Layer For Accessing User Interface Elements

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, comprising:

• responsive to a trigger event, activating a user-activatable dashboard layer in the area displaying the user interface such that the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user, the layer occupying a portion of the user interface, thereby providing access to a group of widgets contained by the user-activatable dashboard layer, wherein at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• and
• wherein a first application comprises a first widget of the group and a second application comprises a second widget of the group.

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, comprising:

• responsive to a trigger event, activating a user-activatable dashboard layer in the area displaying the user interface such that the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user, wherein the user-activatable dashboard layer functions as an area for placement of widgets;
• wherein the widgets contained by the user-activatable dashboard layer are accessible as a group upon activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• wherein at least one of the widgets in the group was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• and
• wherein each widget is associated with a functionality performed by the widget.

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface with an existing user interface display, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, comprising:

• responsive to a trigger event, activating a user-activatable dashboard layer in the area displaying the user interface such that the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user, thereby providing access to a group of widgets contained by the user-activatable dashboard layer, wherein at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• wherein the user-activatable dashboard layer at least partially obscures the existing user interface display;
• and
• wherein a first application comprises a first widget of the group and a second application comprises a second widget of the group.

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface with an existing user interface display, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, comprising:

• responsive to a trigger event, activating a user-activatable dashboard layer in the area displaying the user interface such that the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user, thereby providing access to a group of widgets contained by the user-activatable dashboard layer, wherein at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• wherein the user-activatable dashboard layer overlays the existing user interface display;
• and
• wherein a first application comprises a first widget of the group and a second application comprises a second widget of the group.

A computer readable memory storing a computer program executable by a processor, the computer program producing a user interface, the user interface comprising:

• a user-activatable dashboard layer configured for placement of widgets;
• a group of widgets, the group contained by the user-activatable dashboard layer and accessible upon activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer, wherein the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user upon activation, wherein at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the user-activatable dashboard layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• and
• wherein a single application does not comprise all widgets in the group.

In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a method for presenting a user-activatable dashboard layer, comprising:

• responsive to a trigger event, activating a user-activatable dashboard layer in the area displaying the user interface such that the dashboard layer becomes visible to the user, thereby providing access to a group of widgets contained by the layer, wherein at least one of the widgets in the group of widgets was not visible on the display screen prior to activation of the layer;
• wherein each widget in the group of widgets is a separate process executing regardless of whether the dashboard layer is visible to the user;
• and
• wherein at least one of the group of is associated with a fully functional application.