Management and generation of dashboards

• US 8,869,027 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O., Chaudhri, Imran A., Shebanek, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Anil N
• Application Number:
  US11/499,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,000 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/762, 715/779
• US Class Current: 715/700
• 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 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A dashboard manager can be used to create, manage and deploy dashboards. Each dashboard can include one or more user interface elements (“widgets”). The dashboard manager can be invoked for providing a variety of management functions. In another aspect, dashboards, widgets and other content can be bundled together and distributed to users over a distribution channel. Users can created custom bundles using a tool that is provided for such purpose.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a computing device having a desktop, a plurality of widgets for installation in a dashboard environment based on a user selection of widgets, where the plurality of widgets comprise separate applications, an installed widget presently executes an associated function including providing a presentation aspect associated with the executing function, and the desktop is inactive when the dashboard environment is active;

determining whether installing any of the plurality of widgets in the dashboard environment violates any rules that prevent installation of at least one of a specific widget or widgets that provide access to a specific type of information;

associating the plurality of widgets with the dashboard environment;

installing the dashboard environment in a display environment including displaying the plurality of widgets executing in the dashboard environment, wherein, when the dashboard environment is active, a desktop environment is temporarily inactive; and

wherein determining rules includes;

determining a rule for managing the dashboard environment;

evaluating the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and

installing only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying, by a computing device having a desktop, a plurality of widgets for installation in a dashboard environment based on a user selection of widgets, where the plurality of widgets comprise separate applications, an installed widget presently executes an associated function including providing a presentation aspect associated with the executing function, and the desktop is inactive when the dashboard environment is active;

determining whether installing any of the plurality of widgets in the dashboard environment violates any rules that prevent installation of at least one of a specific widget or widgets that provide access to a specific type of information;

associating the one or more widgets with the dashboard environment;

installing the dashboard environment in a display environment, wherein, when the dashboard environment is active, a desktop environment is temporarily inactive; and

wherein determine rules includes;

determine a rule for managing the dashboard environment;

evaluate the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and

install only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determination includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.