Multiple dashboards

• US 20070101297A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John, Chaudhri, Imran, Forstall, Scott, Peyton, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are disclosed for organizing, managing and presenting widgets in display areas associated with multiple dashboard environments. In some implementations, a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets. A second display area associated with a second dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a first dashboard layer;

providing a second dashboard layer; and

providing a transition between the first dashboard layer and the second dashboard layer.

2. A user interface, comprising:

a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets; and

a second display area associated 3 with a second dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein at least one widget is in the first and second sets of widgets.

4. The user interface of claim 2, further comprising:

a transition engine configured for transitioning from the first display area to the second display area.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the transition occurs without closing or hiding the first display area.

6. A method comprising:

identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment;

selecting the dashboard environment from a number of dashboard environments; and

installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting a dashboard environment includes:

evaluating the widget to determine a theme associated with the widget;

selecting a dashboard environment based on the theme; and

installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the dashboard environment for installing the widget.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining includes inferring the dashboard environment to install the widget on.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a widget for installation in a dashboard environment;

previewing the widget in a preview environment; and

installing the widget after the preview in the dashboard environment.

11. A method comprising:

providing a number of widgets for display in one or more display areas associated with one or more dashboard environments;

determining a first set of widgets to be displayed in a first display area of a first dashboard environment;

installing the first set of widgets in the first dashboard environment;

determining a second set of widgets to be displayed in a second display area associated with a second dashboard environment; and

installing the second group of widgets in the second dashboard environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first set of widgets includes receiving a user selection of a first widget for inclusion in the first set of widgets.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the second set of widgets includes receiving a user selection of a second widget for inclusion in the second set of widgets.

14. The method of claim 11, further including managing the widgets in the first and second sets of widgets, including maintaining a list of widgets included in each of the first and second sets of widgets.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising invoking the first display area, including displaying at least one widget in the set of widgets.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising invoking the second display area, including transitioning from the first display area to the second display area and displaying at least one widget in the second set of widgets.

17. A user interface, comprising:

a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a user interface; and

a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein the second dashboard environment is configured to be invoked from a display area associated with the first dashboard environment.

19. A method comprising:

defining a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a user interface; and

defining a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising managing a transition between a first display area associated with the first dashboard environment and a second display area associated with the second dashboard environment, including selecting a transition between the two.

21. A method comprising:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining if an existing dashboard environment is available for installing at least one widget; and

if no existing dashboard environment is available, installing a new dashboard environment.

22. A dashboard manager, comprising:

a dashboard installer configured for installing one or more dashboard environments; and

a display area manager configured for presenting display areas associated with the one or more dashboard environments on a user interface, and for managing interactions with the display areas.

23. The dashboard manager of claim 22, further comprising a widget installer configured for determining which dashboard environment to install a widget and installing the widget in the determined dashboard environment.

24. The dashboard manager of claim 22, further comprising:

a rule manager for enforcing rules associated with one or more dashboard environments.

25. The dashboard manager of claim 24, wherein at least some rules are access rules for determining who can install or use widgets in a dashboard environment.

26. The dashboard manager of claim 24, wherein at least some of the rules are security rules for assessing security risks associated with security events.

27. The dashboard manager of claim 22, further comprising:

a transition engine configured to provide transition effects for transitions from a first display area to a second display area.

28. The dashboard manager of claim 22, further comprising:

a dashboard assistant configured for displaying a user interface for enabling users to select a preexisting template for a dashboard environment.

29. The dashboard manager of claim 28, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to select one or more properties of the dashboard environment.

30. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment;

selecting the dashboard environment from a number of dashboard environments; and

installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein selecting a dashboard environment includes:

evaluating the widget to determine a theme associated with the widget;

selecting a dashboard environment based on the theme; and

installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the dashboard environment for installing the widget.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein determining includes inferring the dashboard environment to install the widget on.

34. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

receiving a widget for installation in a dashboard environment;

previewing the widget in a preview environment; and

installing the widget after the preview in the dashboard environment.

35. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

providing a number of widgets for display in one or more display areas associated with one or more dashboard environments;

determining a first set of widgets to be displayed in a first display area of a first dashboard environment;

installing the first set of widgets in the first dashboard environment;

determining a second set of widgets to be displayed in a second display area associated with a second dashboard environment; and

installing the second group of widgets in the second dashboard environment.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein determining the first set of widgets includes receiving a user selection of a first widget for inclusion in the first set of widgets.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein determining the second set of widgets includes receiving a user selection of a second widget for inclusion in the second set of widgets.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, further including managing the widgets in the first and second sets of widgets, including maintaining a list of widgets included in each of the first and second sets of widgets.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, further comprising invoking the first display area, including displaying at least one widget in the set of widgets.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising invoking the second display area, including transitioning from the first display area to the second display area and displaying at least one widget in the second set of widgets.

41. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

providing a desktop environment in a user interface device;

defining a first dashboard environment, capable of being invoked from the desktop environment, and including one or more widgets; and

defining a second dashboard environment, capable of being invoked from at least a first display area associated with the first dashboard environment, and including one or more widgets.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41 further comprising managing a transition between the first display area and a second display area associated with the second dashboard environment, including selecting a transition between the two.

43. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

identifying one or more widgets for installation in a dashboard environment;

determining if an existing dashboard environment is available for installing at least one widget; and

if no existing dashboard environment is available, installing a new dashboard environment.

44. A system for displaying widgets in multiple dashboard environments, comprising:

a processor;

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

identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment;

selecting the dashboard environment from a number of dashboard environments; and

installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.