Unified interest layer for user interface

• US 20060150118A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew M. Grignon, Gregory N. Christie, Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch
• Original Assignee: Andrew M. Grignon, Gregory N. Christie, Imran A. Chaudhri, John Louch
• Inventors: Louch, John, Grignon, Andrew M., Christie, Gregory N., Chaudhri, Imran A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user'"'"'s screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:

detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;

responsive to the first trigger event;

temporarily inactivating the user interface; and

displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;

detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and

responsive to the second trigger event;

dismissing the unified interest layer; and

reactivating the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of graphical user interface elements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of windows.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first trigger event comprises a first user command and the second trigger event comprises a second user command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second trigger event comprises:

detecting an input signal while an onscreen cursor is at an onscreen location where no layer element is being displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second trigger event comprises:

detecting a mouse click while an onscreen cursor is at an onscreen location where no layer element is being displayed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second trigger event comprises:

detecting that a predetermined period of time has transpired without user input.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input to configure the unified interest layer;

displaying the unified interest layer according to the layer configuration; and

saving the layer configuration.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving user input to configure the unified interest layer comprises:

receiving a command to activate a configuration bar; and

receiving a command to drag at least one layer element from the configuration bar to a position on the unified interest layer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a transitional animation to place the dragged layer element at the position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transitional animation comprises a ripple animation.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to the command to drag the layer element to a position on the unified interest layer:

automatically retrieving, from a server, software code for the layer element; and

installing the software code for the layer element.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the configuration bar comprises a plurality of categories of layer elements, and wherein:

receiving a command to drag at least one layer element from the configuration bar comprises;

receiving a command to access layer elements within one of the categories;

displaying commands within the selected category; and

receiving a command to drag at least one layer element from the selected category to a position in the unified interest layer.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein saving the layer configuration comprises:

saving at least one of a position, size, and configuration for each layer element.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar having at least two active states; and

responsive to receiving a command to switch the state of the configuration bar, switching between the at least two active states;

wherein;

in the first state the configuration bar displays a first region comprising at least one label corresponding to a favorite layer element; and

in the second state the configuration bar displays the first region comprising at least one label corresponding to a favorite layer element and a second region comprising at least one label corresponding to a non-favorite layer element.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to move a layer element between the first and second regions, moving the layer element according to the command.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

in the second state the configuration bar further displays an icon for deleting a layer element; and

responsive to receiving a command to move a layer element to the delete icon, deleting the layer element.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to move a layer element from one of the regions to the unified interest layer, displaying the layer element in the unified interest layer.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to move a layer element from the unified interest layer to one of the regions, removing the layer element from the unified interest layer and displaying a label corresponding the layer element in the specified region.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar comprising labels corresponding to layer elements.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a label corresponding to a currently-active layer element is shown in a first visual format, and a label corresponding to a currently-inactive layer elements is shown in a second visual format.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first visual format is grayed-out.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one layer element is capable of being instantiated multiple times, and at least one layer element is not capable of being instantiated multiple times, and wherein:

a label corresponding to a currently-active layer element that is not capable of being instantiated multiple times is shown in a first visual format; and

a label corresponding to a currently-active layer element that is capable of being instantiated multiple times is shown in a second visual format.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first visual format is grayed-out.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one layer element is capable of being instantiated multiple times, and at least one layer element is not capable of being instantiated multiple times, and wherein:

a label corresponding to a currently-active layer element that is not capable of being instantiated multiple times is shown in a first visual format;

a label corresponding to a currently-active layer element that is capable of being instantiated multiple times is shown in a second visual format; and

a label corresponding to a currently-inactive layer element is shown in a third visual format.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first visual format is grayed-out.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the unified interest layer comprises displaying the unified interest layer over the inactivated user interface.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein temporarily inactivating the user interface comprises modifying a visual characteristic of the user interface.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein modifying a visual characteristic of the user interface comprises performing at least one selected from the group consisting of:

fading the user interface;

darkening the user interface;

brightening the user interface;

blurring the user interface;

changing a color saturation of the user interface;

displaying the user interface in black and white;

distorting the user interface; and

shrinking the user interface.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the unified interest layer comprises displaying the unified interest layer in such a manner that at least a portion of the inactivated user interface is still visible.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising, concurrently with displaying the unified interest layer, displaying a miniature representation of the user interface.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a miniature representation of the user interface within one of the layer elements.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed user interface comprises a task bar, the method further comprising:

displaying, in the task bar, an icon representing a layer element;

wherein;

the first trigger event comprises a user action with respect to the icon; and

displaying the unified interest layer comprises displaying the layer element represented by the icon.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising highlighting the displayed icon to indicate an alert in connection with the layer element represented by the icon.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one of the layer elements is associated with an application, and wherein the second trigger event comprises a user command to launch the application associated with a layer element, the method further comprising:

after the user interface has been reactivated, launching the application associated with the layer element.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the user command to launch the application associated with a layer element comprises user activation of a button in the layer element.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the first trigger event;

displaying a first transitional animation for inactivating the user interface and introducing the unified interest layer; and

responsive to the second trigger event;

displaying a second transitional animation for dismissing the unified interest layer and restoring the user interface.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein each transitional animation comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a fly-in animation;

a fly-out animation;

a zoom-in animation; and

a zoom-out animation.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer elements are movable.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein, responsive to the user moving a first layer element on top of a second layer element, the second layer element automatically moves to make room for the first layer element.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the unified interest layer comprises displaying at least one layer element at a position previously selected by the user.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer elements are editable.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one layer element overlaps another layer element.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one layer element comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar element;

a calculator element;

a music player element;

an address book element;

a notes element;

a stock quote element;

a weather element;

a traffic element;

a package tracking element;

a contact manager element; and

a clock element.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein reactivating the user interface comprises restoring the user interface to a state substantially identical to its state at the time of inactivation.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the layer elements responds to user input.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the area displaying a user interface occupies substantially the entire display screen.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one layer element receives data from a remote server.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the first trigger event, obtaining contextual information from a currently-running application; and

activating a layer element using a parameter derived from the obtained contextual information.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the contextual information comprises an item currently selected in the application.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the contextual information comprises an item currently open in the application.

52. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:

detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer; and

responsive to the first trigger event;

temporarily inactivating the user interface; and

displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements.

53. A method for displaying a user interface element representing a clock, comprising:

determining a current time at a specified location;

responsive to the determined time, selecting a background color from at least two colors;

displaying the selected background color; and

displaying a representation of the current time at the location.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein:

the at least two colors comprises a first color representing day and a second color representing night.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein:

the at least two colors comprises a third color representing twilight.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein:

selecting a background color from at least two colors comprises;

responsive to the determined time falling within a first range, selecting a first color; and

responsive to the determined time falling within a second range, selecting a second color.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the first range comprises 6:

00 AM to 6;

00 PM, and the second range comprises 6;

00 PM to 6;

00 AM.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein selecting a background color further comprises interpolating between the at least two colors according to the determined time.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein:

selecting a background color from at least two colors comprises;

obtaining sunrise and sunset times at the location;

responsive to the determined time falling between sunrise and sunset, selecting a first color; and

responsive to the determined time falling between sunset and sunrise, selecting a second color.

60. A method for authoring a layer element for use in a unified interest layer in a computer system, the method comprising:

authoring a layer element to be used in a computer system including;

a user interface; and

a unified interest layer that detects a first trigger event for activating the unified interest layer, and, responsive to the first trigger event, temporarily inactivates the user interface and displays the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements; and

performing at least one of;

installing the layer element; and

making the layer element available for use.

61. A method for editing a layer element for use in a unified interest layer in a computer system, the method comprising:

editing a layer element to be used in a computer system including;

a user interface; and

a unified interest layer that detects a first trigger event for activating the unified interest layer, and, responsive to the first trigger event, temporarily inactivates the user interface and displays the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements; and

performing at least one of;

installing the edited layer element; and

making the edited layer element available for use.

62. A method for displaying a rollover close control for a user interface element on a display screen, the user interface element comprising an active region, the method comprising:

displaying the user interface element;

responsive to an onscreen cursor being placed over the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, displaying a close control;

responsive to an onscreen cursor being moved off the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, removing the close control;

responsive to the close control being activated, dismissing the user interface element.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein displaying the user interface element comprises displaying the user interface element in a unified interest layer.

64. A method for displaying a preferences control for a first user interface element on a display screen, the user interface element comprising an active region, the method comprising:

displaying the user interface element;

responsive to an onscreen cursor being placed over the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, displaying a preferences control;

responsive to an onscreen cursor being moved off the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, removing the preferences control;

responsive to the preferences control being activated, displaying at least one user interface element for specifying preferences.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein displaying the first user interface element comprises displaying the first user interface element in a unified interest layer.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein displaying at least one user interface element for specifying preferences comprises:

displaying an animation simulating the first user interface element turning over; and

displaying the at least one user interface element for specifying preferences on the reverse side of the first user interface element.

67. A method for displaying an animation to represent placement of a user interface element at a location on a screen, the method comprising:

receiving user input moving a user interface element to a location on a screen;

receiving user input dropping the user interface element at the location;

displaying an animation resembling a ripple effect; and

displaying the user interface element at the location.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein:

the user input moving a user interface element to a location on a screen comprises a drag operation; and

the user input dropping the user interface element at the location comprises a drop operation.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein:

receiving the user input moving a user interface element to a location on a screen comprises receiving a cursor movement while a button is held down; and

receiving the user input dropping the user interface element at the location comprises detecting that the button has been released.

70. A method for dismissing a user interface element, comprising:

displaying the user interface element on a display screen;

receiving user input, via an on-screen control, indicating that the user interface element should be dismissed;

displaying an animation representing the user interface element being sucked into the on-screen control; and

removing the user interface element from the display screen.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein displaying the user interface element comprises displaying the first user interface element in a unified interest layer, and wherein removing the user interface element comprises removing the user interface element from the unified interest layer.

72. A method for dismissing a user interface element, comprising:

displaying the user interface element on a display screen;

receiving user input, via an on-screen control, indicating that the user interface element should be dismissed;

displaying an animation representing the user interface element being sucked into a configuration bar; and

removing the user interface element from the display screen.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein displaying the user interface element comprises displaying the first user interface element in a unified interest layer, and wherein removing the user interface element comprises removing the user interface element from the unified interest layer.

74. A method for displaying a user interface element representing a calculator, comprising:

displaying a calculator element, comprising a numeric display, a plurality of numeric keys, and a plurality of operator keys;

responsive to user input representing a click action within the calculator element, changing a visual characteristic of the numeric display to a first state to indicate that the calculator is active; and

responsive to user input representing a click action outside the calculator element, changing the visual characteristic of the numeric display to a second state to indicate that the calculator is not active.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein changing a visual characteristic of the numeric display to a first state comprised lighting up the numeric display.

76. A method for displaying a user interface element representing a calculator, comprising:

displaying a calculator element, comprising a numeric display, a plurality of numeric keys, and a plurality of operator keys;

responsive to user input representing a click action within a first operator key, highlighting the first operator key; and

responsive to user input representing a click action within a key other than the first operator key, restoring the first operator key to a non-highlighted state.

77. A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;

responsive to the first trigger event;

temporarily inactivating the user interface; and

displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;

78. The computer program product of claim 77, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:

detecting a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and

responsive to the second trigger event;

dismissing the unified interest layer; and

reactivating the user interface.

79. The computer program product of claim 77, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:

receiving user input to configure the unified interest layer;

displaying the unified interest layer according to the layer configuration; and

saving the layer configuration.

80. A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen, the system comprising:

an input device for detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;

a processor, for processing user input received from the user input device; and

a display screen, coupled to the processor and comprising an area displaying a user interface, the display screen for, responsive to the first trigger event;

temporarily inactivating the user interface; and

displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;

81. The system of claim 80, wherein:

the input device further detects a second trigger event for dismissing the unified interest layer; and

responsive to the second trigger event, the display screen;

dismisses the unified interest layer; and

reactivates the user interface.

82. The system of claim 80:

wherein;

the input device further receives user input to configure the unified interest layer; and

the display device displaying the unified interest layer according to the layer configuration; and

the system further comprising a storage device, coupled to the processor, for saving the layer configuration.