User Interface Tools

• US 20100162165A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ford, Edward L., Addala, Viswanadh
• Application Number:
  US12/341,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating user interface tools are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a resource (e.g., a web page) for display in an interface, identifying one or more user interface elements in the resource, generating a tool based on the one or more user interface elements, and combining the tool and the resource for display in the interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a resource for display in an interface;

determining an interaction supported by the resource;

generating a toolbar based on the interaction; and

superimposing the toolbar at a position on the interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a toolbar includes:

generating a tool that corresponds to the interaction; and

presenting the tool in the toolbar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interface is not currently displaying an object that corresponds to the tool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the position is based on an orientation of the interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input; and

adjusting the position of the toolbar based on the user input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user input comprise gestures or interactions received on a touch-sensitive display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input;

generating a second tool based on the user input; and

presenting the second tool in the toolbar.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input through the toolbar;

generating a heads up display based on the user input; and

presenting the heads up display on the interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is a web page.

10. A method comprising:

identifying a resource for display in an interface;

identifying one or more user interface elements in the resource;

generating a tool based on the one or more user interface elements; and

combining the tool and the resource for display in the interface.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving first user input through the tool;

generating a heads up display based on the one or more user interface elements, in response to the first user input; and

presenting the heads up display on the interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting a virtual keyboard on the interface.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving second user input through the heads up display; and

transferring the second user input to the resource.

14. A system comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a resource for display in an interface;

determining an interaction supported by the resource;

generating a toolbar based on the interaction; and

superimposing the toolbar at a position on the interface.

15. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a resource for display in an interface;

determining an interaction supported by the resource;

generating a toolbar based on the interaction; and

superimposing the toolbar at a position on the interface.

16. A system comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

identifying a resource for display in an interface;

identifying one or more user interface elements in the resource;

generating a tool based on the one or more user interface elements; and

combining the tool and the resource for display in the interface.

17. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a resource for display in an interface;

identifying one or more user interface elements in the resource;

generating a tool based on the one or more user interface elements; and

combining the tool and the resource for display in the interface.