Configuration bar for lauching layer for accessing user interface elements
First Claim
1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the method comprising:
- executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications;
executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface;
executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application;
executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget;
responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface;
activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and
temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated;
responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets;
responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer;
responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer;
inactivating the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and
reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.
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Accused Products
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.
278 Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the method comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer; inactivating the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a layer, the method comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a dashboard layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the dashboard layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the dashboard layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the dashboard layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the dashboard layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the dashboard layer, displaying within the dashboard layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the dashboard layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the dashboard layer; hiding the dashboard layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a layer, the method comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; receiving a user input at the configuration bar dragging and dropping a selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer; responsive to receiving the user input at the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer; hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.
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31. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer; hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a dashboard layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the dashboard layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the dashboard layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the dashboard layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the dashboard layer, displaying within the dashboard layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the dashboard layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the dashboard layer; hiding the dashboard layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.
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37. A computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for adding desktop widgets to a layer on a display screen of a computer system comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor of the computer system perform the steps comprising:
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executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget; responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer, displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets; receiving a user input at the configuration bar dragging and dropping a selected desktop widget from the configuration bar to the widget layer; responsive to receiving the user input at the configuration bar, displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer; responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer; hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs.
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38. A computer system for adding widgets to a layer on a display screen of the computer comprising an area displaying a user interface, comprising:
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a means for executing an operating system that provides an operating system user interface for receiving user inputs to user applications; a means for executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user input through the operating system user interface; a means for executing a widget layer that is a part of the operating system, the execution of the widget layer separate from the execution of the at least one user application; a means for executing within the widget layer at least one desktop widget; a means for responsive to receiving a user input within the operating system user interface; activating the widget layer to enable the at least one desktop widget to receive a user input, and displaying the at least one desktop widget of the widget layer; and temporarily inactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application cannot receive user interactions while the operating system user interface is inactivated; a means for displaying within the widget layer a configuration bar that displays a plurality of desktop widgets responsive to receiving a user input within the widget layer; a means for displaying the selected desktop widget within the widget layer responsive to receiving a selection of a desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar; a means for responsive to receiving a user input dismissing the widget layer; hiding the widget layer thereby preventing the at least one desktop widget from receiving any user input; and reactivating the operating system user interface and the at least one user application, wherein the at least one user application can again receive user inputs. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification