System and method for displaying a timeline associated with a plurality of applications

• US 9,304,654 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SpaceTime3D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SpaceTime3D, Inc.
• Inventors: Bakhash, Ezra Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US14/503,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20150128059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 715/782, 715/781, 715/764, 715/788, 715/766, 715/767
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for providing an improved three-dimensional graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises: receiving an input from an end user, and capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end-user input. The computing output can be presented as two or more objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user. In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space. In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing a database for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a timeline associated with a plurality of applications and allowing a user to modify an output of one of said plurality of applications by interacting with said timeline, comprising:

receiving a plurality of inputs from a user, said plurality of inputs comprising at least first, second, and third inputs;

opening said plurality of applications in response to said plurality of inputs, said plurality of applications comprising at least first, second, and third applications, wherein each one of said plurality of applications is configured to (i) generate an object having application-specific data, (ii) display said object on a display device, and (iii) allow said user to modify at least a portion of said application-specific data by interacting with said object; and

displaying on said display device said timeline associated with said plurality of applications, comprising;

generating a plurality of images, said plurality of images comprising at least first, second, and third images, wherein said first image is an image of at least a portion of a first object generated by said first application and having first application-specific data, said second image is an image of at least a portion of a second object generated by said second application and having second application-specific data, and said third image is an image of at least a portion of a third object generated by said third application and having third application-specific data; and

displaying said plurality of images in a three-dimensional space on said display device in an order based on a last time that said user one of (i) opened said first application and interacted with said first object, (ii) opened said second application and interacted with said second object, and (iii) opened said third application and interacted with said third object, such that a first one in said order is displayed in a foreground of said three-dimensional space, a second one in said order is displayed in a background of said three-dimensional space, behind at least said first one in said order, and a third one in said order is displayed in a background of said three-dimensional space, behind at least said second one in said order; and

allowing said user to modify at least a portion of one of said first, second, and third application-specific data, comprising;

receiving a first interaction from said user with one of said plurality of images corresponding to one of said plurality of applications;

replacing said plurality of images within said three-dimensional space with one of said first, second, and third objects corresponding to said one of said plurality of applications within a two-dimensional space in response to said first interaction;

receiving a second interaction by said user with said one of said first, second, and third objects within said two-dimensional space; and

modifying said one of said first, second, and third application-specific data in response to said second interaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images on said display device further comprises displaying said plurality of images together with a plurality of icons, wherein each one of said plurality of images has a corresponding one of said plurality of icons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images on said display device further comprises displaying said plurality of images together with a plurality of descriptions, wherein each one of said plurality of images has a corresponding one of said plurality of descriptions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in a database data linking each one of said plurality of images with a corresponding one of said plurality of applications and a corresponding one of said order in which said plurality of images are displayed on said display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images further comprises displaying said plurality of images one of horizontally and vertically on said display device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a fourth image on said display device, said fourth image being an image of a desktop having at least one other application; and

allowing said user to open said other application, comprising;

receiving a third interaction from said user with said fourth image;

replacing said fourth image with said desktop in response to said third interaction;

receiving a fourth interaction from said user with said other application; and

opening said other application in response to said fourth interaction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third interaction from said user on said display device; and

reordering said order in which said plurality of images are displayed on said display device in response to said third interaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of replacing said plurality of images with one of said first, second, and third objects, further comprises enlarging a size of at least said one of said plurality of images before replacing said one of said plurality of images with said one of said first, second, and third objects, thereby simulating movement of said one of said plurality of images in a z-axis of said display device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of applications comprises a web browser application, and each one of said first, second, and third objects comprises a web browser window.

10. A system for displaying a timeline associated with a plurality of applications and allowing a user to modify an output of one of said plurality of applications by interacting with said timeline, comprising:

a display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor operatively coupled to said display device and said at least one input device; and

a memory device comprising executable code for;

receiving a plurality of inputs from said at least one input device, said plurality of inputs comprising at least first, second, and third inputs;

opening said plurality of applications in response to said plurality of inputs, said plurality of applications comprising at least first, second, and third applications, wherein each one of said plurality of applications is configured to (i) generate an object having application-specific data, (ii) display said object on said display device, and (iii) allow said user to modify at least a portion of said application-specific data by interacting with said object; and

displaying on said display device said timeline associated with said plurality of applications, comprising;

generating a plurality of images, said plurality of images comprising at least first, second, and third images, wherein said first image is an image of at least a portion of a first object generated by said first application and having first application-specific data, said second image is an image of at least a portion of a second object generated by said second application and having second application-specific data, and said third image is an image of at least a portion of a third object generated by said third application and having third application-specific data; and

displaying said plurality of images within a three-dimensional space on said display device in an order based on a last time that said at least one processor received (i) said first input and a last interaction with said first object, (ii) said second input and a last interaction with said second object, and (iii) said third input and a last interaction with said third object, such that a first one in said order is displayed in a foreground of said three-dimensional space, and second and third ones in said order are displayed in a background of said three-dimensional space; and

allowing said user to modify at least a portion of one of said first, second, and third application-specific data, comprising;

receiving a fourth input from said at least one input device, said fourth input interacting with one of said plurality of images corresponding to one of said plurality of applications;

replacing said plurality of images within said three-dimensional space with one of said first, second, and third objects corresponding to said one of said plurality of applications within a two-dimensional space in response to said fourth input;

receiving a fifth input from said at least one input device, said fifth input interacting with said one of said first, second, and third objects within said two-dimensional space; and

modifying said one of said first, second, and third application-specific data in response to said fifth input.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images on said display device further comprises displaying said plurality of images together with a plurality of icons, wherein each one of said plurality of images has a corresponding one of said plurality of icons.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images on said display device further comprises displaying said plurality of images together with a plurality of descriptions on said display device, wherein each one of said plurality of images has a corresponding one of said plurality of descriptions.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said memory device stores data linking each one of said plurality of images with a corresponding one of said plurality of applications and a corresponding one of said order in which said plurality of images are displayed on said display device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said executable code is further configured to:

display a fourth image on said display device, said fourth image being an image of a desktop having at least one other application; and

allow said user to open said other application, said executable code being further configured to;

receive an interaction from said user with said fourth image;

replace said fourth image with said desktop in response to said interaction with said fourth image;

receive an interaction from said user with said other application; and

open said other application in response to said interaction with said other application.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said executable code is further configured to:

receive a third interaction from said user on said display device; and

reorder said order in which said plurality of images are displayed on said display device in response to said third interaction.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of images within said three-dimensional space further comprises displaying said second one in said order behind at least said first one in said order, and displaying said third one in said order behind at least said second one in said order.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said step of replacing said plurality of images with one of said first, second, and third objects, further comprises enlarging a size of at least said one of said plurality of images before replacing said one of said plurality of images with said one of said first, second, and third objects, thereby simulating movement of said one of said plurality of images in a z-axis of said display device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein each one of said plurality of applications comprises a web browser application, and each one of said first, second, and third objects comprises a web browser window.

19. A method for displaying information on a plurality of applications and allowing a user to modify an output of one of said plurality of applications by interacting with said information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of inputs from a user, said plurality of inputs comprising at least first, second, and third inputs;

opening said plurality of applications in response to said plurality of inputs, said plurality of applications comprising at least first, second, and third applications, wherein each one of said plurality of applications is configured to (i) generate an output having application-specific data, (ii) display said output on a display device, and (iii) allow said user to modify at least a portion of said application-specific data by interacting with said output; and

displaying on said display device said information on said plurality of applications, comprising;

generating a plurality of images, said plurality of images comprising at least first, second, and third images, wherein said first image is an image of at least a portion of an output generated by said first application and having first application-specific data, said second image is an image of at least a portion of an output generated by said second application and having second application-specific data, and said third image is an image of at least a portion of an output generated by said third application and having third application-specific data; and

displaying said plurality of images within a three-dimensional space on said display device in an order that said application-specific data associated with each one of said plurality of applications was displayed on said display device, wherein a first one in said order is displayed in a foreground, a second one in said order is displayed in a background behind at least said first one in said order, and a third one in said order is displayed in a background behind at least said second one in said order; and

allowing said user to modify at least a portion of one of said first, second, and third application-specific data, comprising;

receiving a first interaction from said user with one of said plurality of images corresponding to one of said plurality of applications;

replacing said plurality of images within said three-dimensional space with a particular output within a two-dimensional space, said particular output corresponding to said one of said plurality of applications in response to said first interaction;

receiving a second interaction by said user with said particular output within said two-dimensional space; and

modifying said one of said first, second, and third application-specific data in response to said second interaction.