Customized user interface

• US 8,407,601 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wassom, Jack, Schaefer, Renee, Chandler, Cory
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US12/493,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 715/747, 715/811, 715741-745, 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/741
• 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

Abstract

Regulating user interface controls includes identifying a grouping from among different groupings and providing a set of user interface controls corresponding to the identified grouping. The groupings can correspond to the maturity levels (e.g., kids and teenagers) of different network service provider users.

Claims

1. A method of tailoring a user interface for a user, the method comprising:

establishing a master screen name for a master user, the master screen name being associated with an account;

logging the master user into the account under the master screen name;

while the master user is logged into the account under the master screen name, receiving, from the master user;

a first subordinate screen name for a first subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the first subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name;

instructions to associate the first subordinate screen name with a first demographic grouping from among a list of demographic groupings;

a second subordinate screen name for a second subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the second subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name and the first subordinate screen name; and

instructions to associate the second subordinate screen name with a second demographic grouping from among the list of demographic groupings;

associating the first subordinate screen name with the first demographic grouping;

associating the second subordinate screen name with the second demographic grouping;

accessing the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name;

based on the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name, automatically selecting a first menu and a first set of user interface controls, the first set of user interface controls comprising a common control and a second control, and the first menu containing a first plurality of links selectable to access content from remote sources;

accessing the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name;

based on the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name, automatically selecting a second menu and a second set of user interface controls, the second set of user interface controls including the common control and not including the second control, and the second menu containing a second plurality of links that is different from the first plurality of links and that is selectable to access content from remote sources;

receiving, from the first subordinate user, the first subordinate screen name;

in response to receiving the first subordinate screen name from the first subordinate user, automatically making a first graphical display perceivable to the first subordinate user, the first graphical display including a first toolbar and a control that is

user selectable to access the first menu, the first toolbar including the common control and the second control;

receiving, from the second subordinate user, the second subordinate screen name; and

in response to receiving the second subordinate screen name from the second subordinate user, automatically making a second graphical display perceivable to the second subordinate user, the second graphical display including a second tool bar and a control that is user selectable to access the second menu, the second toolbar including the common control and not including the second control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first menu comprises a first pull-down menu and the second menu comprises a second pull-down menu that differs from the first pull-down menu.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first menu contains one or more links that enable access to first content from a remote source, and the second menu contains one or more links that enable access to second content from a different remote source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the remote source comprises a network services provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the demographic groupings comprise maturity level groupings.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the demographic groupings include a kids grouping and a teenagers grouping.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first demographic grouping comprises a child maturity level and the first menu enables access to child appropriate content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second demographic grouping comprises an adult maturity level and the second menu enables access to adult appropriate content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically making the first menu perceivable comprises making the first menu perceivable without manual selection by the first subordinate user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of demographic groupings comprises a list of different access levels to services provided by a network service provider account.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the first subordinate user to manually add links to the first plurality of links or remove links from the first plurality of links in the first menu, wherein subsequent perception of the first menu reveals a menu that includes added links and excludes removed links, and

enabling the second subordinate user to manually add links to the second plurality of links or remove links from the second plurality of links in the second menu, wherein subsequent perception of the second menu reveals a menu that includes added links and excludes removed links.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the master user is a parent or guardian, the first subordinate user is a first child of the parent or guardian, and the second subordinate user is a second child of the parent or guardian.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subordinate screen name comprises a first user identifier that identifies the first subordinate user and the second subordinate screen name comprises a second user identifier that identifies the second subordinate user, the first user identifier being different from the second user identifier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name comprises:

using the first user identifier to identify a network service provider subaccount for the first subordinate user under a network service provider account, and

identifying the first demographic grouping from information associated with the identified network service provider subaccount.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the network service provider subaccount for the first subordinate user comprises an account setup by the master user for the first subordinate user to enable the network service provider to provide limitations on access by the first subordinate user to services provided by a network service provider and to provide a customized user interface to the first subordinate user when accessing services provided by the network service provider.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing, in a first entry corresponding to the first user identifier in a table, an identifier for the first demographic grouping; and

storing, in a second entry corresponding to the second user identifier in the table, an identifier for the second demographic grouping,

wherein accessing the first demographic grouping includes accessing, based on the first user identifier, the identifier for the first demographic grouping in the first entry in the table, and

wherein accessing the second demographic grouping includes accessing, based on the second user identifier, the identifier for the second demographic grouping in the second entry in the table.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subordinate screen name comprises a name chosen for the first subordinate user that identifies the first subordinate user to other users when the first subordinate user is communicating with the other users online.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first demographic grouping is distinct from the second demographic grouping.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first toolbar further includes the control for accessing the first menu.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the control for accessing the first menu comprises a pull-down menu control displayed in the first toolbar.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the common control, the second control, and the control for accessing the first menu are each either a graphical button or a pull-down menu control displayed in the first toolbar.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the common control is a graphical button displayed in the first and second toolbars.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the common control is a pull-down menu control displayed in the first and second toolbars.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control is a graphical button displayed in the first toolbar and not displayed in the second toolbar.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control is a pull-down menu control displayed in the first tool bar and not displayed in the second toolbar.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control comprises the control that is user-selectable to access stock quote information.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control comprises a control that is user-selectable to access weather information.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control comprises a control that is user-selectable to make purchases online.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first demographic grouping designates the first set of interface controls and designates the first menu related to first content and is configured to enable access to the first content by the first subordinate screen name having the first demographic grouping; and

the second demographic grouping designates the second set of interface controls and designates the second menu related to second content and is configured to enable access to the second content by the second subordinate screen name having the second demographic grouping.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the first menu comprises a first favorites menu and the second menu comprises a second favorites menu.

30. A system for tailoring a user interface to a user, the system comprising:

one or more computer processors configured to;

establish a master screen name for a master user, the master screen name being associated with an account;

log the master user into the account under the master screen name;

while the master user is logged into the account under the master screen name, receive, from the master user;

a first subordinate screen name for a first subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the first subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name;

instructions to associate the first subordinate screen name with a first demographic grouping from among a list of demographic groupings;

a second subordinate screen name for a second subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the second subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name and the first subordinate screen name; and

instructions to associate the second subordinate screen name with a second demographic grouping from among the list of demographic groupings;

associate the first subordinate screen name with the first demographic grouping;

associate the second subordinate screen name with the second demographic grouping;

access the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name;

based on the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name, automatically select a first menu and a first set of user interface controls, the first set of user interface controls comprising a common control and a second control, and the first menu containing a first plurality of links selectable to access content from remote sources;

access the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name;

based on the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name, automatically select a second menu and a second set of user interface controls, the second set of user interface controls including the common control and not including the second control, and the second menu containing a second plurality of links that is different from the first plurality of links and that is selectable to access content from remote sources;

receive, from the first subordinate user, the first subordinate screen name;

in response to receiving the first subordinate screen name from the first subordinate user, automatically make a first graphical display perceivable to the first subordinate user, the first graphical display including a first toolbar and a control that is user selectable to access the first menu, the first toolbar including the common control and the second control;

receive, from the second subordinate user, the second subordinate screen name; and

in response to receiving the second subordinate screen name from the second subordinate user, automatically make a second graphical display perceivable to the second subordinate user, the second graphical display including a second tool bar and a control that is user selectable to access the second menu, the second toolbar including the common control and not including the second control.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first demographic grouping is distinct from the second demographic grouping.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the first toolbar further includes the control for accessing the first menu.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the control for accessing the first menu comprises a pull-down menu control displayed in the first toolbar.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the common control, the second control, and the control for accessing the first menu are each either a graphical button or a pull-down menu control displayed in the first toolbar.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the common control is a graphical button displayed in the first and second toolbars.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the common control is a pull-down menu control displayed in the first and second toolbars.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the second control is a graphical button displayed in the first toolbar and not displayed in the second toolbar.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the second control is a pull-down menu control displayed in the first tool bar and not displayed in the second toolbar.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more computer processors are further configured to:

enable the first subordinate user to manually add links to the first plurality of links or remove links from the first plurality of links in the first menu, wherein subsequent perception of the first menu reveals a menu that includes added links and excludes removed links, and

enable the second subordinate user to manually add links to the second plurality of links or remove links from the second plurality of links in the second menu, wherein subsequent perception of the second menu reveals a menu that includes added links and excludes removed links.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the first demographic grouping designates the first set of interface controls and designates the first menu related to first content and is configured to enable access to the first content by the first subordinate screen name having the first demographic grouping; and

the second demographic grouping designates the second set of interface controls and designates the second menu related to second content and is configured to enable access to the second content by the second subordinate screen name having the second demographic grouping.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the first menu comprises a first favorites menu and the second menu comprises a second favorites menu.

41. A system for tailoring a user interface to a user, the system comprising:

means for establishing a master screen name for a master user, the master screen name being associated with an account;

means for logging the master user into the account under the master screen name;

means for, while the master user is logged into the account under the master screen name, receiving, from the master user;

a first subordinate screen name for a first subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the first subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name;

instructions to associate the first subordinate screen name with a first demographic grouping from among a list of demographic groupings;

a second subordinate screen name for a second subordinate user that is subordinate to the master user, the second subordinate screen name being associated with the same account as the master screen name and the first subordinate screen name; and

instructions to associate the second subordinate screen name with a second demographic grouping from among the list of demographic groupings;

means for associating the first subordinate screen name with the first demographic grouping;

means for associating the second subordinate screen name with the second demographic grouping;

means for accessing the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name;

means for, based on the first demographic grouping associated with the first subordinate screen name, automatically selecting a first menu and a first set of user interface controls, the first set of user interface controls comprising a common control and a second control, and the first menu containing a first plurality of links selectable to access content from remote sources;

means for accessing the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name;

means for, based on the second demographic grouping associated with the second subordinate screen name, automatically selecting a second menu and a second set of user interface controls, the second set of user interface controls including the common control and not including the second control, and the second menu containing a second plurality of links that is different from the first plurality of links and that is selectable to access content from remote sources;

means for receiving, from the first subordinate user, the first subordinate screen name;

means for, in response to receiving the first subordinate screen name from the first subordinate user, automatically making a first graphical display perceivable to the first subordinate user, the first graphical display including a first toolbar and a control that is user selectable to access the first menu, the first toolbar including the common control and the second control;

means for receiving, from the second subordinate user, the second subordinate screen name; and

means for, in response to receiving the second subordinate screen name from the second subordinate user, automatically making a second graphical display perceivable to the second subordinate user, the second graphical display including a second tool bar and a control that is user selectable to access the second menu, the second toolbar including the common control and not including the second control.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the first menu comprises a first favorites menu and the second menu comprises a second favorites menu.