queue area are displayed in response to the selection in the functionality area. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a translation widget, the translation widget comprising a visual layout specific to the translation widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the translation widget comprises; a first drop down menu for selecting a source language; a second drop down menu for selecting a target language; a first text area that receives text in the source language for translation into the target language; and a second text area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first text area that displays the received text in the target language.
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38. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a unit conversion widget, the unit conversion widget comprising a visual layout specific to the unit conversion widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the unit conversion widget comprises; a selection area comprising; a selection mechanism for receiving a selection of a type of unit conversion being performed; and an image of the type of unit conversion being performed; and a conversion area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the selection area comprising; a first selection mechanism for receiving a source unit for conversion into a target unit; a second selection mechanism for receiving the target unit; a first text area that receives text in the source unit for conversion into the target unit; and a second text area that displays the received text in the target unit. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a weather widget, the weather widget comprising a visual layout specific to the weather widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the weather widget comprises; a first area displaying a temperature associated with a current time at a geographic location; and a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a humidity value for the geographic location. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a directory widget, the directory widget comprising a visual layout specific to the directory widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the directory widget comprises; a query region for receiving text of at least one of a business name or category of interest; and a result area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the query region that displays a listing of search results corresponding to the query and a geographic location associated with the query.
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45. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a flight tracker widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the flight tracker widget comprising a visual layout specific to the flight tracker widget, the visual layout specific to the flight tracker widget comprising:
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a flight information area displaying information associated with a specific flight; and a map area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the flight information area that displays a map including an airplane'"'"'s current travel trajectory between a departure city and an arrival city associated with the flight; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the flight tracker widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the flight tracker widget is displayed within the web view. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a movie information widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the movie information widget displayed with a visual layout specific to the movie information widget, the specific visual layout comprising:
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a movie listing area configured to display a list of movie titles; a theater area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie listing area, and responsive to a selection of the movie title from the movie listing area, configured to display a list of theaters playing the selected movie title; a show time area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie listing area, and responsive to the selection of a theater from the theater area, configured to display times at which the selected movie title is being played at the selected theater; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the movie information widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the flight tracker widget is displayed within the web view.
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48. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, an online rental queue management widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the online rental queue management widget comprising a visual layout specific to the online rental queue management widget, the visual layout comprising:
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a movie category area configured to display a listing of movie categories; a movie recommendation area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie category area, and responsive to a selection of a movie category from the movie category area, configured to display a listing of movie titles associated with selected movie category; and a functionality area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the movie category area and the movie recommendation area, configured to receive a selection between a display of the movie recommendation area or a current rental queue area, wherein the movie recommendation area or the current rental queue area are displayed in response to said selection in the functionality area; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interests responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the online rental queue management widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the flight tracker widget is displayed within the web view.
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49. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a translation layer widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the translation widget comprising a visual layout specific to the translation widget, the visual layout comprising:
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a first drop down menu for selecting a source language; a second drop down menu for selecting a target language; a first text area that receives text in the source language for translation into the target language; and a second text area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first text area that displays the received text in the target language; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the translation widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the translation widget is displayed within the web view.
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50. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a unit conversion widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the unit conversion widget comprising a visual layout specific to the unit conversion widget, wherein the visual layout comprises:
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a selection area comprising; a selection mechanism for receiving a selection of a type of unit conversion being performed; and an image of the type of unit conversion being performed; and a conversion area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the selection area comprising; a first selection mechanism for receiving a source unit for conversion into a target unit; a second selection mechanism for receiving the target unit; a first text area that receives text in the source unit for conversion into the target unit; and a second text area that displays the received text in the target unit; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive a second trigger event, wherein the unit conversion widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the flight tracker widget is displayed within the web view. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a directory widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the directory widget comprising a visual layout specific to the directory widget, the visual layout comprising:
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a query region for receiving text of at least one of a business name or category of interest; and a result area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the query region for displaying a list of search results corresponding to the query and a geographic location associated with the query; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the directory widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the directory widget is displayed within the web view.
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53. In a computer system including an operating system comprising a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:
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the computer system performing the steps of; detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer, the unified interest layer comprising a web view that is executed by the runtime engine that is part of the operating system; responsive to the first trigger event; displaying, in the area of the display screen, the unified interest layer that replaces the user interface and receives user inputs in place of the user interface, the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the plurality of widgets comprises a stock quote widget comprising a visual layout specific to the stock widget; detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and responsive to the second trigger event; dismissing the unified interest layer; and reactivating the user interface; wherein the visual layout specific to the stock quote widget comprises; a first area displaying a plurality of ticker symbols and a current stock price associated with each ticker symbol; a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays statistics associated with each ticker symbol; and a third area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area and the second area that displays stock performance for a selected stock over a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a calendar widget for presentation in a unified interest layer selectively overlaying the user interface, the calendar widget comprising a visual layout specific to the calendar widget, the visual layout comprising:
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a first area displaying a current month; and a second area concurrently displayed with and distinct from the first area that displays a current date and a day of the week associated with the current date; wherein an operating system of the computer system comprises a runtime engine that is part of the operating system and is configured to execute a web view within the unified interest layer responsive to a first trigger event that activates the unified interest layer and the operating system is further configured to dismiss the unified interest layer responsive to a second trigger event, wherein the calendar widget is configured to execute as part of the web view and the visual layout of the calendar widget is displayed within the web view. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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Specification