Graphical user interface with customized navigation

• US 9,069,439 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bawel, Paul Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US13/084,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 715/841, 715/854
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

The present application relates to a multi-dimensional icon that includes a plurality of panels linked together in a user-configurable structure. Based on user input, such as a flick or other gesture, the multi-dimensional icon can rotate to the next of a series of linked panels. In one embodiment, each linked panel can also have functionality or content associated therewith that is customizable by the user. For example, the user can select the panel to launch an application, a web page, or view content (e.g., a photo). In another embodiment, data can also be associated with a panel so that if the user selects the panel, an application can be launched or a website opened, using the data as a customization parameter.

Claims

1. A method of creating a multi-dimensional icon on a client device, comprising:

displaying a current panel in a multi-dimensional icon that includes a first plurality of panels linked together in a user-configurable structure, wherein the first plurality of panels are on a main level of a hierarchical structure;

receiving user input to display a next panel of the multi-dimensional icon;

displaying the next panel in the multi-dimensional icon in accordance with the user-configurable structure;

receiving user input to select the next panel; and

upon receiving the user input, displaying a sub-level, which is a level below the main level in the hierarchical structure and which is associated with the next panel, the sub-level having a second plurality of panels that are associated with the next panel, different than the first plurality of panels, the sub-level of panels being displayed as the multi-dimensional icon so that, while the sub-level is being viewed, the first plurality of panels are no longer accessible without returning to the main level of the hierarchical structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further including receiving user input selecting a panel of the multi-dimensional icon and using an operating system on the client device to act upon the selection according to a user configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, further including automatically modifying the multi-dimensional icon to include a subset of panels that have been dynamically updated.

4. The method of claim 1, further including receiving a user input selecting a panel of the multi-dimensional icon, launching an application associated with the panel and passing a set of application parameters associated with the panel.

5. The method of claim 1, further including displaying an update of one of the panels of the multi-dimensional icon, receiving a gesture to dismiss the update, and returning the multi-dimensional icon to its appearance prior to displaying the update.

6. The method of claim 1, further including receiving user input to add a new panel to the multi-dimensional icon, and, in response to the user input, updating a linking table to add the new panel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each panel is displayed as a two-dimensional panel and the multi-dimensional icon is represented as a three-dimensional image.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein each panel is an only panel displayed on a side of the multi-dimensional icon.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of panels are linked together using the user-configurable structure.

8. A nonvolatile computer-readable storage including instructions thereon for executing a method implemented at least in part by a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a first configurable panel of a first multi-dimensional panel group comprising a first plurality of configurable panels, the first multi-dimensional panel group being on a main level of a hierarchical panel structure;

receiving user input to display a second panel in the first multi-dimensional panel group;

transitioning the first multi-dimensional panel group according to a customizable group organization to display the second panel of the first multi-dimensional panel group;

receiving a user input to select the second panel of the first multi-dimensional panel group; and

transitioning to a second multi-dimensional panel group comprising a second plurality of configurable panels, wherein the first multi-dimensional panel group forms a multi-dimensional icon and the second multi-dimensional panel group is represented as the multi-dimensional icon after the transitioning to the second multi-dimensional panel group, wherein the second multi-dimensional panel group is one of a plurality of sub-levels, different than the main level, in the hierarchical panel structure and wherein the main level is not accessible while viewing the one of the plurality of sub-levels.

9. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, further comprising receiving user input to add a third panel to the first multi-dimensional panel group.

10. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, wherein the first multi-dimensional panel group is reorganized based on one or more events.

11. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, further comprising using the second panel to launch an application and customizing the launching of the application based on customizable panel parameters associated with the second panel.

12. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, wherein each panel comprises multiple sub-levels, each sub-level including a different plurality of configurable panels.

13. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, wherein the second panel is associated with application content, application functionality, or panel content.

14. The nonvolatile computer-readable storage of claim 8, further comprising adding a third panel to the first multi-dimensional panel group by dragging and dropping the third-panel onto the multi-dimensional panel group.

15. A method of creating a multi-dimensional icon on a mobile phone, comprising:

displaying a current panel in a multi-dimensional icon that includes a first plurality of panels linked together in a user-configurable structure, the first plurality of panels being on a main level of a multi-level structure;

receiving user input to rotate the multi-dimensional icon;

searching in an icon linking table for a next linking panel to display;

using an identification of the next linking panel, to obtain image data to display associated with the next linking panel;

displaying the next linking panel in accordance with the icon linking table;

receiving an input to select the next linking panel;

searching the icon linking table for a sub-level associated with the next linking panel; and

displaying a second plurality of panels belonging to the sub-level, wherein the second plurality of panels are displayed as the multi-dimensional icon, so that the first plurality of panels on the main level are no longer accessible while the sub-level is currently being viewed.

16. The method of claim 15, further including receiving user input to customize the multi-dimensional icon, and modifying the icon linking table to reflect the user input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the customization is adding a new panel to the multi-dimensional icon.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the customization is changing a function of an existing panel.

19. The method of claim 15, further including dynamically updating a panel of the multi-dimensional icon based on a push-notification received by the mobile phone.