User-centric widgets and dashboards

• US 9,483,164 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O., Chaudhri, Imran A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALOMON, PHENUEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/579,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5033 considering data affinity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

User-centric widgets and dashboards are automatically modified to reflect a user'"'"'s goals and needs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

searching for dashboards or widgets for a device of a user based on a search query derived without user input by an operating system or application running on the device, the search query derived from a history of user actions and a geographic location of the device;

receiving, through a network interface, the dashboards or widgets resulting from said search;

presenting the dashboards or widgets on a user interface of the device;

receiving a selection of a dashboard or widget from the dashboards or widgets presented on the user interface; and

invoking the selected dashboard or widget on the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the presentation of the dashboard or widget.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating a state of the dashboard or widget.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating functionality of the dashboard or widget.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a model that includes one or more rules that indicate whether or not the user is performing a certain task on the device.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on user preferences associated with the operating system or application.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a profile of a user of the device.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the dashboard or widget further comprises:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a context in which a user of the device is working.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the history of user actions and the geographic location of the device on a network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to invoking the selected dashboard or widget, automatically invoking another dashboard or widget on the device.

12. The method of claim 1, where presenting the dashboards or widgets on the user interface, further comprises enabling a preview of at least one dashboard or widget.

13. The method of claim 1, where invoking the selected dashboard or widget includes launching the dashboard or widget on the device.

14. The method of claim 1, where invoking the selected dashboard or widget includes downloading a dashboard or widget onto the device.

15. The method of claim 1, where the history of user actions and the geographic location of the device is provided by an external device, with which the user is interacting.

16. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory operatively coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

searching for dashboards or widgets for the system based on a search query derived without user input by an operating system or application running on the system, the search query derived from a history of user actions and based on a geographic location of the system;

receiving, through a network interface, the dashboards or widgets resulting from said search;

presenting the dashboards or widgets on a user interface of the system;

receiving a selection of a dashboard or widget from the dashboards or widgets presented on the user interface; and

invoking the selected dashboard or widget on the system.

17. The system of claim 16, where the memory includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation:

responsive to invoking the selected dashboard or widget, automatically invoking another dashboard or widget on the system.

18. The system of claim 16, where the memory includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation:

enabling a preview of a dashboard or widget.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a heuristic model that includes rules, which if complied with, indicate that the user is performing a certain task.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

updating the dashboard or widget based on a profile of a user of the system.

21. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

searching for dashboards or widgets for the device of a user based on a search query derived without user input by an operating system or application running on the device, the search query derived from a history of user actions and a geographic location of the device;

receiving, through a network interface, the dashboards or widgets resulting from said search;

presenting the dashboards or widgets on a user interface of the device;

receiving a selection of a dashboard or widget from the dashboards or widgets presented on the user interface; and

invoking the selected dashboard or widget on the device.