Desktop widgets for presentation in a layer

• US 8,321,801 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• 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): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US13/157,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/765
• 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 desktop user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a dashboard layer, the method comprising:

receiving a trigger event to display the dashboard layer;

creating a web view associated with a desktop widget, wherein the web view is configured to provide access to the desktop widget;

rendering the desktop widget in a borderless webpage into the web view; and

displaying the dashboard layer in the area displaying the desktop user interface, the dashboard layer comprising the web view.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a layer configuration describing desktop widgets associated with the dashboard layer; and

displaying the desktop widget within the dashboard layer according to the layer configuration.

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

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desktop widget is associated with a fully functional application that provides an expanded version of a functionality provided by the desktop widget, the method further comprising:

responsive to a trigger event comprising a user command to launch the application associated with the desktop widget, launching the application associated with the desktop widget.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the dashboard layer comprises displaying the dashboard layer so as to partially obscure the desktop user interface while the dashboard layer is displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the dashboard layer comprises replacing the desktop user interface with the dashboard layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the dashboard layer comprises:

displaying a transitional animation for introducing the dashboard layer in the area displaying the desktop user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dashboard layer functions as an area for placement of desktop widgets.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the desktop widgets is capable of executing separately from the dashboard layer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the dashboard layer is sized such that the desktop widgets contained by the dashboard layer can be usably presented within the dashboard layer upon display of the dashboard layer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an animation associated with the desktop widget responsive to selection of the widget.

12. he method of claim 1, wherein the desktop widget is associated with a functionality that is performed by the desktop widget.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets to add to the dashboard layer;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of desktop widgets; and

displaying the selected desktop widget within the dashboard layer.

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

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable code for presenting a dashboard layer in a display area of a computer device that displays a desktop user interface, the code when executed performs the steps comprising:

receiving a trigger event to display the dashboard layer;

creating a web view associated with a desktop widget, wherein the web view is configured to provide access to the desktop widget;

rendering the desktop widget in a borderless webpage into the web view; and

displaying the dashboard layer in the area displaying the desktop user interface, the dashboard layer comprising the web view.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the code when executed further performs the steps comprising:

accessing a layer configuration describing desktop widgets associated with the dashboard layer; and

displaying the desktop widget within the dashboard layer according to the layer configuration.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the desktop widget comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.

18. A computer system for presenting a dashboard layer, the computer system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing executable code, the code when executed by the computer processor performs the steps comprising;

receiving a trigger event to display the dashboard layer;

creating a web view associated with a desktop widget, wherein the web view is configured to provide access to the desktop widget;

rendering the desktop widget in a borderless webpage into the web view; and

displaying the dashboard layer in the area displaying the desktop user interface, the dashboard layer comprising the web view.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the code when executed by the processor further performs the steps comprising:

accessing a layer configuration describing desktop widgets associated with the dashboard layer; and

displaying the desktop widget within the dashboard layer according to the layer configuration.

20. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the desktop widget comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar desktop widget;

a calculator desktop widget;

a music player desktop widget;

an address book desktop widget;

a notes desktop widget;

a stock quote desktop widget;

a weather desktop widget;

a traffic desktop widget;

a package tracking desktop widget;

a contact manager desktop widget; and

a clock desktop widget.