Selection of user interface elements for unified display in a display environment

• US 20070101279A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John, Chaudhri, Imran, Forstall, Scott, Peyton, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/357,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided. One method is provided that includes determining for a display environment when a number of unspecified user interface elements are desired to be displayed, automatically selecting user interface elements from available user interface elements to satisfy the number and displaying the selected user interface elements in the display environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising

determining for a display environment when a number of unspecified user interface elements are desired to be displayed;

automatically selecting user interface elements from available user interface elements to satisfy the number; and

displaying the selected user interface elements in the display environment.

2. The method of claim 1 where determining a number includes determining available space for presentation of unspecified user interface elements.

3. The method of claim 1 where determining a number includes receiving user input defining a number of unspecified user interface elements to automatically populate in the display environment.

4. The method of claim 1 where determining a number includes determining a number of user interface elements that can be displayed in the display environment such that all user interface elements that are to be displayed are automatically selected rather than explicitly defined.

5. The method of claim 1 where automatically selecting includes identifying one or more criterion for making a selection, and selecting in accordance with the criterion.

6. The method of claim 1 where automatically selecting includes determining user preferences for selection, and using the user preferences in selecting the user interface elements for display.

7. The method of claim 1 where automatically selecting includes determining a current context, and selecting user interface elements in accordance with the context.

8. The method of claim 1 where displaying includes displaying the selected user interface elements in a predetermined portion of the display environment.

9. The method of claim 1 where displaying includes displaying a designator along with the user interface element to indicate the selection was automatically made.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining if an update to the display environment is required, and if so, then updating display including repeating one or more of the determining, selecting and displaying steps.

11. A method for populating a dashboard comprising:

determining a number of unspecified widgets that are desired to populate a dashboard;

determining one or more criterion for selecting from available widgets;

selecting from the available widgets in accordance with the criterion; and

displaying the selected widgets in the dashboard.

12. The method of claim 11 where one criterion is based on use of the user interface element by the user.

13. The method of claim 11 where one criterion is based on use of the user interface element by others.

14. The method of claim 11 where one criterion is based on popularity of the user interface element.

15. The method of claim 11 where determining a number of unspecified widgets includes determining a total number of widgets to be displayed on the dashboard along with the number of explicitly or default defined widgets.

16. The method of claim 11 where displaying includes displaying the widgets in a predetermined portion of the display environment.

17. The method of claim 11 where displaying includes constraining the operation of selected widgets.

18. The method of claim 17 where constraining includes constraining the selected widget in accordance with a security risk assessment.

19. The method of claim 11 where the criterion is based on contextual information related to the operation or state of and end device on which the display environment is presented.

20. The method of claim 11 where displaying includes re-shuffling including automatically selecting new widgets from available widgets if a condition is satisfied.

21. A user interface method comprising:

determining a number of unspecified user interface elements to be displayed in a user interface, an user interface unspecified element being one not explicitly specified by either a user or a system prior to generation of the user interface;

selecting user interface elements from available user interface elements based on one or more criterion to satisfy the number; and

displaying the selected user interface elements along with any other explicitly specified user interface elements in the user interface.

22. A method comprising

determining when a number of unspecified user interface elements are desired to be displayed in a display environment;

and

automatically populating the display environment with selected user interface elements from available user interface elements in accordance with population parameters.

23. A method comprising:

identifying a user interface for display in a display environment; and

automatically populating the user interface with selected user interface elements in accordance with population parameters including

determining a number of user interface elements that need to be specified; and

selecting the specified number of user interface elements from available user interface elements.

24. A method comprising:

determining if a display environment requires additional user interface elements beyond those specified by a user, an operating system or an active application;

if so, selecting a number of user interface elements from available user interface elements in accordance with one or more criterion; and

displaying the selected user interface elements in the display environment along with any other explicitly specified user interface elements.