Remote access to layer and user interface elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9507503-B2
Application number	US-201213571241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2012
Priority date	Jun 25, 2004
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of providing a dashboard layer for a user device, the method comprising:
storing at a remote server computer configuration information for a dashboard layer that specifies relative positions of a plurality of different widgets in the dashboard layer on a first device when the dashboard layer was last deactivated on the first device, and wherein:
while the dashboard layer is active on the first device, the dashboard layer is displayed over an operating system user interface of the first device that is inactivated by the presence of the dashboard layer, wherein, while the dashboard layer is active on the first device, events received by the first device for the dashboard layer are routed to widgets in the dashboard layer through a process that manages the dashboard layer on the first device instead of being routed to the operating system user interface; and
when the dashboard layer is deactivated on the first device, the operating system user interface of the first device is reactivated;
receiving, at the remote server computer, a request from a second device to access the dashboard layer associated with the first device;
responsive to receiving the request, accessing at the remote server computer the stored configuration information for the dashboard layer;
generating, at the remote server computer, a web page comprising the dashboard layer associated with the first device based on the stored configuration information that specifies relative positions of the plurality of different widgets in the dashboard layer on the first device; and
providing the web page from the remote server computer to the second device for display on the second device, wherein displaying the web page on the second device causes the plurality of widgets to be displayed on the second device in the same relative position as the plurality of widgets were displayed on the first device when the dashboard layer was last deactivated on the first device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, at the remote server computer, the request from the second user device to access the dashboard layer associated with the first user device comprises:
receiving log in information from the second user device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the web page duplicates the dashboard layer as the dashboard layer would be viewed from the first user device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the widget comprises one selected from the group consisting of:
a calendar widget;
a calculator widget;
a music player widget;
an address book widget;
a notes widget;
a stock quote widget;
a weather widget;
a traffic widget;
a package tracking widget;
a contact manager widget; and
a clock widget.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the widget comprises a first side associated with a functionality of the widget and a second side comprising preferences controls of the widget.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving a request to display the preferences controls of the widget from the second user device, providing an updated webpage to the second user device that displays the second side of the widget;
receiving, at the remote server computer, changes to the preferences controls on the second side of the widget; and
updating, at the remote server computer, the configuration information for the dashboard layer to include the changes to the preferences controls of the widget.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein providing the updated webpage to the second user device comprises providing to the second user device an animation of the widget turning over from the first side to the second side.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the dashboard layer comprises a configuration bar including a plurality of widgets that can be added to the dashboard layer.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, from the second user device, a selection of one of the plurality of widgets included in the configuration bar to add to the dashboard layer; and
updating, at the remote server computer, the configuration information of the dashboard layer to include the selected one of the plurality of widgets responsive to the selection.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer executable code for providing a dashboard layer for a user, the code when executed by a remote server computer performs steps comprising:
storing at a remote server computer configuration information for a dashboard layer that specifies relative positions of a plurality of different widgets in the dashboard layer on a first device when the dashboard layer was last deactivated on the first device, and wherein:
while the dashboard layer is active on the first device, the dashboard layer is displayed over an operating system user interface of the first device that is inactivated by the presence of the dashboard layer, wherein, while the dashboard layer is active on the first device, events received by the first device for the dashboard layer are routed to widgets in the dashboard layer, through a process that manages the dashboard layer on the first device, instead of being routed to the operating system user interface; and
when the dashboard layer is deactivated on the first device, the operating system user interface of the first device is reactivated;

receiving, at the remote server computer, a request from a second device to access the dashboard layer associated with the first device;
responsive to receiving the request, accessing at the remote server computer the stored configuration information for the dashboard layer;
generating, at the remote server computer, a web page comprising the dashboard layer associated with the first device based on the stored configuration information that specifies relative positions of the plurality of different widgets in the dashboard layer on the first device; and
providing the web page from the remote server computer to the second device for display on the second device, wherein displaying the web page on the second device causes the plurality of widgets to be displayed on the second device in the same relative position as the plurality of widgets were displayed on the first device when the dashboard layer was last deactivated on the first device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein receiving, at the remote server computer, the request from the second user device to access the dashboard layer associated with the first user device comprises:
receiving log in information from the second user device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the web page duplicates the dashboard layer as the dashboard layer would be viewed from the first user device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the widget comprises one selected from the group consisting of:
a calendar widget;
a calculator widget;
a music player widget;
an address book widget;
a notes widget;
a stock quote widget;
a weather widget;
a traffic widget;
a package tracking widget;
a contact manager widget; and
a clock widget.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the widget comprises a first side associated with a functionality of the widget and a second side comprising preferences controls of the widget.

15. The non-transitory computer-

Assignees

• Chaudhri Imran A
• Louch John
• Grignon Andrew M
• Christie Gregory N
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Chaudhri Imran A
• Louch John
• Grignon Andrew M
• Christie Gregory N

Classifications

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  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 · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title