Security application graphical user interface customization systems and methods

• US 8,631,330 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bitdefender IPR Management Limited (Bitdefender LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bitdefender IPR Management Limited (Bitdefender LLC)
• Inventors: Hwang, Vincent, Pilon, Dianne, Roberts, Michael B., Maierean, Iosefa M. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/857,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 715/744, 715/762, 715/765, 715/779, 715/794, 715/780, 715/807, 715/845
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• 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

Abstract

In some embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer security application is automatically configured according to a user profile of the user. Upon installation of the computer security application, a desired GUI complexity questionnaire is displayed to the user. The application then matches the user to a user profile out of a set of predefined user profiles, according to the user'"'"'s answers to the questionnaire. User profiles reflect a user'"'"'s desired complexity of display and control (e.g. Novice/Intermediate/Expert, Basic/Intermediate/Advanced). The information displayed and application controls provided by the GUI window vary in detail according to the user profile. Selecting a user profile propagates multiple individually-user-configurable display and control settings of the GUI, as well as under-the-hood (non-GUI) settings of the anti-malware application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising employing a computer system including at least one processor to perform:

an anti-malware application customization sequence comprising;

displaying to a user a desired graphical user interface (GUI) content complexity questionnaire, the desired GUI content complexity questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired anti-malware application GUI content display complexity from a plurality of content complexity levels, the complexity levels including a low complexity, an intermediate complexity, and a high complexity level;

in response to displaying the desired GUI complexity questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application GUI display complexity;

displaying to the user a desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire associated with at least one of decision making and security management, the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application; and

in response to displaying the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application;

a display of an anti-malware application graphical user interface (GUI) configured according to the user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application graphical user interface display complexity, wherein

for the low complexity level, the GUI generates an application home display comprising a plurality of common user task control items, each common user task control item being configured to receive a user input initiating a common anti-malware application task; and

for at least one level selected from the intermediate complexity and high complexity levels, the GUI generates an application home display including a plurality of functional area indicators, each functional area indicator being configured to receive a user input initiating a display of a dashboard for a corresponding functional area of the anti-malware application; and

a non-GUI anti-malware function configured according to the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common user task control items includes a malware scan control button, an update control button, and a fix security issues button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of functional area indicators includes an antivirus tab, an antispam tab, a parental control tab, and a firewall tab.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-malware application customization sequence forms part of an anti-malware application installation sequence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the low complexity, intermediate complexity, and high complexity levels define a plurality of individually-user-configurable anti-malware application settings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-malware customization sequence comprises employing the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application to select an anti-malware functionality profile from among at least two profile types selected from a group consisting of a typical profile, a gamer profile, and a parent profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired graphical user interface content complexity questionnaire invites the user to select a view from a menu including a beginner user view selection, an intermediate user view selection, and an advanced user view selection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired graphical user interface content complexity questionnaire invites the user to select a view from a menu including a beginner user view selection, an intermediate user view selection, and an advanced user view selection.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform:

an anti-malware application customization sequence comprising;

displaying to a user a desired graphical user interface (GUI) content complexity questionnaire, the desired GUI content complexity questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired anti-malware application GUI content display complexity from a plurality of content complexity levels, the complexity levels including a low complexity, an intermediate complexity, and a high complexity level;

in response to displaying the desired GUI complexity questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application GUI display complexity;

displaying to the user a desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire associated with at least one of decision making and security management, the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application; and

in response to displaying the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application;

a display of an anti-malware application graphical user interface (GUI) configured according to the user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application graphical user interface display complexity, wherein

for the low complexity level, the GUI generates an application home display comprising a plurality of common user task control items, each common user task control item being configured to receive a user input initiating a common anti-malware application task; and

for at least one level selected from the intermediate complexity and high complexity levels, the GUI generates an application home display including a plurality of functional area indicators, each functional area indicator being configured to receive a user input initiating a display of a dashboard for a corresponding functional area of the anti-malware application; and

a non-GUI anti-malware function configured according to the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of common user task control items includes a malware scan control button, an update control button, and a fix security issues button.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of functional area indicators includes an antivirus tab, an antispam tab, a parental control tab, and a firewall tab.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the anti-malware application customization sequence forms part of an anti-malware application installation sequence.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the low complexity, intermediate complexity, and high complexity levels define a plurality of individually-user-configurable anti-malware application settings.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the anti-malware customization sequence comprises employing the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application to select an anti-malware functionality profile from among at least two profile types selected from a group consisting of a typical profile, a gamer profile, and a parent profile.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the desired graphical user interface content complexity questionnaire invites the user to select a view from a menu including a beginner user view selection, an intermediate user view selection, and an advanced user view selection.

16. A computer-implemented system including at least one processor configured to form:

means for performing an anti-malware application customization sequence by;

displaying to a user a desired graphical user interface (GUI) content complexity questionnaire, the desired GUI content complexity questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired anti-malware application GUI content display complexity from a plurality of content complexity levels, the complexity levels including a low complexity, an intermediate complexity, and a high complexity level;

in response to displaying the desired GUI complexity questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application GUI display complexity;

displaying to the user a desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire associated with at least one of decision making and security management, the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire inviting the user to select a desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application; and

in response to displaying the desired anti-malware user involvement questionnaire, receiving a user input indicative of the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application;

means for displaying an anti-malware application graphical user interface (GUI) configured according to the user input indicative of the desired anti-malware application graphical user interface display complexity, wherein

for the low complexity level, the GUI generates an application home display comprising a plurality of common user task control items, each common user task control item being configured to receive a user input initiating a common anti-malware application task; and

for at least one level selected from the intermediate complexity and high complexity levels, the GUI generates an application home display including a plurality of functional area indicators, each functional area indicator being configured to receive a user input initiating a display of a dashboard for a corresponding functional area of the anti-malware application; and

means for performing a non-GUI anti-malware function configured according to the selected desired level of user involvement in configuring non-GUI settings of the anti-malware application.