Application gadgets

• US 8,032,918 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Seidel, Joseph J, Neufeld, Nadav M
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, IV; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US12/060,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 725/114, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 725/131, 725/133, 709/201, 709/208, 455/419, 455/420
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

Application gadget techniques are described. In an implementation, a remote control device includes a display device and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to initiate one or more control functions related to control of a display of content by a client. The one or more modules also provide an environment to execute one or more application gadgets such that an output of the one or more application gadgets is displayable on the display device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input which specifies that an application gadget that is installed on a first device is to be copied to a second device; and

responsive to the receiving of the input, forming a copy of the application gadget and of one or more configuration settings that were specified by a user of the first device to be communicated to and stored by the second device, wherein the receiving and the forming are performed by a third device wherein the application gadget is a software component that runs in a context of a service such that the application gadget is not executable outside of the context.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the configuration settings were not included with the application gadget when the application gadget was installed on the first device.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is configured as a widget that is a downloadable interactive tool that is configured to download data over a network connection for output.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is configured to provide an output for display on an auxiliary display device.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is:

a desktop gadget;

a web gadget which causes interaction with a web site;

or

a sideshow gadget that is executable to provide an output on an auxiliary external display.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget relates to output of television programs.

7. A method comprising:

receiving an input which specifies that an application gadget that is installed on a first device is to be copied to a second device; and

responsive to the receiving of the input, forming a copy of the application gadget and of one or more configuration settings that were specified by a user of the first device to be communicated to and stored by the second device, wherein the forming of the application gadget and the one or more configuration settings to be copied from the first device to the second device includes receiving a request at the first device, from a third device, which identifies the second device such that the first device is caused to form the communication wherein the application gadget is a software component that runs in a context of a service such that the application gadget is not executable outside of the context.

8. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the configuration settings were not included with the application gadget when the application gadget was installed on the first device.

9. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the application gadget is configured as a widget that is a downloadable interactive tool that is configured to download data over a network connection.

10. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the application gadget is configured to provide an output for display on an auxiliary display device.

11. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the application gadget is:

a desktop gadget;

a web gadget which causes interaction with a web site;

or

a sideshow gadget that is executable to provide an output on an auxiliary external display.

12. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the application gadget relates to output of television programs.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including computer-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform acts of;

receiving an input from a user of a first device which specifies that an application gadget that is installed in memory of the first device is to be copied to a second device; and

responsive to receiving the input, forming a copy of the application gadget and of one or more configuration settings specified by the user of the first device to be communicated to and stored by the second device wherein the application gadget is a software component that runs in a context of a service such that the application gadget is not executable outside of the context.

14. An apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the configuration settings were not included with the application gadget when the application gadget was installed in the memory of the first device.

15. An apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the application gadget is configured as a widget that is a downloadable interactive tool that is configured to download data over a network connection for output on the second device.

16. An apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the application gadget is:

a desktop gadget;

a web gadget which causes interaction with a web site;

or

a sideshow gadget that is executable to provide an output on an auxiliary external display.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the application gadget relates to output of television programs.