DYNAMIC BAR ORIENTED USER INTERFACE

• US 20150309722A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: SCOTT, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• 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 3/04817 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 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

Abstract

Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated with respective one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions provided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up interface for providing at least one of preview information determined from information managed by the applications and/or functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying preview information in a portion of a graphical user interface on the display, the preview information being related to information managed by at least one software application, the display of the portion of the graphical user interface being updatable dynamically to reflect a change to the information managed, by the at least one software application;

expanding the portion of the graphical, user interface on the display to show an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

displaying, in the expansion interface, additional preview information related to the information managed by the at least one software application, the additional preview information including a selectable link, that is configured to invoke one of the at least one software application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

contracting the portion of the graphical user interface to no longer display the expansion interface in response to a cancel input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a focus of the expansion interface based on a received navigation input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the additional preview information further comprises:

displaying the additional preview information in an arrangement based on a context of the additional preview information or based on a function of the additional preview information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, in the expansion interface, an interface element identifying a configuration option; and

upon receipt of a configuration input, changing the configuration option.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interface element identifies a wireless networking function, and wherein changing the configuration option comprises turning the wireless networking function on or off;

the method further comprising updating the displayed interface element to reflect the changed configuration option.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an expansion interface element upon detecting an expansion element trigger, the expansion interface element including at least one function associated with a same or different one of the at least one software application or a label of the preview information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the expansion element trigger comprises determining that an identifier of the same or different one of the at least one software application or the label is a target of a focus for longer than a threshold period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the additional preview information upon detection of a new event.

10. A device comprising:

a processor configured for;

displaying preview information in a portion of a graphical user interface on a display coupled to the processor, the preview information being related to information managed by at least one software application, the display of the portion of the graphical user interface being updatable dynamically to reflect a change to the information managed by the at least one software application;

expanding the portion of the graphical user interface on the display to show an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

displaying, in the expansion interface, additional preview information related to the information managed by the at least one software application, the additional preview information including a selectable link that is configured to invoke one of the at least one software application.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

contracting the portion of the graphical user interface to no longer display the expansion interface in response to a cancel input.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

changing a focus of the expansion interface based on a received, navigation input.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein displaying the additional preview information further comprises:

displaying the additional preview information in an arrangement based on a context of the additional preview information or based on a function of the additional preview information.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

displaying, in the expansion interface, an interface element identifying a configuration option; and

upon receipt of a configuration input, changing the configuration option.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the interface element identifies a wireless networking function, and. wherein changing the configuration option comprises turning the wireless networking function on or off;

and wherein the processor is further configured for;

updating the displayed interface element to reflect the changed, configuration option.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

displaying an expansion interface element upon detecting an expansion element trigger, the expansion interface element including at least one function associated with a same or different one of the at least one software application or a label of the preview information.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein detecting the expansion element trigger comprises determining that an identifier of the same or different one of the at least one software application or the label is a target of a focus for longer than a threshold period of time.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for:

updating the additional preview information upon detection of a new event.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

display preview information in a portion of a display coupled to the processor, the preview information being related to information managed by at least one software application, the display of the portion of the graphical user interface being updatable dynamically to reflect a change to the information managed by the at least one software application;

expand the portion of the graphical user interface on the display to show an expansion interface in response to a first input; and

display, in the expansion interface, additional preview information related to the information managed by the at least one software application, the additional preview information including a selectable link that is configured to invoke one of the at least one software application.