WO2008066736A2

WO2008066736A2 - User interface

Info

Publication number: WO2008066736A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/024248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Negroponte
Original assignee: One Laptop Per Child Association, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-11-22
Filing date: 2007-11-20
Publication date: 2008-06-05
Also published as: WO2008066736A3

Abstract

A method and system for providing a user interface associated with a computational device is provided. The computational device is associated with a user. The method includes providing a plurality of views to the user (Figs. 2A-6). The view from the plurality of views that is provided to the user displays at least one activity. This view can also display one or more logical user groups in a mesh network. The mesh network is a decentralized network that is formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices. Further, the method includes providing one or more bulletin boards to the user, which are contextually associated with one or more views from the plurality of views.

Description

USER INTERFACE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of United States Application Serial Number US 60/860,721 , filed November 22, 2006, titled, 'User Interface' by Walter Bender, et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates, in general, to a user interface for use with a computational device. More specifically, it relates to a simple user interface that can be used by novices as well as children.

A typical user interface displays distinct interface elements such as the desktop, icons, files and folders. A desktop icon is an interface element that is first displayed on the desktop to users of the computational devices. The desktop is a platform for the users through which they can access other interface elements. Various icons are used to represent these interface elements. For example, a file can be accessed by selecting the icon used to represent it. A file includes data that is of interest to the user. All such files are organized into various folders, which can be stored hierarchically.

The user also performs various activities on the computational device, using software applications such as Microsoft Word and MS Paint.

Conventional user interfaces cannot be easily comprehended by novice users, since they cannot relate these interfaces to a real-world scenario. Moreover, it is difficult for them to participate in various activities and thereby collaborate with other users over a network. For example, users need to start separate applications, such as various chat interfaces, to interact with various other users. However, they cannot collaborate with various other users while simultaneously working on other software applications, e.g., MS Word.

In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a user interface with interface elements that can be used in a collaborative environment and that enables users to interact with each other. Such interface elements should be simple and easily understood by novice users.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a user interface that enables a number of users to interact with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a number of users to interact with each other in a decentralized mesh network.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a number of views to a user, the number of views provide different levels of interaction with other users in a network.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bulletin board that is contextually associated with a view from the number of views.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide an user interface that comprises a plurality of views, each view displaying at least one of: an activity and one or more logical user groups in a mesh network, the mesh network being a decentralized network formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices; and one or more bulletin-boards, each bulletin board contextually associated with a view from the plurality of views.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for providing a user interface associated with a computational device. The computational device is associated with a user. The method includes providing a plurality of views to the user, wherein each view displays at least one activity. The view provided to the user can also display one or more logical user groups in a mesh network, which is a decentralized network that is formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices. Further, the method includes providing one or more bulletin boards to the user. These bulletin boards are contextually associated with a view from the plurality of views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the present invention, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of various view levels provided in a user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are screenshots displaying various neighborhood views in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a screenshot displaying a groups view in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a screenshot displaying a home view in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a screenshot displaying an activity view in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a screenshot displaying a pull-down menu in the activity view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a screenshot displaying a frame provided in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of various types of user-interface elements on the frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a screenshot displaying a journal in an expanded form, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1OA and Fig. 1OB are screenshots displaying the journal in a condensed form, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a screenshot displaying the results of a search on the journal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a screenshot displaying the results of an activity-based search on the neighborhood view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a screenshot displaying the results of a keyword-based search on the neighborhood view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14 is a screenshot displaying the results of a group-based search on the neighborhood view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a screenshot displaying the results of an individual-based search on the neighborhood view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a screenshot displaying an option for starting activities with the results of the individual-based search, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a screenshot displaying a bulletin board in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 illustrates an exemplary font used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 illustrates an exemplary toolbox used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 illustrates various examples of toolbars used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a user interface on a display screen of a computational device that is associated with a user viewing the display screen. The computational device is connected to other computational devices that are associated with other users, to form a mesh network. It should be noted that each computational device is connected to all the other computational devices within the mesh network. The computational devices can be, for example, laptops, palmtops, desktops, mobile phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Examples of display screens include, but are not limited to, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors, and plasma screens. The mesh network can be a wireless network, a wired network, or a combination of both. Examples of a mesh network include, but are not limited to, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), and the Internet. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of four view levels provided in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The view levels correspond to the activities of a user viewing a display screen and/or different levels of users within the mesh network. Hereinafter, the user viewing the display screen is referred to as a viewing user. With reference to Fig. 1 , the four view levels are a neighborhood level 102, a groups level 104, a home level 106, and an activity level 108. Neighborhood level 102 provides a view of all the users within the mesh network. Groups level 104 provides a view of users that are indicated by the viewing users as their friends. Home level 106 provides an interface for managing various personal objects of the viewing user and the activities in which the viewing user is participating actively. Activity level 108 provides an interface to the current activities of the viewing user. The viewing user can zoom in and out from one level to another. The details of the various views corresponding to these view levels are provided in conjunction with Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 2A is a screenshot displaying a neighborhood view 200 in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Neighborhood view 200 displays all the users within the mesh network and the activities in which a number of users participate. With reference to Fig. 2A, the users are shown as 'XO' icons clustered around the activities in which they are participating. An XO icon is rendered in a color scheme specified by the user represented by the XO icon. The color scheme can be, for example, colors chosen by the user for the border lines and interior fill of his/her XO icon. Neighborhood view 200 provides a graphical representation of the various activities available in the mesh network and the number of users participating in each activity. However, it should be noted that neighborhood view 200 may be shown in various other ways.

With reference to Fig. 2A, neighborhood view 200 does not provide spatial or geographical information about users and their activities, but displays activities and the number of users participating in each activity, thereby providing a social geography of the users in the mesh network. For example, neighborhood view 200 displays a current browsing activity 202 and a ring 204 of users participating in activity 202. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, neighborhood view 200 provides spatial and/or geographic information about the users. For example, the users in the mesh network can be displayed in an arrangement that is based on their relative spatial position in the mesh network. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the users are sorted on the basis of their interests and other profile information, and accordingly, displayed in neighborhood view 200. For example, users interested in reading can be displayed in the form of a group interested in reading.

When a new activity is launched in neighborhood view 200, the newly launched activity appears in neighborhood view 200 with the participating users clustered around the newly launched activity. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, notifications about the newly launched activity are only sent to users who receive invitations from the user who started the activity. This has been illustrated in conjunction with Fig. 16.

The newly launched activity is rendered in a color scheme specified by the viewing user. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the color scheme of an activity can be the same as the color scheme of the XO icon representing the user who started the activity. Any user within the mesh network can join such an activity.

The viewing user can search for specific activities and users in neighborhood view 200. In addition, the viewing user can join any non-private activity available in the mesh network. Non-private activities are activities in which one or more users can participate in the mesh network.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2B displays a neighborhood view 200, where a number of users co-exist. Further, Fig. 2B displays a first user that adds a second user (named Curley) present within neighborhood view 200. Thereafter, the second user (named Curley) is displayed in a groups view associated with the first user. The groups view is explained in detail in conjunction with Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a screenshot displaying a groups view 300 in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Groups view 300 displays the friends of the viewing user, who adds or removes friends from groups view 300. Further, the viewing user organizes his/her friends into logical groups, wherein the logical groups include a subset of the users in the mesh network. For example, the viewing user groups together one or more of his/her friends, who are interested in a drawing activity 304 in a logical group.

When an activity is launched in groups view 300, all the friends of the viewing user receive an explicit invitation. Additionally, groups view 300 displays the activities in which the viewing user's friends participate, and provide an option to the viewing user to join these activities. With reference to Fig. 3, groups view 300 displays a friend 302 engaged in a drawing activity 304.

The viewing user can hold a cursor 310 on a friend's XO icon, to see his/her status. In Fig. 3, when cursor 310 hovers over a friend's XO icon 306, the name of the friend e.g. "Eben" and a status message 308, e.g., 'out for lunch', is displayed.

Fig. 4 is a screenshot displaying a home view 400 in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Home view 400 displays an XO icon 402, which represents the viewing user. XO icon 402 is rendered in the color scheme specified by the viewing user. The viewing user is represented by an XO icon in the same color scheme in all the other views. XO icon 402 is surrounded by an activity ring 408, in which the viewing user's current activities are displayed. These current activities include the activities in which the viewing user participates at that particular time.

With reference to Fig. 4, activity ring 408 includes an active drawing activity 404 (shown e.g by a different colored segment of activity ring 408) , a non-active writing activity 406a, and a non-active browsing activity 406b. An active activity is an activity in which the viewing user actively participates. Non-active activities are those in which the viewing user participates though the viewing user may not be actively involved at that particular time. In Fig. 4, a fraction of area of activity ring 408 occupied by an activity represents the fraction of the total memory consumed by that activity to operate. This provides information about the status of the memory in a graphical format, which helps viewing users to manage their resources. The viewing users manage their activities from home view 400. For example, they can start new private activities, end their current activities, and switch between their current activities from home view 400. (Only the viewing user participates in private activities.)

Fig. 5 is a screenshot displaying an activity view 500 in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Activities can be either private or non-private. Non-private activities are activities in which one or more users from the mesh network participate. In Fig. 5, activity view 500 displays an active drawing activity 502 in which the viewing user is making a drawing. Activity view 500 also displays a menu bar 504, which provides various options, related to drawing activity 502, to the viewing user. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is no multitasking in the user interface, i.e., no two activities can be opened at the same time. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the user interface can enable multitasking of activities, i.e., more than one activity can be opened at the same time.

Fig. 6 is a screenshot displaying a pull-down menu 604 for drawing activity 502, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When the viewing user selects a color button 602, pull-down menu 604 is overlaid on drawing activity 502. Pull-down menu 604 provides an option to select a color for drawing activity 502.

As mentioned earlier, the viewing user can zoom in and out from one view to another. The user interface includes a frame, which provides access to various views, users, objects and activities, to facilitate this process.

Fig. 7 is a screenshot displaying a frame 702, which is overlaid on home view 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Frame 702 provides various user-interface elements for quick access to controls that are common to all view levels. Frame 702 is present on the periphery of the display screen. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, frame 702 is common to all the views and is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

In Fig. 7, the user-interface elements include four view level controls, shown as a neighborhood-view control 714a, a groups-view control 714b, a home-view control 714c, and an activity-view control 714d. Home-view control 714c is highlighted, since the current view is home view 400. User-interface elements also include a search interface 704, user-view controls 706a-706e, a bulletin-board control 708, activity controls 710a, 710b and 71Od, object-view controls 712a-712d, and an invitation-and-notification control 710c. Search interface 704 provides an option to perform a search on the current view. Details of the search functionality have been provided in conjunction with Figs. 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. User-view controls 706a-706e provide an option to the viewing user to interact with other users participating in the viewing user's active activity. If the viewing user has started an activity with users corresponding to user-view controls 706a-706e, only the XO icons of those users are shown, who have accepted the invitation for the activity. Activity controls 710a, 710b and 71Od provide an option to start new activities. Invitation- and-notification control 710c provides an interface through which viewing users can manage invitations and/or notifications that they receive. Viewing users receive notifications, for example, low battery-power alerts and explicit invitations, when their friends start an activity. Object-view controls 712a-712d provide an option to viewing users to find objects they have made while participating in various activities. Bulletin- board control 708 provides an option for overlaying a bulletin board over the current view level. The details of the bulletin board have been provided in conjunction with Fig. 17.

Frame 702 disappears when it is not in use and can be activated and viewed either by dedicated keyboard shortcuts or by using cursor 310. Frame 702 is retracted from the display once the task for which it has been activated is completed. Frame 702 can be activated by moving cursor 310 to one of the four corners of the display screen. Frame 702 can also be activated by holding cursor 310 on one of the four edges of the display screen for a predefined period of time, which can either be system-defined or user-defined. In addition, frame 702 is activated by a dedicated function key on a keyboard and is switched 'on' and 'off' by pressing the function key momentarily, wherein the function key acts in a toggle mode. Alternatively, frame 702 can be activated by pressing and holding the function key until the function key is released. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a forgiveness parameter prevents unintentional retraction of frame 702. The forgiveness parameter is a predefined period for which frame 702 waits before retracting when cursor 310 moves out of frame 702. The predefined forgiveness duration can be either system- or user-defined. Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of various types of user-interface elements on frame 702, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User-interface elements on frame 702 are organized such that an edge 802 includes the view level controls, search interface 704 and bulletin board control 708 (shown in Fig. 7); an edge 804 includes user-view controls 706a-706e (shown in Fig. 7); an edge 806 includes activity controls 710a, 710b and 71Od and invitations-and- notifications control 710c (shown in Fig. 7); and an edge 808 includes object-view controls 712a-712d (shown in Fig. 7). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, frame 702 has a view source icon, which is used to view the software code corresponding to the current display.

The user interface also provides a journal to manage information on various activities and objects. Fig. 9 is a screenshot displaying a journal 900 in an expanded form, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Journal 900 provides a list of activities in which the viewing user has participated in the past or is participating actively. This includes information about the activities and the objects formed as a result of the activities. The viewing user can access the objects from journal 900. In journal 900, the activities and objects are displayed in a chronological order. The viewing user can browse through the list of activities and objects by using a slider 904, which corresponds to a logarithmic scale in time, i.e., less detail is shown for activities performed earlier.

Journal 900 also maintains profile information pertaining to viewing users, such as their interests and other personal information. Journal 900 contains information entered by viewing users, as well as information that is automatically created by their participation in a particular activity.

With reference to Fig. 9, journal 900 provides activity information 902 corresponding to a drawing activity, which is provided in the form of various entries. An entry 902a displays the time at which the drawing activity was performed; an entry 902b displays the title of the activity; an entry 902c displays the description of the activity; an entry 902d displays the names (e.g. by way of XO icons) of users who participated in that activity; an entry 906 displays the chat history of the users; and an entry 908 provides an option to viewing users to add a comment on the activity. Fig. 1OA is a screenshot displaying journal 900 in a condensed form, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For a particular activity, the type and title of activity, the time when it was performed, and a list of users who participated in the activity are displayed in condensed form. For example, an entry 1002 provides information about the same drawing activity (shown in Fig. 9) as activity information 902. Slider 904 can be used to browse through the list of activities in journal 900.

Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, journal 900 can be represented in a different format as represented in Fig. 10B. Further, Fig. 10B also displays an entry against a downloaded file named implode-1.xo. The file can be launched by resuming the activity of downloading the file named implode-1.xo. This use of journal further eliminates the concept of open or close for various activities.

Journal 900 can be searched, based on various parameters. The search can be, for example, keyword-, individual-, group-, activity-,or interest-based.

Fig. 11 is a screenshot displaying the results of a search on journal 900 in chronological order. The viewing user can browse through the search results by using slider 904. A search can also be performed in neighborhood view 200, based on various parameters, for example, a keyword, a group, an activity, and profile information. Examples of various searches have been provided in conjunction with Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Fig. 12 is a screenshot displaying the results of an activity-based search in neighborhood view 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A highlighted neighborhood-view control 1208 indicates that the search was performed in neighborhood view 200. In Fig. 12, a search query 1206, entered in search interface 704, represents a search for users participating in any drawing activity. The results of the search include users and/or activities that satisfy the search criteria. Only those users and/or activities are highlighted, i.e., shown in their respective color schemes, which satisfy the search criteria. With reference to Fig. 12, search query 1206 result in two activities corresponding to rings 1204a and 1204b. Drawing activities 1202a and 1202b are displayed with rings 1204a and 1204b of the participating users, respectively. Fig. 13 is a screenshot displaying the results of a keyword-based search on neighborhood view 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A search query 1302 represents a search for users, who are interested in reading. The search results include users whose names (e.g. by way of their XO icons) are highlighted.

Fig. 14 is a screenshot displaying the results of a group-based search on neighborhood view 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A search query 1402 represents a search for users, who belong to the same class as the viewing user. Such group-based searches use the logical grouping of various users made by the viewing user. The search results include the names of users that are highlighted.

Fig. 15 is a screenshot displaying the results of an individual-based search on neighborhood view 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, search query 1502 represents a search for users, whose names (e.g. by way of XO icons) are either Christian or Lisa. The search results include users 1504a and 1504b and are highlighted.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the search results can be used to start an activity with users, who satisfy the search criteria. Fig. 16 is a screenshot displaying an option for starting a browsing activity 1602 with users 1504a and 1504b. As mentioned earlier, a notification is sent to users 1504a and 1504b when browsing activity 1602 is initiated.

Fig. 17 is a screenshot displaying a bulletin board that is overlaid on activity view 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The bulletin board provides a means for sharing objects and communicating with other users in the mesh network and includes a clipboard and a chat interface. The clipboard includes one or more clipboard bubbles, while the chat interface includes one or more chat bubbles. The chat interface is used for communicating with other users in the mesh network. The clipboard bubbles and the chat bubbles will hereinafter be collectively referred to as elements of the bulletin board. The bulletin board is displayed in a full-screen mode and is overlaid on activity view 500 by clicking bulletin board-control 708. The bulletin board disappears when the viewing user re- clicks bulletin board-control 708.

With reference to Fig. 17, activity view 500 displays drawing activity 502 in which the viewing user makes a drawing. A chat bubble 1702 displays a message sent by one of the participating users to communicate with other participating users of drawing activity 502. A clipboard bubble 1704 is used to share objects with other participating users of drawing activity 502. The borders of chat bubble 1702 and clipboard bubble 1704 have the same color scheme as that of the user who opened them. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, chat bubble 1702 and clipboard bubble 1704 can be positioned freely on the display screen.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each view has its own bulletin board and each activity a corresponding bulletin board that provides an option for communicating and sharing objects with participating users of the activity. The elements of the bulletin board are positioned on the display screen in a spatially contextual manner, i.e., an element that overlays a specific view or part of an activity corresponds to that view or that part of the activity. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the elements of the bulletin board posted on home view 400 can be accessed only by the viewing user. Further, the elements of the bulletin board posted on groups view 300 can be accessed only by the friends of the viewing user, while the elements of the bulletin board posted on neighborhood view 200 can be accessed by all the users in the mesh network.

With reference to Fig. 17, chat bubble 1702 displays the message sent by a participating user talking about drawing birds in the sky, while chat bubble 1706 displays a message sent by another participating user talking about drawing various sea creatures such as a fish in the ocean. In another scenario, a participating user can explain the features of a particular user-interface element to another participating user. In yet another scenario such as in a story-writing activity, a participating user can point out spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in a story that is written by another participating user through the bulletin board that overlays the story-writing activity.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a clipboard in home view 400 provides an option for temporary storage of objects and activities. For example, the viewing users can store their favorite photographs and games in the clipboard in home view 400. In addition, chat bubbles provide an option to viewing users to make notes and set reminders for their personal use in home view 400.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a clipboard provides an option for sharing various objects with other users in the mesh network. For example, users can post photographs they want to share with their friends and other users in the mesh network on groups view 300 and neighborhood view 200 respectively.

A clipboard of an activity can also be used by participating users to share objects that are relevant to the activity. For example, in Fig. 17, a participating user posts a photograph of a fish in clipboard bubble 1704. Similarly, other participating users can post different photographs of fish on different clipboard bubbles. The participating users can then collaborate and select one of the photographs, to use in the activity. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, objects that are not supported by the activity can also be shared by using the clipboard. For example, participating users can share a song that a drawing activity does not support. In this way, the clipboard provides an option to collect research and supporting material that is relevant to the task at hand in a particular activity.

Fig. 18 illustrates an exemplary font that is used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The specifications of the font include an ascender height 1802 of 13 pixels, an 'x' height 1804 of 11 pixels, and a descender height 1806 of 5 pixels.

The colors of the user interface are chosen such that the achromatic contrast is large and the chromatic energy is low. Therefore, an achromatic contrast of at least two Munsell values is maintained. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a Munsell value of N2.5 is set for frame 702 and a Munsell value of N9 is set for the background. Therefore, to maintain a contrast, the Munsell values of the border line of the XO icons, shown in frame 702, and the background, i.e., all the four views, are set in the range N5 to N7. Consequently, the Munsell value of the interior fill of the XO icons is set in a range that is either less than N3 or greater than N7.

Fig. 19 illustrates an exemplary toolbox 1900 that is used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Toolbox 1900 is associated with an activity and comprises at least one toolbar 1902 with a set of controls, which corresponds to various actions that can be performed by the viewing user. For example, an activity known as 'Write' can have a toolbox containing various toolbars such as 'Edit', Text' and 'Image', which can contain specific controls for general editing, editing text and editing images, respectively.

The set of controls contained in toolbar 1902 are based on the context of the toolbar. For example, the Text toolbar that is part of Write activity's toolbox have controls that specifically help viewing users to edit the selected text, make changes to the font type and change the font size. Further, toolbar 1902 can be displayed in the toolbox by selecting a tab 1904 associated with toolbar 1902. In an embodiment, toolbar 1902 is automatically displayed when a relevant object is selected by the viewing user in the activity view. Furthermore, if the viewing user selects multiple types of objects, such as an image and a portion of the text, a more general toolbar is displayed. For example, when a user selects a portion of the text in the activity view, the Text toolbar is automatically displayed in the toolbox. The Edit toolbar is displayed in the toolbox if the user selects an image and a portion of the text in the activity view.

Fig. 20 illustrates various examples of toolbars used in the user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Toolbox 1900 can contain various toolbars, depending on the activity, but each activity must have an activity toolbar. The activity toolbar enables the viewing user to control naming and tagging of the activity, the set preferences related to the activity, share the activity within the mesh or close the activity, etc. Apart from the activity toolbar, a toolbox can have an Edit toolbar 2002. Edit toolbar 2002 has general controls that can be applied to a variety of objects in the activity view, e.g., copying, pasting and undoing/redoing. Further, Edit toolbar 2002 has a control called 'Find', to search for a text in the activity view.

Toolbox 1900 contains a Text toolbar 2004, which has controls for editing the text in the activity view. The controls in Text toolbar 2004 control can make the text bold, italicize or underline it. Further, the controls can be used to change the font type or the font size of the selected text. Moreover, the text color can be changed by using one of the controls in text toolbar 2004.

Another toolbar that toolbox 1900 contains is an Image toolbar 2006. Image toolbar 2006 has controls for inserting an image in the activity view. Controls for changing the height and width of the inserted image, or any other image selected in the activity view, are a part of the controls contained in Image toolbar 2006. Further, the selected image can be rotated to the left or right by using the controls available in Image toolbar 2006. More custom controls for editing images can also be added to Image toolbar 2006.

Yet another toolbar that toolbox 1900 contains is a View toolbar 2008 that has controls for controlling the overall look and feel of the activity view. Controls that are a part of view toolbar 2008 enable viewing users to zoom in or out of the activity view, so that the details can be enlarged according to their needs. Further, view toolbar 2008 contains controls that enable various markers such as rulers and grids to be made visible or invisible, according to the requirements of the viewing users. The viewing users are provided with controls that can hide toolbox 1900 when it is not in use. Moreover, more custom controls for controlling the look and feel of the activity view can be added to view toolbar 2008.

Toolbox 1900 can also contain a custom toolbar 2010, which contains controls that are customized for the specific activity for which the toolbar is provided in toolbox 1900.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a simple user interface that can be used by a novice or a child. This user interface enables a user to communicate with other users within a mesh network, thereby promoting the concept of learning and collaborating.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface does not provide multitasking of activities in activity view 500, i.e., only one activity can be opened at a time. This helps users to focus on one activity at a time. Activity ring 408 in home view 400 provides a graphical representation of memory usage, enabling viewing users to manage their activities and memory.

Neighborhood view 200 provides a visual representation of the social geography of all the users in the mesh network, as well as a visual representation of the popularity of a particular activity.

In home view 400, the bulletin board provides an option for storing objects, which need to be retrieved easily, while eliminating the need to store all objects. In neighborhood view 200 and groups view 300, the bulletin board provides an option for communicating and collecting relevant material for an activity or particular view, which, in turn, enables an efficient way of collaborating and working in the mesh network. The bulletin board also provides an option for sharing various types of objects in the mesh network. Moreover, the elements of the bulletin board can be positioned on the display screen in a spatially contextual manner.

The user interface, as described in the present invention, or any of its components, may be embodied in the form of a computer system. Typical examples of a computer system include a general-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integrated circuit element, and other devices or arrangements of devices that are capable of implementing the steps that constitute the method of the present invention.

The computer system comprises a computer, an input device, a display unit and the Internet. The computer comprises a microprocessor, which is connected to a communication bus. The computer also includes a memory, which may be a Random Access Memory (RAM) or a Read Only Memory (ROM). The computer system also comprises a storage device, which may be a hard-disk drive or a removable storage drive such as a floppy disk drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The storage device may be other similar means for loading computer programs or other instructions into the computer system. The computer system includes a communication unit that enables the computer to connect to other databases and the Internet through an Input/Output (I/O) interface, thereby facilitating the transfer and reception of data from other databases. The communication unit may include a modem, an Ethernet card or any other similar device, which enables the computer system to connect to databases and networks such as a LAN, a MAN, a WAN, and the Internet. The computer system enables inputs from a user through an input device that is accessible to the system through an I/O interface.

The computer system executes a set of instructions that are stored in one or more storage elements, to process input data. These storage elements may hold data or other information, as desired, and may be in the form of an information source or a physical memory element present in the processing machine.

The programmable instructions may include various commands that instruct the processing machine to perform specific tasks such as the steps that constitute the method of the present invention. The method and systems described can also be implemented by using only software programming or hardware, or by a varying combination of the two techniques. The present invention is independent of the programming language used in the operating system of the computers. The instructions for the present invention can be written in all programming languages, including but not limited to ¹C, 'C++', 'Visual C++' and 'Visual Basic'. Further, the software may be in the form of a collection of separate programs, a program module with a larger program, or a portion of a program module, as in the present invention. The software may also include modular programming in the form of object-oriented programming. Processing of input data by the processing machine may be in response to users' commands, the result of previous processing, or a request made by another processing machine. The present invention can be implemented in all operating systems and platforms, including but not limited to, 'Unix', 'DOS' and 'Linux'.

The programmable instructions can be stored and transmitted on computer- readable media and transmitted as data signals via a carrier wave. The present invention can also be embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer- readable medium, the computer program product being capable of implementing the above-mentioned methods and systems, or the numerous possible variations thereof.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface associated with a computational device, the computational device associated with a user, the user interface comprising: a plurality of views, each view displaying at least one of: an activity and one or more logical user groups in a mesh network, the mesh network being a decentralized network formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices; and one or more bulletin-boards, each bulletin board being contextually associated with a view from the plurality of views.

2. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of views comprise one or more of: a neighborhood view, the neighborhood view displaying users in the mesh network; a groups view, the groups view displaying one or more groups related to the user associated with the computational device, wherein the one or more groups include a subset of the users in the mesh network; a home view, the home view displaying an icon representing the user and an activity ring around the icon, the activity ring displaying one or more activities in which the user is participating; and an activity view, the activity view displaying one or more active activities, each active activity being an activity in which the user is actively participating.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein a user in the neighborhood view is displayed along with the one or more activities in the user participates.

4. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the icon representing the user is displayed in a color scheme specified by the user.

5. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the activity view comprises a toolbox, the toolbox comprising one or more tabs, each tab activating a toolbar, the toolbar providing access to one or more controls, wherein the toolbar comprises one or more elements for : controlling the activity associated with the toolbox; general editing within the activity view; editing text within the activity view; editing one or more image within activity view; controlling the activity view; and providing one or more controls for a particular set of actions as desired within the activity view.

6. The user interface of claim 2, wherein a fraction of area occupied by an activity in the activity ring represents fraction of total memory consumed by the activity.

7. The user interface of claim 2, wherein each activity from the one or more activities is classified as one of: a private activity and a non-private activity, the private activity is allowed to the user associated with the computational device, and the non-private activity is allowed to a plurality of users in the mesh network, the plurality of users being a sub-set of the users in the mesh network.

8. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bulletin boards comprise one or more of: a chat interface, the chat interface being used for communicating with one or more users in the mesh network; and a clipboard, the clipboard being used for sharing data among the one or more users in the mesh network.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the chat interface comprises one or more chat bubbles, each chat bubble comprising at least one of: one or more text messages, and one or more voice messages, wherein the one or more chat bubbles are positioned in a spatially-contextual manner on a display screen associated with the computational device.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein each chat bubble is displayed in a color scheme specified by the user associated with the computational device.

11. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the clipboard comprises one or more clipboard bubbles, the one or more clipboard bubbles being positioned in a spatially-contextual manner on a display screen associated with the computational device, and the one or more clipboard bubbles being used for posting data to be shared among the one or more users in the mesh network.

12. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein each clipboard bubble is displayed in a color scheme specified by the user associated with the computational device.

13. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a frame, the frame comprising one or more user-interface elements associated with one or more controls, a user-interface element from the one or more user-interface elements providing access to a control from the one or more controls, wherein the one or more user- interface elements comprise: one or more view controls, the one or more view controls being used for switching between the plurality of views; one or more object-view controls, the one or more object-view controls being used for viewing the one or more objects posted on a clipboard; one or more user-view controls, the one or more user-view controls being used for displaying one or more users participating in an active activity, wherein the active activity is an activity in which the user associated with the computational device is actively participating; one or more activity controls, the one or more activity controls being used for starting one or more activities; one or more invitation-and-notification controls, the one or more invitation- and-notification controls being used for displaying one or more invitations and notifications received by the user associated with the computational device; and one or more bulletin-board overlay controls, the one or more bulletin-board overlay controls being used for overlaying at least one of one or more chat and clipboard bubbles on a current view, wherein the frame is displayed at the periphery of a display screen associated with the computational device, the frame being common to the plurality of views.

14. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a journal, the journal providing information about the user associated with the computational device, the information comprising at least one of: profile of the user, and a list of activities in which the user participates, wherein the list of activities is displayed in a chronological order.

15. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a search interface, the search interface being contextually related to the plurality of views, the search interface being used for performing at least one of: an activity-based search, a group- based search, a keyword-based search, an individual-based search, and a journal search.

16. The user interface of claim 2 further comprising a search interface, the search interface being contextually related to the plurality of views, the search interface being used for performing at least one of: an activity-based search, a group- based search, a keyword-based search, an individual-based search, and a journal search.

17. A method for providing a user interface associated with a computational device, the computational device associated with a user, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of views, each view displaying at least one of: an activity, and one or more logical user groups in a mesh network, the mesh network being a decentralized network formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices; and providing one or more bulletin-boards, each bulletin board contextually associated with a view from the plurality of views.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing the plurality of views comprises one or more steps of: providing a neighborhood view, the neighborhood view displaying users in the mesh network; providing a groups view, the groups view displaying one or more groups related to the user associated with the computational device, wherein the one or more groups include a subset of the users in the mesh network; providing a home view , the home view displaying an icon representing the user and an activity ring around the icon displaying one or more activities in which the user is participating; and providing an activity view, the activity view displaying one or more active activities, each active activity being an activity in which the user is actively participating.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer executable program code means embodied in the computer usable medium for providing a user interface associated with a computational device, the computational device associated with a user, the computer executable program code means providing: a plurality of views, each view displaying at least one of: an activity, and one or more logical user groups in a mesh network, the mesh network being a decentralized network formed by interconnecting a plurality of computational devices; and one or more bulletin-boards, each bulletin board contextually associated with a view from the plurality of views, the one or more bulletin boards being used for communicating with one or more users and sharing one or more objects with the one or more users in the mesh network, each bulletin board from the one or more bulletin boards comprising a chat interface and a clipboard.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the plurality of views comprise one or more of: a neighborhood view, the neighborhood view displaying users in the mesh network, wherein a user is displayed with one or more activities in which the user is actively participating; a groups view, the groups view displaying one or more groups related to the user associated with the computational device, wherein the one or more groups include a subset of the users in the mesh network; a home view, the home view displaying an icon representing the user and an activity ring around the icon displaying one or more activities in which the user is participating; and an activity view, the activity view displaying one or more active activities, each active activity being an activity in which the user is actively participating.