User definable interface system, method and computer program product

• US 6,918,091 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Change Tools, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Change Tools, Inc.
• Inventors: Leavitt, Joseph M., Mills, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US09/986,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 345/765, 345/769, 345/835, 345/837, 345/840, 345/841, 345/843, 345/779, 345/834, 345/866, 345/762, 345/847, 345/764, 345/808, 345/809, 345/810, 345/825, 345/826, 717/100, 717/110, 717/111, 717/113, 717/120, 717/121
• US Class Current: 715/765
• 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

In a cursor-based computing environment having a display, a user definable interface (UDI) is displayed upon activation by a user. The UDI has a plurality of levels each having a plurality of buttons and is displayed in a selectable position about a pointer position in a display area to reduce pointer commute. The user selects a visual appearance and shape of the UDI, and the number of buttons. The user assigns a command to each of the plurality of buttons at each of the plurality of levels by dragging and dropping from one or more applications of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) displaying a user definable interface (UDI) in a selectable position within a display of an apparatus relative to any pointer position upon activation by a user, wherein the UDI has a plurality of levels each having a plurality of command regions, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time, and the UDI is displayed in a relative position about the pointer position;

(b) selecting a visual appearance of the UDI including a shape, and number of the command regions, the visual appearance remaining substantially the same for each of the plurality of levels; and

(c) assigning a command to each of the plurality of command regions for each respective one of the plurality of levels by dragging and dropping from one or more applications of the apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises:

(d) permitting the user to form a first group of buttons and at least a second group of buttons;

(e) permitting the user to assign a first icon representing a first specific one of the one or more applications to a first given button of the first group;

(f) permitting the user to assign commands, associated with the first specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

(g) permitting the user to assign a second icon representing a second specific one of the one or more applications to a second given button of the first group; and

(h) permitting the user to assign commands, associated with the second specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

wherein the appearance of, and commands associated with, the second group of buttons change based on which button of the first group of buttons is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activation by the user comprises at least one of:

clicking a hotkey;

clicking a mouse button; and

turning on the apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein before step (c) the method comprises:

selecting a visual appearance of each of the command regions including at least one of a shape and a location within the UDI.

5. In an apparatus with a user-defined interface (UDI) having a plurality of levels, each having a plurality of command regions, a method comprising:

(a) providing a command processor that manages an interactive skin (IS) whose visual appearance, which includes a shave and number of the command regions, remains substantially the same at each of the plurality of levels, wherein only one of the levels appears at a give time, the IS having

i. a template that defines at least one of position information and visual appearance information for the plurality of command regions in each respective one of the levels of the UDI and at least one of default attributes and default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

ii. a theme that defines at least one of

(1) attributes if the template only defines default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

(2) commands if the template only defines default attributes for the plurality of command regions; and

(b) providing a customizer that permits at least one of user replacing and user extending of at least one of the default attributes and the default commands of at least one of the plurality of command regions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the customizer permits a user to hide the UDI.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the customizer permits a user to hide a portion of the UDI.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the customizer permits a user to have the UDI display upon launch.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the customizer permits a user to launch the UDI from a system tray.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the UDI is displayed in a relative position about a pointer position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the customizer permits a user to define the relative position.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the customizer permits a user to scale the size of the UDI.

13. In a system having a user defined interface (UDI), a method comprising:

(a) managing the UDI in response to user commands;

(b) providing at least one template defining a visual appearance of the UDI, which includes a share and number of command regions, the visual appearance remaining substantially the same at each of a plurality of levels, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time, the at least one template defining at least one of a position and a appearance for a plurality of command regions corresponding to each level of the UDI; and

(c) providing a theme that defines attributes and commands for the plurality of command regions.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a user defined interface (UDI) having a visual appearance, which includes a shape and number of command regions, the visual appearance remaining substantially the same at each of a plurality of levels, wherein each of the plurality of levels has a plurality of command regions, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time;

(b) a command processor that manages an interactive skin (IS) having

i. a template that defines at least one of position information and visual appearance for the plurality of command regions in the UDI and at least one of default attributes and default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

ii. a theme that defines at least one of

(1) attributes if the template only defines default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

(2) commands if the template only defines default attributes for the plurality of command regions; and

(c) a customizer that permits at least one of user replacing and user extending of at least one of the default attributes and the default commands of at least one of the plurality of command regions.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the user is an end user.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for controlling an apparatus having a display, said control logic comprising:

a first computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to display a user definable interface (UDI) in a selectable position within the display relative to any pointer position upon activation by a user, wherein the UDI has a plurality of levels each having a plurality of command regions, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time, and the UDI is displayed in a relative position about the pointer position;

a second computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to permit the user to select a visual appearance, which includes a shape, and number of command regions;

a third computer readable program code means for causing the visual appearance to remain substantially the same for each of the plurality of levels; and

a fourth computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to permit the user to assign a command to each of the plurality of command regions for each respective one of the plurality of levels by dragging and dropping from one or more applications of the apparatus.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

a fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to permitting the user to form a first group of buttons and at least a second group of buttons;

a sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to permit the user to assigns a first icon representing a first specific one of the one or more applications to a first given button of the first group;

a seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to permit the user to assign commands, associated with the first specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

a eighth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to permit the user to assigns a second icon representing a second specific one of the one or more applications to a second given button of the first group; and

a ninth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to permit the user to assign commands, associated with the second specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

wherein the appearance of, and commands associated with the second group of buttons change based on which button of the first group of buttons is selected.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

a fifth computer readable program code means for selecting at least one of a shape and a location within the UDI for each of the plurality of command regions at each respective one of the levels.

19. A computer program product comprising an apparatus usable medium having a user defined interface (UDI) comprising:

a first computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to provide a command processor to manage the UDI;

a second computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to provide at least one template defining a shape and number of command regions for the UDI, the visual appearance remaining substantially the same at each of a plurality of levels, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time, the at least one template defining at least one of positions and appearances for a plurality of the command regions corresponding to each level of the UDI; and

a third computer readable program code means for causing the apparatus to provide a theme that defines attributes and commands for the for the plurality of command regions.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a user definable interface (UDI) in any selectable position within a display relative to a pointer position upon activation by a user, wherein the UDI has a plurality of levels each having a plurality of command regions, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time, and the UDI is displayed in a relative position about the pointer position;

means for permitting the user to select a visual appearance of the UDI, which includes a shape and number of command regions the visual appearance remaining substantially the same for each level of the plurality of levels, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time; and

means for permitting the user to assign a command to each of the plurality of command regions for each respective one of the levels by dragging and dropping from one or more applications of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said means for permitting the user to assign a command further comprises:

means for permitting the user to form a first group of buttons and at least a second group of buttons;

means for permitting the user to assign a first icon representing a first specific one of the one or more applications to a first given button of the first group;

means for permitting the user to assign commands, associated with the first specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

means for permitting the user to assign a second icon representing a second specific one of the one or more applications to a second given button of the first group; and

means for permitting the user to assign commands, associated with the second specific one of the one or more applications to the second group of buttons;

wherein the appearance of, and commands associated with, the second group of buttons change based on which button of the first group of buttons is selected.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein activation by the user comprises at least one of:

clicking a hotkey;

clicking a mouse button; and

turning on the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for permitting the user to select at least one of a visual appearance or location in the UDI for each of the plurality of command regions at each respective one of the levels.

24. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a user-defined interface (UDI) having a visual appearance, which includes a shape and number of command regions, the visual appearance remaining substantially the same at each of a plurality of levels, wherein only one of the levels appears at a given time;

(b) command processor means for managing an interactive skin (IS) having

i. a template that defines at least one of position information and visual appearance for the plurality of command regions corresponding to the UDI and at least one of default attributes and default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

ii. a theme that defines at least one of

(1) attributes if the template only defines default commands for the plurality of command regions, and

(2) commands if the template only defines default attributes for the plurality of command regions; and

(c) customizer means that permits at least one of user replacing and user extending of at least one of the default attributes and the default commands of at least one of the plurality of command regions.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said customizer means permits a user to hide the UDI.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said customizer means permits a user to hide a portion of the UDI.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said customizer means permits a user to have the UDI display upon launch.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said customizer means permits a user to launch the UDI from a system tray.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the UDI is displayed in a relative position about a cursor position.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the customizer permits a user to define the relative position.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the customizer permits a user to scale the size of the UDI.