Personalized user interface

• US 20080256495A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Antos, Kynan, Richardson, Cyra S., Headrick, Todd Roger
• Application Number:
  US11/784,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/866
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A user interface of a computing system is personalized based on whether the computing system is used in a home environment, a business environment, etc. In one implementation, user interface content is stored that is defined for a plurality of consumer-usage environments, such as the home and business environment. The computing system identifies its consumer-usage environment, whether it is a home environment, a business environment, etc. The computing system then personalizes a user interface that is provided to a user based the environment in which it is being or will be used. To personalize the user interface, the computing system identifies the proper user interface content defined for the consumer-usage environment, and provides the user interface based on the proper user interface content.

Claims

1. A method of providing a personalized user interface through a computing system, the method comprising:

storing user interface content defined for a plurality of consumer-usage environments;

identifying a consumer-usage environment of the computing system; and

personalizing a user interface provided by the computing system based on the user interface content defined for the identified consumer-usage environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified consumer-usage environment of the computing system comprises a home environment or a non-home environment.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a consumer-usage environment of the computing system comprises:

querying a user for the consumer-usage environment; and

receiving user input specifying the consumer-usage environment of the computing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a consumer-usage environment of the computing system comprises:

automatically identifying the consumer-usage environment of the computing system based on information on a network to which the computing system is connected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein personalizing a user interface provided by the computing system comprises:

displaying a window, menu, or dialog box using nomenclature that is defined for the identified consumer-usage environment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein personalizing a user interface provided by the computing system comprises:

displaying colors that are defined for the identified consumer-usage environment.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein personalizing a user interface provided by the computing system comprises:

playing audio that is defined for the identified consumer-usage environment.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface content comprises resource files and wherein personalizing a user interface provided by the computing system comprises:

executing software that includes a user interface object;

identifying at least one of the resource files to invoke for the user interface object based on the identified consumer-usage environment; and

utilizing the at least one resource file in the user interface object to provide an interface to a user that is defined for the identified consumer-usage environment.

9. A system adapted to execute a software application that includes a user interface object adapted to provide a user interface, the system comprising:

memory adapted to store resource files for a home environment and resource files for a non-home environment; and

a processing system adapted to;

identify whether the usage environment of the software application is in a home environment or a non-home environment;

identify at least one of the resource files to invoke for the user interface object based on whether the usage of the software application is in a home environment or a non-home environment; and

utilize the at least one resource file in the user interface object to provide an interface to a user that is defined for the home environment or the non-home environment.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

receive user input specifying whether the usage environment of the software application is in a home environment or a non-home environment.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

receive user input indicating nomenclature used in the home environment or the non-home environment; and

updating the at least one resource file based on the user input.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

utilize the at least one resource file in the user interface object to display a window, menu, or dialog box using nomenclature that is defined for the home environment or the non-home environment.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

utilize the at least one resource file in the user interface object to display colors that are defined for the home environment or the non-home environment.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

utilize the at least one resource file in the user interface object to play audio that is defined for the home environment or the non-home environment.

15. A computer program product adapted to provide a personalized user interface, the computer program product comprising:

computer useable medium including a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computing system causes the computing system to;

identify whether the usage of the computing system is in a home environment or a business environment;

identify at least one user interface file defined for the home environment or at least one user interface file defined for the business environment depending on whether the usage of the computing system is in a home environment or a business environment; and

provide a user interface for the computing system based on the at least one user interface file.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program causes the computing system to:

receive user input specifying whether the usage of the computing system is in the home environment or the business environment.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program causes the computing system to:

receive user input indicating nomenclature used in the home environment or the business environment; and

update the at least one user interface file based on the user input.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program causes the computing system to:

provide the user interface for the computing system based on the at least one user interface file by displaying a window, menu, or dialog box using nomenclature that is defined for the home environment or the business environment.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program causes the computing system to:

provide the user interface for the computing system based on the at least one user interface file by displaying colors that are defined for the home environment or the business environment.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer-readable program causes the computing system to:

provide the user interface for the computing system based on the at least one user interface file by playing audio that is defined for the home environment or the business environment.