User interface element with auxiliary function

• US 7,530,026 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John, Grignon, Andrew M., Christie, Gregory N., Chaudhri, Imran A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US11/371,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 715/778, 715/764, 715/767, 715/768, 715/792, 715/802, 715/808, 715/810, 715/866, 715/840
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user'"'"'s screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.

Claims

1. A method for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and

receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second side of the user interface element further comprises displaying an animation simulating the user interface element turning over.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element belongs to a group of user interface elements, and a selected user interface element is capable of being instantiated a plurality times.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is accessible from a remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a calendar element;

a calculator element;

a music player element;

an address book element;

a notes element;

a stock quote element;

a weather element;

a traffic element;

a package tracking element;

a contact manager element; and

a clock element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the software accessory comprises a notes element and the auxiliary controls comprise a font selection control.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the software accessory comprises a notes element and the auxiliary controls comprise a paper color section control.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the software accessory comprises a clock element and the auxiliary controls comprise a location selection control.

9. A method for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying the auxiliary controls;

receiving changes to the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and

wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to a second trigger event, dismissing the layer, thereby removing access to the group of user interface elements.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying an icon within the layer for launching a configuration bar; and

responsive to user input at the icon, displaying the configuration bar for adding user interface elements to the layer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein activating the layer comprises displaying the layer such that it at least partially obscures the user interface.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the user interface elements in the group of user interface elements was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the layer.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the layer is accessible from a remote location.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the layer is substantially transparent.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein a selected user interface element is three dimensional.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first side is a front side and a second side is a back side.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the first side is displayed when the user-activatable dashboard layer is activated.

19. A method for displaying an auxiliary function for a user interface element on a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and

responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

responsive to a trigger event, activating a layer in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements including the user interface element.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

displaying an icon within the layer for launching a configuration bar; and

responsive to user input at the icon, displaying a configuration bar for adding user interface elements to the layer.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein activating the layer comprises displaying the layer such that it at least partially obscures the user interface.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the user interface elements in the group of user interface elements was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the layer.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the layer is accessible from a remote location.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the layer is substantially transparent.

26. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and

receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein displaying the second side of the user interface element further comprises displaying an animation simulating the user interface element turning over.

28. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls;

receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and

wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the layer is substantially transparent.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the first side is a front side and the second side is a back side.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the front side is displayed when the user-activatable dashboard layer is activated.

32. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling a processor to perform a method comprising:

displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and

responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality.

33. A computer-implemented system for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising;

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls; and

receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element.

34. A computer-implemented system for displaying auxiliary controls for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising;

displaying a first side of a user interface element wherein the first side consists of a software accessory with a functionality, wherein, responsive to a trigger event, a user-activatable dashboard layer is activated in an area displaying a user interface, thereby providing access to a group of user interface elements contained by the layer, wherein the user interface element displaying the first side is a member of the group;

responsive to receiving user input to display the auxiliary controls for the software accessory, displaying a second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising the auxiliary controls;

receiving changes to the software accessory via the auxiliary controls, wherein the changes are reflected in the appearance and functionality of the software accessory on the first side of the user interface element; and

wherein the group of user interface elements are not necessarily part of a single application.

35. A computer-implemented system for displaying an auxiliary function for a user interface element on a display screen, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for controlling the computer processor to perform a method comprising;

displaying a first side of a user interface element having the first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a first functionality; and

responsive to receiving user input to display an auxiliary functionality separate from the first functionality, displaying the second side of the user interface element, the second side comprising auxiliary controls corresponding to the auxiliary functionality.