Unified interest layer for user interface

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a unified interest layer, comprising:

• detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;
• and
• responsive to the first trigger event:
• temporarily inactivating the user interface;
• and
• displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements.

A method for displaying a user interface element representing a clock, comprising:

• determining a current time at a specified location;
• responsive to the determined time, selecting a background color from at least two colors;
• displaying the selected background color;
• and
• displaying a representation of the current time at the location.

A method for authoring a layer element for use in a unified interest layer in a computer system, the method comprising:

• authoring a layer element to be used in a computer system including:
• a user interface;
• and
• a unified interest layer that detects a first trigger event for activating the unified interest layer, and, responsive to the first trigger event, temporarily inactivates the user interface and displays the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• installing the layer element;
• and
• making the layer element available for use.

A method for editing a layer element for use in a unified interest layer in a computer system, the method comprising:

• editing a layer element to be used in a computer system including:
• a user interface;
• and
• a unified interest layer that detects a first trigger event for activating the unified interest layer, and, responsive to the first trigger event, temporarily inactivates the user interface and displays the unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• installing the edited layer element;
• and
• making the edited layer element available for use.

A method for displaying a rollover close control for a user interface element on a display screen, the user interface element comprising an active region, the method comprising:

• displaying the user interface element;
• responsive to an onscreen cursor being placed over the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, displaying a close control;
• responsive to an onscreen cursor being moved off the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, removing the close control;
• responsive to the close control being activated, dismissing the user interface element.

A method for displaying a preferences control for a first user interface element on a display screen, the user interface element comprising an active region, the method comprising:

• displaying the user interface element;
• responsive to an onscreen cursor being placed over the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, displaying a preferences control;
• responsive to an onscreen cursor being moved off the active region for at least a predetermined period of time, removing the preferences control;
• responsive to the preferences control being activated, displaying at least one user interface element for specifying preferences.

A method for displaying an animation to represent placement of a user interface element at a location on a screen, the method comprising:

• receiving user input moving a user interface element to a location on a screen;
• receiving user input dropping the user interface element at the location;
• displaying an animation resembling a ripple effect;
• and
• displaying the user interface element at the location.

A method for dismissing a user interface element, comprising:

• displaying the user interface element on a display screen;
• receiving user input, via an on-screen control, indicating that the user interface element should be dismissed;
• displaying an animation representing the user interface element being sucked into the on-screen control;
• and
• removing the user interface element from the display screen.

A method for dismissing a user interface element, comprising:

• displaying the user interface element on a display screen;
• receiving user input, via an on-screen control, indicating that the user interface element should be dismissed;
• displaying an animation representing the user interface element being sucked into a configuration bar;
• and
• removing the user interface element from the display screen.

A method for displaying a user interface element representing a calculator, comprising:

• displaying a calculator element, comprising a numeric display, a plurality of numeric keys, and a plurality of operator keys;
• responsive to user input representing a click action within the calculator element, changing a visual characteristic of the numeric display to a first state to indicate that the calculator is active;
• and
• responsive to user input representing a click action outside the calculator element, changing the visual characteristic of the numeric display to a second state to indicate that the calculator is not active.

A method for displaying a user interface element representing a calculator, comprising:

• displaying a calculator element, comprising a numeric display, a plurality of numeric keys, and a plurality of operator keys;
• responsive to user input representing a click action within a first operator key, highlighting the first operator key;
• and
• responsive to user input representing a click action within a key other than the first operator key, restoring the first operator key to a non-highlighted state.

A computer program product for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• and
• computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:
• detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;
• responsive to the first trigger event:
• temporarily inactivating the user interface;
• and
• displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;

A system for presenting a unified interest layer in a computer system including a display screen, the system comprising:

• an input device for detecting a first trigger event for activating a unified interest layer;
• a processor, for processing user input received from the user input device;
• and
• a display screen, coupled to the processor and comprising an area displaying a user interface, the display screen for, responsive to the first trigger event:
• temporarily inactivating the user interface;
• and
• displaying, in the area of the display screen, a unified interest layer comprising a plurality of layer elements;