Remote access to layer and user interface elements

• US 8,266,538 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• 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:
  US12/353,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 715/765, 715767-768, 715/802, 715/808, 715/810, 715/866, 709/229
• 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. A computer-implemented method of providing a dashboard layer for a user, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first user device of the user, configuration information for a dashboard layer stored on the first user device, the configuration information specifying a group of widgets associated with the first user device;

storing on a device remote from the first user device, the configuration information for the dashboard layer;

receiving, at the device, a request from a second user device of the user to access the dashboard layer stored on the first user device;

responsive to the receiving the request, determining at the device the stored configuration information for the dashboard layer; and

providing from the device to the second user device the dashboard layer based on the stored configuration information, the provided dashboard layer comprising the group of widgets.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving log in information from the second user device; and

providing to the second user device a web page that duplicates the dashboard layer as the dashboard layer would be viewed from the first user device of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of widgets are accessible from the second user device that is remote from the first user device that is associated with the dashboard layer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving user input of a selected one of the widgets, the selected widget comprising a first side associated with a primary functionality of the selected widget and a second side comprising an auxiliary function of the selected widget, providing to the second user device a display of the second side of the selected widget;

receiving changes to the auxiliary function on the second side of the selected, wherein the changes are apparent on the first side of the widget;

storing the changes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing to the second user device the display of the second side of the selected widget further comprises providing to the second user device a display of an animation of the selected widget turning over from the first side to the second side.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a widget selected from the group is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one 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.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of widgets is not part of a single application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first user application is associated with a first widget of the group and a second user application is associated with a second widget of the group.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a trigger event, dismissing the dashboard layer, thereby removing access to the group of widgets.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a first trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a first animation for activating the dashboard layer; and

responsive to receiving a second trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a second animation for dismissing the layer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each widget has a functionality performed by the widget.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing on the second user device an icon within the dashboard layer for launching a configuration bar; and

responsive to receiving a user input to the icon, providing to the second user device a display of the configuration bar for adding widgets to the dashboard layer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one widget in the user'"'"'s group of widgets is implemented using a combination of programming languages comprising a markup language, a procedural language, and an arbitrary graphics language and at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets is configured to not be visible prior to activation of the dashboard layer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard layer is displayed such that it partially obscures a user interface of the second user device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard layer is displayed such that it replaces a user interface of the second user device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard layer is displayed such that it overlays a user interface of the second user device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard layer comprises at least one web view that is representative of a widget.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user device remote from the first user device is a remote computer system.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further comprises configuration options for displaying the group of widgets.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the configuration options for displaying the group of widgets comprises for at least one widget a name of the widget, a default width of the widget, a default height of the widget, and a default image associated with the widget.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further comprises user preferences associated with the group of widgets.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second user device, user interactions with at least one widget of the group of widgets included in the provided dashboard layer.

25. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable code for providing a dashboard layer for a user, the code when executed by a computer-processor performs the steps comprising:

receiving, from a first user device of the user, configuration information for a dashboard layer stored on the first user device, the configuration information specifying a group of widgets associated with the first user device;

storing on a device remote from the first user device, the configuration information for the dashboard layer;

receiving, at the device, a request from a second user device of the user to access the dashboard layer stored on the first user device;

responsive to the receiving the request, determining at the device the stored configuration information for the dashboard layer; and

providing from the device to the second user device the dashboard layer based on the stored configuration information, the provided dashboard layer comprising the group of widgets.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, the code when executed by the computer-processor further performs the steps comprising:

receiving log in information from the second user device; and

providing to the second user device a web page that duplicates the dashboard layer as the dashboard layer would be viewed from the first user device of the user.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the group of widgets is accessible from the second user device that is remote from the first user device that is associated with the dashboard layer.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein a widget selected from the group is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein at least one 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.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the group of widgets is not part of a single application.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, the code when executed by the computer-processor further performs the steps comprising:

responsive to receiving a trigger event, dismissing the dashboard layer, thereby removing access to the group of widgets.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, the code when executed by the computer-processor further performs the steps comprising:

responsive to receiving a first trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a first animation for activating the dashboard layer; and

responsive to receiving a second trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a second animation for dismissing the layer.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the second user device remote from the first user device is a remote computer system.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the dashboard layer comprises at least one web view that is representative of a widget.

35. A system for providing a dashboard layer for a user of a user device, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a remote access means configured for;

receiving, from a first user device of the user, configuration information for a dashboard layer stored on the first user device, the configuration information specifying a group of widgets associated with the first user device;

storing on a device remote from the first user device, the configuration information for the dashboard layer;

receiving, at the device, a request from a second user device of the user to access the dashboard layer stored on the first user device;

responsive to the receiving the request, determining at the device the stored configuration information for the dashboard layer; and

providing from the device to the second user device the dashboard layer based on the stored configuration information, the provided dashboard layer comprising the group of widgets.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the remote access means is further configured for:

receiving log in information from the second user device; and

providing to the second user device a web page that duplicates the dashboard layer as the dashboard layer would be viewed from the first user device of the user.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the group of widgets is accessible from the second user device that is remote from the first user device that is associated with the dashboard layer.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein a widget selected from the group is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one 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.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the group of widgets is not part of a single application.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the remote access means is further configured for:

responsive to receiving a trigger event, dismissing the dashboard layer, thereby removing access to the group of widgets.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the remote access means is further configured for:

responsive to receiving a first trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a first animation for activating the dashboard layer; and

responsive to receiving a second trigger event, providing to the second user device a display of a second animation for dismissing the dashboard layer.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the second user device remote from the first user device is a remote computer system.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein the remote access means is further configured for:

providing on the second user device an icon within the dashboard layer for launching a configuration bar; and

responsive to receiving a user input to the icon, providing to the second user device a display of the configuration bar for adding widgets to the dashboard layer.