Dynamic bar oriented user interface

• US 9,081,469 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): SALOMON, PHENUEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/221,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated with respective one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions provided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up interface for providing at least one of preview information determined from information managed by the applications and/or functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces.

Claims

1. A device for displaying preview information, the device comprising:

a display;

a processor configured for;

displaying on the display dynamic preview information in a portion of the display, the dynamic preview information being determined from information managed by at least one software application;

updating an appearance of the dynamic preview information in the portion of the display, the appearance of the dynamic preview information being updated to reflect a change to the information managed by the at least one software application;

expanding the portion of the display to display an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

displaying, in the expansion interface, additional dynamic preview information determined from the information managed by the at least one software application, at least a part of the additional dynamic preview information being different from the dynamic preview information displayed in the portion of the display and the additional dynamic preview information including a selectable link that is selectable to invoke at least one of the at least one software application.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

receiving an input identifying a filter or search; and

displaying a subset of the additional dynamic preview information in the expansion interface in accordance with the filter or search.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the filter comprises a date.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

contracting the expanded portion of the display to no longer display the expansion interface in response to a cancel input.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

changing a focus of the expansion interface based on a received navigation input.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein displaying the expansion interface comprises:

displaying the additional dynamic preview information in an arrangement based on a context of the additional dynamic preview information or based on a function of the additional dynamic preview information.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

displaying, in the expansion interface, an interface element identifying a configuration option; and

upon receipt of a configuration input, changing the configuration option.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the interface element identifies a wireless networking function, and wherein changing the configuration option comprises turning the wireless networking function on or off;

and wherein the processor is configured for;

updating the displayed interface element to reflect the changed configuration option.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

displaying an expansion interface element upon detecting an expansion element trigger, the expansion interface element including at least one function associated with a same or different one of the at least one software application or a label of the dynamic preview information.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein detecting the expansion element trigger comprises determining that an identifier of the same or different one of the at least one software application or the label is a target of a focus for longer than a threshold period of time.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for:

updating the additional dynamic preview information upon detection of a new event.

12. A method for displaying preview information, the method comprising:

displaying on a display dynamic preview information in a portion of the display, the dynamic preview information being determined from information managed by at least one software application;

updating an appearance of the dynamic preview information in the portion of the display, the appearance of the dynamic preview information being updated to reflect a change to the information managed by the at least one software application;

expanding the portion of the display to display an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

displaying, in the expansion interface, additional dynamic preview information determined from the information managed by the at least one software application, at least a part of the additional dynamic preview information being different from the dynamic preview information displayed in the portion of the display, and the additional dynamic preview information including a selectable link that is selectable to invoke at least one of the at least one software application.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving an input identifying a filter or search; and

displaying a subset of the additional dynamic preview information in the expansion interface in accordance with the filter or search.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter comprises a date.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising:

contracting the expanded portion of the display to no longer display the expansion interface in response to a cancel input.

16. The method of claim 12, comprising:

changing a focus of the expansion interface based on a received navigation input.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the expansion interface comprises:

displaying the additional dynamic preview information in an arrangement based on a context of the additional dynamic preview information or based on a function of the additional dynamic preview information.

18. The method of claim 12, comprising:

displaying, in the expansion interface, an interface element identifying a configuration option; and

upon receipt of a configuration input, changing the configuration option.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface element identifies a wireless networking function, and wherein changing the configuration option comprises turning the wireless networking function on or off;

the method comprising updating the displayed interface element to reflect the changed configuration option.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying an expansion interface element upon detecting an expansion element trigger, the expansion interface element including at least one function associated with a same or different one of the at least one software application or a label of the dynamic preview information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the expansion element trigger comprises determining that an identifier of the same or different one of the at least one software application or the label is a target of a focus for longer than a threshold period of time.

22. The method of claim 12, comprising:

updating the additional dynamic preview information upon detection of a new event.

23. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

display on a display dynamic preview information in a portion of the display, the dynamic preview information being determined from information managed by at least one software application;

update an appearance of the dynamic preview information in the portion of the display, the appearance of the dynamic preview information being updated to reflect a change to the information managed by the at least one software application;

expand the portion of the display to display an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

display, in the expansion interface, additional dynamic preview information determined from the information managed by the at least one software application, at least a part of the additional dynamic preview information being different from the dynamic preview information displayed in the portion of the display, and the additional dynamic preview information including a selectable link that is selectable to invoke at least one of the at least one software application.