Configuration bar for lauching layer for accessing user interface elements

• US 7,873,910 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A, Louch, John, Grignon, Andrew M., Christie, Gregory N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US11/370,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 715/765, 715/792, 715/802, 715/840
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

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.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the method comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;

inactivating the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar comprises selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar, wherein the graphical user interface element is independent from the plurality of desktop widgets.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface element is an icon.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the icon.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the icon is within the widget layer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the icon is a plus sign.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected desktop widget is associated with a primary functionality performed by the selected desktop widget, and adding the selected desktop widget to the widget layer activates the primary functionality.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising dragging and dropping the selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, responsive to dragging and dropping the selected desktop widget to the widget layer:

automatically retrieving, from a server, software code for the selected desktop widget; and

installing the software code for the selected desktop widget.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an animation indicating that the selected desktop widget was added to the widget layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration bar is substantially transparent.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of desktop widgets are not necessarily part of a single application.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a first application comprises a first desktop widget of the plurality of desktop widgets and a second application comprises a second desktop widget of the plurality of desktop widgets.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to user input at a desktop widget indicating that an auxiliary function should be displayed, displaying a second side of the desktop widget, the second side comprising the auxiliary function;

receiving changes to the auxiliary function, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance of a first side of the desktop widget; and

wherein a primary functionality of the desktop widget is associated with the first side of the desktop widget.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the second side of the desktop widget further comprises displaying an animation simulating the desktop widget turning over.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected desktop widget is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected desktop widget comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar widget;

a calculator widget;

a music player widget;

an address book widget;

a notes widget;

a stock quote widget;

a weather widget;

a traffic widget;

a package tracking widget;

a contact manager widget; and

a clock widget.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user input within the operating system user interface, displaying a first transitional animation for activating the widget layer; and

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer, displaying a second transitional animation for dismissing the widget layer.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the widget layer is displayed such that the widget layer at least partially obscures a user interface desktop.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the widget layer is displayed such that the widget layer replaces the user interface desktop.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the widget layer is displayed such that the widget layer overlays the user interface desktop.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration bar is further configured for receiving desktop widgets from the widget layer and wherein receiving comprises dragging and dropping desktop widgets from the widget layer to the configuration bar.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

hiding the configuration bar from within the layer.

24. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a layer, the method comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a dashboard layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the dashboard layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the dashboard layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the dashboard layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the dashboard layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the dashboard layer, displaying within the dashboard layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the dashboard layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the dashboard layer;

hiding the dashboard layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the configuration bar is further configured for receiving a selected desktop widget.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the received desktop widget is received as a result of a drag and drop operation from the dashboard layer to the configuration bar.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the configuration bar is further configured for configuring the plurality of desktop widgets on the dashboard layer.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the configuration bar is displayed in a favorites state.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the selected desktop widget may be added to the dashboard layer multiple times, creating multiple instantiations of the selected desktop widget on the dashboard layer.

30. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a layer, the method comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

receiving a user input at the configuration bar dragging and dropping a selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer;

responsive to receiving the user input at the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;

hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

31. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate separately from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;

hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein responsive to a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar comprises selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar wherein the graphical user interface element is independent from the plurality of desktop widgets.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, further comprising dragging and dropping the selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the selected desktop widget is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the configuration bar module is further configured for configuring the plurality of desktop widgets on the widget layer.

36. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a dashboard layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the dashboard layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the dashboard layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the dashboard layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the dashboard layer, displaying within the dashboard layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the dashboard layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the dashboard layer;

hiding the dashboard layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

37. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:

executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;

responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;

receiving a user input at the configuration bar dragging and dropping a selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer;

responsive to receiving the user input at the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer;

responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;

hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

38. A computer system for adding widgets to a layer on a display screen of the computer comprising an area displaying a user interface, comprising:

a means for executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;

a means for executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;

a means for executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;

a means for executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;

a means for responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;

activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and

temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;

a means for displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer;

a means for displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar;

a means for responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;

hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and

reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein activating from with the layer a configuration bar comprises selection of a graphical user interface element for activating the configuration bar, wherein the graphical user interface element is independent from the plurality of desktop widgets.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising a means for dragging and dropping the selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the selected desktop widget is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

42. The system of claim 38, further comprising a means for configuring the plurality of desktop widgets on the widget layer.