Unified interest layer for user interface
First Claim
1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- using the computer system to perform the steps of;
executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions;
executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system;
executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application;
executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server;
activating a configuration bar that comprises categories of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer;
responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to access a selected category, displaying within the configuration bar one or more layer applications included in the selected category; and
responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to add the layer application to the unified interest layer, adding a layer application from the selected category to the unified interest layer.
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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
65 Claims
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1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising:
using the computer system to perform the steps of; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activating a configuration bar that comprises categories of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer; responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to access a selected category, displaying within the configuration bar one or more layer applications included in the selected category; and responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to add the layer application to the unified interest layer, adding a layer application from the selected category to the unified interest layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising:
using the computer system to perform the steps of; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application; displaying a configuration bar in a first state responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer, the first state comprising a first region including at least one identifier corresponding to a favorite layer application; displaying the configuration bar in a second state responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to switch to the second state, the second state comprising the first region including the at least one identifier corresponding to the favorite layer application and a second region comprising at least one identifier corresponding to a non-favorite layer application.
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45. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including 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; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activating the unified interest layer responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to activate the unified interest layer; activating a configuration bar that comprises categories of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer; responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to access a selected category, displaying within the configuration bar one or more layer applications included in the selected category; and responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to add the layer application to the unified interest layer, adding a layer application included in the selected category to the unified interest layer. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen, the system comprising:
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an operating system configured to provide a user interface for receiving user interactions and executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface; a layer server configured to; activate the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; execute within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activate a configuration bar that comprises categories of layer applications responsive to receiving a command to configure the unified interest layer; display within the configuration bar one or more layer applications included in a selected category responsive to receiving a command to access the selected category; and add a layer application included in the selected category to the unified interest layer responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to add the layer application to the unified interest layer. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including 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; executing an operating system that provides both a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application; displaying a configuration bar in a first state responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer, the first state comprising a first region including at least one identifier corresponding to a favorite layer application; displaying the configuration bar in a second state responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to switch to the second state, the second state comprising the first region including the at least one identifier corresponding to the favorite layer application and a second region comprising at least one identifier corresponding to a non-favorite layer application.
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52. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising:
using the computer system to perform the steps of; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing a user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the user application; executing a layer application within the unified interest layer; activating a configuration bar that comprises identifiers of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer, wherein at least one layer application in the configuration bar is capable of being instantiated multiple times and at least one layer application in the configuration bar is not capable of being instantiated multiple times; displaying in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is not capable of being instantiated multiple times in a first visual format; and displaying in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is capable of being instantiated multiple times in a second visual format. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising:
using the computer system to perform the steps of; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing a user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the user application; executing a first layer application and a second layer application within the unified interest layer; and responsive to receiving user input at the layer server to move the first layer application on top of the second layer application, automatically moving the second layer application to make room for the first layer application. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61)
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62. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including 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; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activating a configuration bar that comprises identifiers of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer, wherein at least one layer application in the configuration bar is capable of being instantiated multiple times and at least one layer application in the configuration bar is not capable of being instantiated multiple times; displaying in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is not capable of being instantiated multiple times in a first visual format; and displaying in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is capable of being instantiated multiple times in a second visual format.
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63. A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen, the system comprising:
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an operating system configured to provide a user interface for receiving user interactions and execute at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface; a layer server configured to; activate the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; execute within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activate a configuration bar that comprises identifiers of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer, wherein at least one layer application in the configuration bar is capable of being instantiated multiple times and at least one layer application in the configuration bar is not capable of being instantiated multiple times; display in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is not capable of being instantiated multiple times in a first visual format; and display in the configuration bar an identifier associated with a layer application that is active on the unified interest layer and is capable of being instantiated multiple times in a second visual format.
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64. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable medium; and computer program code, encoded on the medium, for; executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing a user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the user application; executing a first layer application and a second layer application within the unified interest layer; and responsive to receiving user input at the layer server to move the first layer application on top of the second layer application, automatically moving the second layer application to make room for the first layer application.
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65. A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen, the system comprising:
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an operating system configured to provide a user interface for receiving user interactions and execute at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface; a layer server configured to; activate the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; execute a first layer application and a second layer application within the unified interest layer; and responsive to receiving user input at the layer server to move the first layer application on top of the second layer application, automatically move the second layer application to make room for the first layer application.
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Specification