User-centric widgets and dashboards

• US 8,954,871 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O., Chaudhri, Imran A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALOMON, PHENUEL S
• Application Number:
  US12/002,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 715/774, 715/802, 715/804
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5033 considering data affinity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

User-centric widgets and dashboards are automatically modified to reflect a user'"'"'s goals and needs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

collecting historical data identifying sequences of user actions for tasks performed on a device, wherein each sequence of user actions includes navigation through a user interface of the device and interaction with at least one application;

calculating, by the device, a current geographic location of the device;

updating a task model of user action based on the collected historical data and the current geographic location;

inferring a task of the user based on a comparison of a current sequence of user actions with the task model;

identifying a number of dashboards or widgets based on the inferred task;

presenting a list of the identified dashboards or widgets on a user interface of the device;

selecting a dashboard or widget from the list of dashboards or widgets;

invoking the selected dashboard or widget; and

updating the selected dashboard or widget based on the task model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the presentation of the widget.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating a state of the widget.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating functionality of the widget.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the task model on a network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

establishing a relationship between the dashboard or widget and at least one other dashboard or widget.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a geographic location of the device hosting the dashboard or widget.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the selected dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating a default presentation of the dashboard or widget based on the task model or a geographic location of the device hosting the dashboard or widget.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on user preferences associated with an operating system or non-widget application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected dashboard or widget is presented on the device and further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a profile of a user of the device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected dashboard or widget is presented on the device and further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a context in which a user of the device is working.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein updating further comprises:

updating the presentation of the selected dashboard or widget to include an advertisement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the advertisement is targeted to the task model.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a number of dashboards or widgets based on the task model comprises searching a repository for dashboards or widgets based on the task model.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the list of dashboards or widgets on the user interface comprises enabling a preview of a dashboard or widget in the list.

16. A system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

collecting historical data identifying sequences of user actions for tasks performed on a device, wherein each sequence of user actions includes navigation through a user interface of the device and interaction with at least one application;

calculating, by the system, a current geographic location of the system;

updating a task model of user action based on the collected historical data and the current geographic location;

inferring a task of the user based on a comparison of a current sequence of user actions with the task model;

identifying a number of dashboards or widgets based on the inferred task;

presenting a list of the identified dashboards or widgets on a user interface of the device;

selecting a dashboard or widget from the list of dashboards or widgets;

invoking the selected dashboard or widget; and

updating the selected dashboard or widget based on the task model.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is a device from a group of devices consisting of a computer, an electronic device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a table, a media player/recorder, a set-top box, a game console, a wearable device, a television, a radio and any combination of the devices.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein a dashboard or widget is updated and the dashboard or widget is from a group of dashboards or widgets consisting of a sports widget, a phone book widget, a travel guide widget, a maps widget, a music widget, a movie widget, a weather widget, a world clock widget, a stocks widget, a photo widget, a search engine widget and a currency converter widget.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the user data is collected automatically by the data collection engine.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein identifying a number of dashboards or widgets based on the task model comprises searching a repository for dashboards or widgets based on the task model.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein presenting the list of dashboards or widgets on the user interface comprises enabling a preview of a dashboard or widget in the list.

22. A method comprising:

storing one or more dashboards or widgets on a device;

collecting historical data identifying sequences of user actions for tasks performed on the device, wherein each sequence of user actions includes navigation through a user interface of the device and interaction with at least one application;

calculating, by the device, a current geographic location of the device;

updating a task model of user action based on the collected historical data and the current geographic location of the device;

inferring a task of the user based on a comparison of a current sequence of user actions with the task model;

identifying a number of new dashboards or new widgets based on the inferred goal or need;

presenting a list of the identified new dashboards or new widgets on a user interface of the device;

selecting a new dashboard or new widget from the list of new dashboards or new widgets;

presenting a preview of the new dashboard or new widget on the device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising searching a repository for new dashboards or new widgets based on the inferred ask.

24. A method comprising:

storing one or more dashboards or widgets on a device;

collecting historical data identifying sequences of user actions for tasks performed on the device, wherein each sequence of user actions includes navigation through a user interface of the device and interaction with at least one application;

calculating, by the device, a current geographic location of the device;

updating a task model of user action based on the collected historical data and the current geographic location;

inferring a task of the user based on a comparison of a current sequence of user actions with the task model;

identifying a number of new dashboards or new widgets based on the inferred task;

presenting a list of the identified new dashboards or new widgets on a user interface of the device;

selecting a new dashboard or new widget from the list of new dashboards or new widgets;

downloading the selected new dashboard or new widget to the device.

25. A method comprising:

storing one or more dashboards or widgets on a device;

collecting historical data identifying sequences of user actions for tasks performed on the device, wherein each sequence of user actions includes navigation through a user interface of the device and interaction with at least one application;

calculating, by the device, a current geographic location of the device;

updating a task model of user action based on the collected historical data and the current geographic location;

inferring a task of the user based on a comparison of a current sequence of user actions with the task model;

identifying a number of new dashboards or new widgets based on the inferred task;

presenting a list of the identified new dashboards or new widgets on a user interface of the device;

selecting a new dashboard or new widget from the list of new dashboards or new widgets;

installing the selected new dashboard or new widget on the device.