US7954064B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple dashboards
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 2006-02-01
•
Granted: 2011-05-31
•
Expires: 2026-02-01
Abstract
Abstract Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are disclosed for organizing, managing and presenting widgets in display areas associated with multiple dashboard environments. In some implementations, a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets. A second display area associated with a second dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Forstall
- 👤 Imran A. Chaudhri
- 👤 John O. Louch
- 👤 Eric Steven Peyton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F3/04817; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method, comprising: providing a first dashboard layer including one or more first widgets; providing a second dashboard layer including one or more second widgets, the second dashboard layer being distinct from the first dashboard layer, the first and second dashboard layers each being selectably displayed as an overlay to a desktop user interface; and providing a transition for use when transitioning between the first dashboard layer and the second dashboard layer, wherein the desktop user interface is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop user interface cannot be interacted with while the first or second dashboard layer is displayed, and wherein a visual effect indicates that the desktop user interface is inactivated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method, comprising: providing a first dashboard layer including one or more first widgets; providing a second dashboard layer including one or more second widgets, the second dashboard layer being distinct from the first dashboard layer, the first and second dashboard layers each being selectably displayed as an overlay to a desktop user interface; and providing a transition for use when transitioning between the first dashboard layer and the second dashboard layer, wherein the desktop user interface is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop user interface cannot be interacted with while the first or second dashboard layer is displayed, and wherein a visual effect indicates that the desktop user interface is inactivated.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
121 words
A system comprising: one or more processors configured to perform operations for generating a user interface, the user interface comprising: a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets; and a second display area associated with a second dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets where the first display area and the second display area are distinct layers selectably and independently displayed over a desktop user interface, where display of either the first display area or the second display area includes presenting a visual effect to indicate that visible portions of the desktop user interface are inactive.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
121 words
A system comprising: one or more processors configured to perform operations for generating a user interface, the user interface comprising: a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets; and a second display area associated with a second dashboard environment and configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets where the first display area and the second display area are distinct layers selectably and independently displayed over a desktop user interface, where display of either the first display area or the second display area includes presenting a visual effect to indicate that visible portions of the desktop user interface are inactive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one widget is in the first and second sets of widgets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 2 , further comprising: a transition engine configured for transitioning from the first display area to the second display area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein the transition occurs without closing or hiding the first display area.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from a number of dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from a number of dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein selecting a dashboard environment includes: evaluating the widget to determine a theme associated with the widget; selecting a dashboard environment based on the theme; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the selecting includes receiving a user selection of the dashboard environment for installing the widget.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the selecting includes inferring the dashboard environment to install the widget on.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
93 words
A system, comprising: a processor operable to interact with a user interface to provide: a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the user interface; and a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment, where each dashboard environment includes a layer relative to a desktop and being separately displayable over the desktop and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed and wherein a visual effect indicates that the desktop is inactivated.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A system, comprising: a processor operable to interact with a user interface to provide: a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the user interface; and a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment, where each dashboard environment includes a layer relative to a desktop and being separately displayable over the desktop and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed and wherein a visual effect indicates that the desktop is inactivated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein the second dashboard environment is configured to be invoked from a display area associated with the first dashboard environment.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising: defining a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a desktop user interface; and defining a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment, where each dashboard environment includes a layer relative to a desktop and being separately displayable over the desktop user interface, where display of either the first dashboard environment or the second dashboard environment includes presenting a visual effect to indicate that visible portions of the desktop user interface are inactive.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
82 words
A method comprising: defining a first dashboard environment configured to be invoked from a desktop user interface; and defining a second dashboard environment configured to be invoked from the first dashboard environment, where each dashboard environment includes a layer relative to a desktop and being separately displayable over the desktop user interface, where display of either the first dashboard environment or the second dashboard environment includes presenting a visual effect to indicate that visible portions of the desktop user interface are inactive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising managing a transition between a first display area associated with the first dashboard environment and a second display area associated with the second dashboard environment, including selecting a transition between the two.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer program tangibly embodied on a volatile or non-volatile medium including instructions, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from at least two dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer program tangibly embodied on a volatile or non-volatile medium including instructions, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from at least two dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer program of claim 14 , wherein selecting a dashboard environment includes: evaluating the widget to determine a theme associated with the widget; selecting a dashboard environment based on the theme; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer program of claim 14 , wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the dashboard environment for installing the widget.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program of claim 14 , wherein determining includes inferring the dashboard environment to install the widget on.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for displaying widgets in multiple dashboard environments, comprising: a processor; a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from at least two dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed being separately displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for displaying widgets in multiple dashboard environments, comprising: a processor; a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of: identifying a widget for installation in a dashboard environment; selecting the dashboard environment from at least two dashboard environments, each dashboard environment having a layer relative to a desktop and each configured to be separately or concurrently displayed being separately displayed over the desktop in response to a selection and where the desktop is inactivated such that visible elements on the desktop cannot be interacted with when the selected dashboard environment is displayed; and installing the widget in the selected dashboard environment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4752893A
Cited
US5675362A
Cited
US5379057A
Cited
US5297250A
Cited
US5168441A
Cited
US5671343A
Cited
US5388201A
Cited
US5289574A
Cited
US5657049A
Cited
US5481665A
Cited
US5490246A
Cited
US5588098A
Cited
US5416890A
Cited
US5351995A
Cited
US5883639A
Cited
US5357603A
Cited
US5790120A
Cited
US5602997A
Cited
US5659693A
Cited
US5754174A
Cited
US20020171682A1
Cited
US5651107A
Cited
US5801703A
Cited
US5638501A
Cited
US5764238A
Cited
US6266430B1
Cited
US5522022A
Cited
US5796402A
Cited
US5721848A
Cited
US5564022A
Cited
US6526174B1
Cited
US6031937A
Cited
US5659694A
Cited
US5835693A
Cited
EP0694879B1
Cited
US5564002A
Cited
US5870734A
Cited
US5835692A
Cited
US5933148A
Cited
US5793376A
Cited
US5949409A
Cited
US5537630A
Cited
US5760773A
Cited
US5644739A
Cited
US5877762A
Cited
US5727135A
Cited
US5708764A
Cited
US5742285A
Cited
US5710884A
Cited
US5689664A
Cited
US5900876A
Cited
US5917436A
Cited
US5929852A
Cited
US6344855B1
Cited
US6307574B1
Cited
US5644737A
Cited
US5877741A
Cited
US5731819A
Cited
US5666416A
Cited
US6166748A
Cited
US5809230A
Cited
US5838316A
Cited
US6211890B1
Cited
US6369823B2
Cited
US5878219A
Cited
US6154601A
Cited
US6515682B1
Cited
US6542166B1
Cited
US5764229A
Cited
US6246418B1
Cited
US6045446A
Cited
US6191797B1
Cited
US5920659A
Cited
US6006231A
Cited
US6075543A
Cited
US6544295B1
Cited
US6061695A
Cited
US6195664B1
Cited
US5963191A
Cited
EP0972273B1
Cited
US6144381A
Cited
US6664986B1
Cited
US5903896A
Cited
US6011562A
Cited
US6128010A
Cited
US6259432B1
Cited
US5978579A
Cited
US6313851B1
Cited
US5999948A
Cited
US6005568A
Cited
US6272558B1
Cited
EP0908835A3
Cited
US6275831B1
Cited
US6469714B2
Cited
US20020089526A1
Cited
US6484261B1
Cited
US6278448B1
Cited
US6412021B1
Cited
US6310621B1
Cited
US6266053B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-05-30 | 2014-11-29 | 2015-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-05-30 | 2018-11-29 | 2019-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-05-30 | 2022-11-29 | 2023-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |