User interface with repeating interactive background elements

Claim 2

A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a desktop having a workspace with a background; wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user.

Claim 3

A user interface according to claim 1 wherein the background further comprises a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 4

A user interface according to claim 2 wherein the background further comprises a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 5

A user interface according to claim 1 further comprising means for changing an appearance of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program.

Claim 6

A user interface according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a plurality of functions associated with the first application program.

Claim 7

A user interface according to claim 1 wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for displaying within the workspace information associated with the first application program.

Claim 8

A user interface according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 9

A user interface according to claim 1 wherein appearance of the graphical elements of the first set are user configurable.

Claim 10

A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a desktop having a workspace with a background; a first window overlying the background within the workspace, the first window having a first application program associated therewith; wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program; and means for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 11

A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a desktop having a workspace with a background; a first window overlying the background within the workspace, the first window having a first application program associated therewith; wherein the background comprises a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program; and means for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 12

A user interface according to claim 9 wherein the background comprises a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 13

A user interface according to claim 9 further comprising a second window overlying the background within the workspace, the second window having a second application program associated therewith, and wherein the background comprises a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 14

A user interface according to claim 11 comprising means for removing the third set of graphical elements from the background when the second window is closed.

Claim 15

A user interface according to claim 11 further comprising means for associating the graphical elements of the first set with a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 16

A user interface according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a plurality of functions associated with the first application program.

Claim 17

A user interface according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 18

A user interface according to claim 9 wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for displaying within the workspace information associated with the first application program.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of providing a desktop workspace background comprises providing a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the second set to perform the second function.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of providing a desktop workspace background comprises providing a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the third set to perform a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 25

A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first or second sets in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 26

A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for dynamically changing appearance and functionality of the graphical elements of the first or second sets in response to changes in status of the first application program, such that when the graphical elements have a first appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with the first application program and such that when the graphical elements have a second appearance, the graphical elements are responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 27

A computer program product according to claim 22 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for providing a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 28

A computer program product according to claim 23 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the second set to perform a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 29

A computer program product according to claim 22 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for providing a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 30

A computer program product according to claim 25 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the third set to perform a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 33

A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for providing a desktop workspace background comprises means for providing a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 34

A system according to claim 28 further comprising means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the second set to perform the second function.

Claim 35

A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for providing a desktop workspace background comprises means for providing a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 36

A system according to claim 30 further comprising means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the third set to perform a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 37

A system according to claim 27 further comprising means for changing an appearance of the graphical elements of the first set in response to a change in status of the first application program.

Claim 38

A system according to claim 27 further comprising means for configuring appearance of the graphical elements of the first set.

Claim 39

A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a desktop having a workspace with a background; and a first set of graphical elements arranged in a first repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and a second set of graphical elements arranged in a second repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the second set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program, wherein the second function has a lower priority relative to a priority of the first function, and wherein the number of graphical elements in the second repeating pattern is less than the number of graphical elements in the first repeating pattern.

Claim 40

A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a desktop having a workspace with a background; and a first set of graphical elements arranged in a first repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; and a second set of graphical elements arranged in a second repeating pattern within the background, wherein each of the graphical elements of the second set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program, wherein the second function has a lower priority relative to a priority of the first function, and wherein the number of graphical elements in the second repeating pattern is less than the number of graphical elements in the first repeating pattern.

Claim 41

A user interface according to claim 34 wherein the background further comprises a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 42

A user interface according to claim 34 further comprising means for changing an appearance of the graphical elements of the first set in response to changes in status of the first application program.

Claim 43

A user interface according to claim 34 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a plurality of functions associated with the first application program.

Claim 44

A user interface according to claim 34 wherein each of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for displaying within the workspace information associated with the first application program.

Claim 45

A user interface according to claim 34 further comprising means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user.

Claim 46

A user interface according to claim 34 wherein at least one of the graphical elements of the first set is responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 47

A user interface according to claim 34 wherein appearance of the graphical elements of the first set are user configurable.

Claim 50

A method according to claim 42 wherein the step of providing a desktop workspace background comprises providing a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 51

A method according to claim 43 further comprising the step of accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the second set to perform the second function.

Claim 52

A method according to claim 42 wherein the step of providing a desktop workspace background comprises providing a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 53

A method according to claim 45 further comprising the step of accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the third set to perform a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 54

A method according to claim 42 further comprising the step of changing an appearance of the graphical elements of the first set in response to a change in status of the first application program.

Claim 55

A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user.

Claim 56

A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising: computer readable program code means for providing a desktop workspace background comprising a first set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the first set responsive to user input for performing a first function associated with a first application program; computer readable program code means for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the first set to perform a first function associated with the first application program; and computer readable program code means for displaying information adjacent a respective graphical element of the first set of graphical elements activated by a user.

Claim 57

A computer program product according to claim 48 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for providing a second set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the second set responsive to user input for performing a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 58

A computer program product according to claim 49 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the second set to perform a second function associated with the first application program.

Claim 59

A computer program product according to claim 48 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for providing a third set of graphical elements arranged in a repeating pattern, each of the graphical elements of the third set responsive to user input for performing a function associated with a second application program.

Claim 60

A computer program product according to claim 51 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for accepting user activation of any one of the graphical elements of the third set to perform a function associated with the second application program.

Claim 61

A computer program product according to claim 48 further comprising computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for changing an appearance of the graphical elements of the first or second sets in response to a change in status of the first application program.