Layer for accessing user interface elements
US7490295B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/451
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A user-activatable dashboard 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. 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. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.