Persistent portal

• US 7,796,141 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy M. Sheridan
• Original Assignee: Timothy M. Sheridan
• Inventors: Sheridan, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang; Ryan R
• Application Number:
  US10/556,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• Field of Search: 345/661, 345/660, 715/800, 715/778, 715/792, 715/788
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• 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: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method of proportionally reducing the area of the operating system'"'"'s active “desktop” display with all functions operational, then deploying and displaying a secondary graphical user interface (GUI) known as a “Persistent Portal” (PP) into the resulting blanked area.

Claims

1. A method of proportionally reducing the size and area of an operating system'"'"'s active content area of a desktop display with all functions operational, while maintaining a complete, intact view of the desktop (display intact) including the functional controls that provide access to resident applications and documents, comprising:

deploying a two dimensional persistent portal graphical user interface, each dimension having a number of pixels, into a blanked area resulting from the proportionate reduction in the active content area, comprising;

a. adjusting parameters for the desktop display area residing inside of, but not including an overseen border, by a number of pixels that equals the required area to be occupied by the persistent portal interface when deployed;

b. addressing the operating system settings for a video mode or monitor resolution for said required pixels within said active content area to facilitate activation of features and functions of the operating system; and

wherein the persistent portal interface interacts with the operating system to facilitate activation of features and functions of the operating system.

2. A computer-executable program stored in a tangible, computer-readable medium for interacting with an operating system'"'"'s active content area of a desktop display area inside of, but not including, an overscan border, the program comprising:

executable instructions for dividing the active content area into a persistent portal interface area and a proportionally reduced display area without altering or interacting with the overscan border area wherein the persistent portal area comprises a blanked area resulting from the proportionate reduction in the display area, the blanked area being provided by executable instructions for addressing the operating system settings for a video mode or monitor resolution for a required number of pixels for the blanked area;

executable instructions for displaying the persistent portal interface in the persistent portal interface area, and enabling the persistent portal interface to interact with the operating system to facilitate activation of features and functions of the operating system; and

executable instructions providing for proportional reduction of the display area into the proportionally reduced display area.

3. The program of claim 2 wherein the executable instructions for dividing the display area address an operating system'"'"'s settings of a video mode.

4. The program of claim 3 wherein the area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface is the area displaying a Windows Start Bar.

5. The program of claim 2 wherein the display area inside of, but not including, an overscan border comprises an area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface and an area left by the operating system unoccupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface.

6. The program of claim 2 wherein the display area inside of, but not including, an overscan border comprises an area left by the operating system unoccupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface but does not include an area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface.

7. The program of claim 6 wherein the area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface is the area displaying a Windows Start Bar.

8. The program of claim 6 wherein the area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface is disposed between the persistent portal interface area and the overscan border.

9. The program of claim 8 wherein the area occupied by the operating system'"'"'s graphical user interface is the area displaying a Windows Start Bar.

10. The program of claim 2 wherein the executable instructions for displaying the persistent portal interface displays the persistent portal interface area visible and operational.

11. The program of claim 2 wherein the proportionally reduced display area is reduced both vertically and horizontally.

12. The program of claim 2 further comprising executable instructions for providing a movable pointer that functions within the display area for the purpose of user input causing interaction and command response from the program.

13. The program of claim 2 further comprising executable instructions for writing an image of the persistent portal interface area to video display memory.

14. The program of claim 2 wherein the persistent portal interface area is disposed along at least two adjoined sides of the display area.

15. The program of claim 2 wherein the persistent portal interface area is disposed along at least three adjoined sides of the display area.

16. The program of claim 2 wherein the persistent portal interface area is disposed along at least four adjoined sides of the display area.

17. The program of claim 2 wherein the persistent portal interface area includes at least two zones.

18. The program of claim 2 wherein the persistent portal interface area has one or more zones, each zone having one or more modules of features and/or functions.

19. The program of claim 2 wherein the user interface has at least two of the following modules:

Sub-Channel Modules, Sponsor or 3rd Party Icon/Access Modules, Custom Application Modules (Client Customization), Network Preferences and Updates Module, Publisher Preferences Module, Personal Tools Applications Module(s), Application Service Provider (ASP) Products Download Module, and Entertainment Module (games, music, video and pay-per view events).

20. The program of claim 2 wherein the user interface has at least three of the following modules:

Sub-Channel Modules, Sponsor or 3rd Party Icon/Access Modules, Custom Application Modules (Client Customization), Network Preferences and Updates Module, Publisher Preferences Module, Personal Tools Applications Module(s), Application Service Provider (ASP) Products Download Module, and Entertainment Module (games, music, video and pay-per view events).

21. The program of claim 2 wherein one or more modules receives and interacts with content received over a data network.

22. A computing device for interacting with an operating system'"'"'s active content area of a display area inside of, but not including, an overscan border, the device comprising:

means for dividing the active content area into a persistent portal interface area and a proportionally reduced display area without interacting with or altering the operating system'"'"'s overscan border area, wherein the persistent portal area comprises a blanked area resulting from the proportionate reduction in the display area, the blanked area being provided by executable instructions for addressing the operating system settings for a video mode or monitor resolution for a required number of pixels for the blanked area;

means for displaying the persistent portal interface in the persistent portal interface area, wherein the persistent portal interface interacts with the operating system to facilitate activation of features and functions of the operating system; and

means for proportional reduction of display area into the proportionally reduced display area.