Method and apparatus for presenting polymorphic notes in a graphical user interface

• US 8,335,989 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Domingo, Erich Ian, Hartford, Stephen Andrew, Gerlach, James Nathaniel, Barraclough, Keith, Simsarian, Kristian Russell Thomas, Van Der Flier, Astrid Jantina, Kekeritz, Timm, Dame, Christopher Mark, Woods, Luke Patrick, Don, Abbe, Pierik, Anke, Cruse, Energy, Nyffeler, Christopher, Irvine, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, David
• Application Number:
  US12/606,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/733, 435/6.11
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting polymorphic notes in a graphical user interface. A polymorphic note manager receives a request to display a plurality of polymorphic notes on a graphical user interface of a device. In response to the request, the polymorphic note manager determines an order of the plurality of polymorphic notes according to either an associated date or, if there is no associated date, a creation date corresponding to each of the plurality of polymorphic notes. The polymorphic note manager then causes, at least in part, actions that result in display of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface according to the determined order.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to display a plurality of polymorphic notes on a graphical user interface of a device;

determining an order of the plurality of polymorphic notes according to one or more associated dates corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes, and, if there is no associated date for one or more of the plurality of polymorphic notes, according to one or more creation dates corresponding to the one or more polymorphic notes;

computing one or more relevance factors for the plurality of polymorphic notes based on a first set of context information corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes in relation to a second set of context information corresponding to the device; and

causing displaying of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface based on the determined order and the one or more relevance factors.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the context information includes time, people, location, reminders, task status, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes includes a recent activity;

if the at least one polymorphic note includes the recent activity, determining whether the at least one polymorphic note is visible in the graphical user interface; and

if the at least one polymorphic note is not visible, causing displaying of an activity cue to direct attention to the at least one polymorphic note.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing varying of one or more display sizes corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface based on content, one or more recent activities, or a combination thereof of the respective polymorphic notes.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes is shared; and

causing highlighting of the at least one polymorphic note in the graphical user interface based on the sharing determination.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input for designating at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes as notable;

causing highlighting of the at least one polymorphic note in the graphical user interface based on the designation.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface displays the plurality of polymorphic notes in a dynamically navigable timeline.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive a request to display a plurality of polymorphic notes on a graphical user interface of a device,

determine an order of the plurality of polymorphic notes according to one or more associated dates corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes, and, if there is no associated date for one or more of the plurality of polymorphic notes, according to one or more creation dates corresponding to the one or more polymorphic notes,

compute one or more relevance factors for the plurality of polymorphic notes based on a first set of context information corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes in relation to a second set of context information corresponding to the device, and

cause displaying of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface based on the determined order and the one or more relevance factors.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the context information includes time, people, location, reminders, task status, or a combination thereof.

10. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes includes a recent activity;

if the at least one polymorphic note includes the recent activity, determine whether the at least one polymorphic note is visible in the graphical user interface; and

if the at least one polymorphic note is not visible, cause displaying of an activity cue to direct attention to the at least one polymorphic note.

11. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause varying of one or more display sizes corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface based content, one or more recent activities, or a combination thereof of the respective polymorphic notes.

12. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes is shared; and

cause highlighting of the at least one polymorphic note in the graphical user interface based on the sharing determination.

13. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive an input for designating at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes as notable;

cause highlighting of the at least one polymorphic note in the graphical user interface based on the designation.

14. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface displays the plurality of polymorphic notes in a dynamically navigable timeline.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving a request to display a plurality of polymorphic notes on a graphical user interface of a device;

determining an order of the plurality of polymorphic notes according to one or more associated dates corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes, and, if there is no associated date for one or more of the plurality of polymorphic notes, according to one or more creation dates corresponding to the one or more polymorphic notes;

computing one or more relevance factors for the plurality of polymorphic notes based on a first set of context information corresponding to the plurality of polymorphic notes in relation to a second set of context information corresponding to the device; and

causing displaying of the plurality of polymorphic notes in the graphical user interface based on the determined order and the one or more relevance factors.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

determining whether at least one of the plurality of polymorphic notes includes a recent activity;

if the at least one polymorphic note includes the recent activity, determining whether the at least one polymorphic note is visible in the graphical user interface; and

if the at least one polymorphic note is not visible, causing displaying of an activity cue to direct attention to the at least one polymorphic note.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface displays the plurality of polymorphic notes in a dynamically navigable timeline.