Layer for accessing user interface elements
First Claim
1. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
- executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system;
locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer;
executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface;
receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and
responsive to the trigger event;
using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and
responsive to receiving a user input directed towards at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets, directing the user input to the at least one desktop widget through the dashboard layer without the user input being directed to the application.
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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
56 Claims
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1. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and responsive to receiving a user input directed towards at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets, directing the user input to the at least one desktop widget through the dashboard layer without the user input being directed to the application. - 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)
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30. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, wherein the dashboard layer functions as an area for placement of desktop widgets; wherein the desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer are accessible as a group upon activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user; wherein at least one of the desktop widgets in the group was not visible on a display screen prior to activation of the dashboard layer; and wherein each desktop widget is associated with a functionality performed by the desktop widget. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. In a computer system including an operating system, a dashboard server, and an existing user interface display, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user; and wherein the dashboard layer at least partially obscures the existing user interface display. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. In a computer system including an operating system, a dashboard server, and an existing user interface display, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user; wherein the dashboard layer overlays the existing user interface display; and wherein a first user application is associated with a first desktop widget of the group and a second user application is associated with a second desktop widget of the group. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A non-transitory computer readable storage memory storing a computer program executable by a processor, the computer program when executed by the processor performs the steps comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing a dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and responsive to receiving a user input directed towards at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets, directing the user input to the at least one desktop widget through the dashboard layer without the user input being directed to the application.
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41. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a music player widget, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; detecting a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer; and responsive to a trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface; displaying a music player widget within the dashboard layer, the dashboard layer providing access to the music player widget in conjunction with a group of widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and wherein the music player widget displays a circular area within the music player widget comprising a set of playback controls and an area comprising currently playing music that is distinct from the circular area. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user; and wherein at least one desktop widget of the group of is associated with a fully functional application.
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47. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; locally executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the layer, wherein the dashboard layer is sized such that the desktop widgets can be usably presented within the dashboard layer; wherein each desktop widget in the group of desktop widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user; wherein at least one of the desktop widgets in the group of desktop widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the dashboard layer and the group of desktop widgets are not necessarily part of a single application.
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48. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a calendar widget, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; detecting a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface; displaying a calendar widget within the dashboard layer, the layer providing access to the calendar widget in conjunction with a group of widgets contained by dashboard layer; and wherein the calendar widget displays a current day of the week and a current date. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting a stock quote widget, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; detecting a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface; displaying a stock quote widget within the dashboard layer, the dashboard layer providing access to the stock quote widget in conjunction with a group of widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and wherein the stock quote widget displays at least one stock symbol, a stock quote associated with the at least one stock symbol and a graph associated with a selected stock symbol indicating changes in closing price over time. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. In a computer system including an operating system and a dashboard server, a method for presenting an address book widget, the method executed by a computer and comprising:
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executing the operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; executing the dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; detecting a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer thereby preventing the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface; displaying an address book widget within the dashboard layer, the dashboard layer providing access to the address book widget in conjunction with a group of widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and wherein the address book widget displays one or more entries, wherein each entry comprises a name of an entity, contact information associated with the entity, and a graphical image associated with the entity. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A system for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, the system comprising:
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an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications of the computer system; a local dashboard server that provides the dashboard layer upon activation of the dashboard layer; a computer-processor; and a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising; executing an application that receives user input through the operating system user interface; receiving a user input indicative of a trigger event for executing the dashboard layer that operates independently of the user applications of the computer system; and responsive to the trigger event; using the dashboard server to execute the dashboard layer that receives all user inputs while the dashboard is executed that prevents the application from receiving any further user inputs through the operating system user interface, the dashboard layer comprising a group of desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer; and responsive to receiving a user input directed towards at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets, directing the user input to the at least one desktop widget through the dashboard layer without the user input being directed to the application.
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Specification