User-centric widgets and dashboards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483164-B2
Application number	US-201414579928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2007
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Louch John O
• Chaudhri Imran A

Classifications

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• G06F9/5033

  considering data affinity · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F3/04817 Primary

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title