Customizable graphical user interface for utilizing local and network content

Abstract

A graphical user interface for accessing, managing, organizing and using local and online content from a personal computer. The graphical user interface is divided into several modules, displayed on the display screen of the computer. Some of these modules are categories, which contain links to content online and on the hard drive of the computer. The user can customize these categories and the links within them to suit his or her personal needs, interests, and tastes. One of the modules within the GUI are media players. The user can select content by dragging and dropping a link from the desktop, another application, or a category within the GUI onto the media player. Applications required to access content referred to by links within the categories of the graphical user interface are launched at the time that the GUI is launched. The GUI also contains a search tool for searching content stored on the hard drive of the computer as well as accessing online search engines. The GUI is framed by a skin, which is user-customizable. User changes and behavioral logic are tracked and stored in the form of a user profile. The user profile is used to created tailored communications from selected business partners to the user via the GUI.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.