Network user database for a sidebar

Abstract

Sidebars group a plurality of Internet and other services in one easily accessible location on the desktop. In one embodiment, a user's sidebar preferences, such as, for example, the types of applications modules that populate their sidebar are stored by an Internet content provider on a network server. A user can access their personal sidebar preferences from any computer with an Internet connection. In addition, in one embodiment, application module information loaded into the application modules is also stored on a server, thus changes made in a sidebar are reflected in their “full service” counterpart applications.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The drawing figures are not to scale, are merely illustrative, and like reference numerals depict like elements throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a desktop comprising a sidebar implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sign in slidesheet implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an instant message application module in a sidebar implemented according to one embodiment of the invention displaying a full open state.

FIG. 4 illustrates an instant message application module in a sidebar implemented according to one embodiment of the invention displaying a preferred open state.

FIG. 5 illustrates an email application module in a sidebar implemented according to one embodiment of the invention displaying a preferred open state.

FIG. 6 illustrates an editable slidesheet implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a targeted advertisement in a sidebar and a targeted advertisement in a slidesheet implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates application modules implemented according to one embodiment of the invention, the application modules comprising a whole number of items.

FIG. 9 illustrates an email application module implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an email “compose” slidesheet implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a community activity updating application module implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a photo application module implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a slidesheet comprising easily accessible sharing buttons displayed on the same slidesheet as shareable media.

FIG. 14 illustrates a system implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a sidebar-building method implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method for displaying an application module in a sidebar based on a display state of the application module.

FIG. 17 illustrates an application module information updating method implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a targeted advertisement selection method implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method for displaying a whole number of items in application modules of a sidebar.

FIG. 20 illustrates an email application implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates a community activity updating application implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a photo displaying method implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a photo sharing method implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a method for displaying sharing buttons with a shareable media implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A browser independent sidebar, associated with a content provider, comprising: an application module, displayed in the browser independent sidebar, through which a user can access functions associated with the application module, the application module being selected from a plurality of possible application modules, wherein the sidebar displays the application module based on sidebar application information; andcomputer code, the computer code being operable to execute an operation that retrieves the sidebar application information from a location on a network.

2. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the sidebar application information is part of user specific information maintained by the content provider, the user specific information comprising additional information related to the user.

3. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the sidebar application information comprises instructions to display an application module in the sidebar, the displayed application module being selected by the content provider based on user specific information.

4. The sidebar of claim 3, wherein the user specific information comprises information related to the user's usage of other content provider services.

5. The sidebar of claim 3, wherein the user specific information comprises user preference information.

6. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the sidebar application information comprises instructions to display an application module in the sidebar, the displayed application module being selected by the content provider based upon content provider's preferences.

7. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the sidebar application information comprises an application module functionality, an application module display state and dimensional information that defines a dimension of the application module.

8. The sidebar of claim 7, wherein the sidebar application information further comprises a desktop position.

9. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the computer code is further operable to execute an operation that retrieves application module preference information.

10. The sidebar of claim 9, wherein the sidebar application information is retrieved at the same time as the application module preference information.

11. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises module computer code the module computer code being operable to execute an operation that retrieves application module preference information.

12. The sidebar of claim 1, further comprising a second application module, the application modules being positioned in a vertical stack.

13. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein a functionality of the application module is an Internet address book.

14. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein a functionality of the application module is an instant messaging service.

15. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein a functionality of the application module is an email service.

16. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein a functionality of the application module is a photo service.

17. The sidebar of claim 1, further comprising additional computer code, the additional computer code being operable to retrieve application module information associated with a function of the application module.

18. The sidebar of claim 17, wherein the retrieved application module information is shared user information.

19. The sidebar of claim 17, wherein the application module information is retrieved from the same location as the sidebar application information.

20. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the application module further comprises a slidesheet associated with the application module, said slidesheet comprising further application module functionality.

21. The sidebar of claim 20, wherein a slidesheet further comprises a field through which the sidebar can accept edits to a user's user specific information.

22. The sidebar of claim 21, further comprising edit computer code, the edit computer code being operable to execute an operation to transmit edited application module information to the content provider.

23. The sidebar of claim 17, further comprising update computer code, the update computer code being operable to periodically execute an operation which requests updated application module information for an application module.

24. The sidebar of claim 17, wherein the update computer code is further executable to periodically poll the content provider for updated application module information.

25. The sidebar of claim 17, further comprising alert computer code, the alert computer code being operable to execute an operation to receive an alert when application module information is updated through another program.

26. The sidebar of claim 25, wherein the computer code is further executable to retrieve the updated application module information in response to receiving an alert.

27. The sidebar of claim 25, wherein the alert comprises the updated application module information.

28. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises a whole number of items.

29. The sidebar of claim 28, wherein dimensional information is associated with the number of whole items in the application module.

30. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the user specific information is associated with the user's network user name and password.

31. The sidebar of claim 1, further comprising caching computer code, the caching computer code being operable to execute an operation for caching the sidebar application information.

32. A browser independent sidebar obtainable from a content provider, comprising: an application module displayed in the sidebar through which a user can access functions associated with the application module, the application module being selected from a plurality of possible application modules, the sidebar displaying the application module based upon information, the information comprising user specific information; andcomputer code, the computer code being operable to execute an operation that retrieves said user specific information from a content provider location on a network.

33. The sidebar of claim 32, wherein said user specific information comprises sidebar application information.

34. The sidebar of claim 33, wherein said user specific information further comprises application module preference information.

35. The sidebar of claim 34, wherein said user specific information further comprises user preference information.

36. The sidebar of claim 35, wherein said user specific information further comprises shared user information.

37. A sidebar, obtainable from a content provider offering other plural services to a user, the sidebar comprising: a module displayed in the sidebar, the module being selected from a plurality of possible modules, the sidebar displaying the module based in part on sidebar application information and user specific preference information maintained by said content provider in connection with said user and related to said user's interactions with one or more of said other plural services of said content provider; andcomputer code, the computer code being operable to execute an operation that retrieves said sidebar application information and said user specific preference information from a content provider location on a network.

38. The sidebar of claim 37, wherein said user specific preference information is obtained by said content provider from said user based upon explicit preference indications made by said user during interactions with one or more of said other plural services.

39. The sidebar of claim 38, wherein the explicit preference indication is a music preference indication made during interaction with a music service of the content provider.

40. The sidebar of claim 38, wherein the explicit preference indication is a product preference indication made during interaction with a shopping service of the content provider.

41. The sidebar of claim 38, wherein the explicit preference indication is based upon a recently used search term entered by said user during interaction with a search service of the content provider.

42. The sidebar of claim 37 wherein said user specific preference information is obtained by said content provider based upon implicit preference indications derived utilizing data collected by said content provider related to said user's activities during interactions with one or more of said other plural services.

43. The sidebar of claim 37 wherein the module displayed is selected by said content provider based upon information comprising said user specific preference information.

44. The sidebar of claim 37 wherein said user specific preference information further comprises information related to said user's interactions with said sidebar.

45. The sidebar of claim 38 wherein the selected module comprises an advertisement.

46. The sidebar of claim 42 wherein the selected module comprises an advertisement.

47. The sidebar of claim 37, wherein said module comprises module functions available to said user, and wherein said functions are made available to said user based in part upon said user specific preference information.

48. A method of populating a browser independent sidebar associated with a content provider, the method comprising: requesting sidebar application information from a location on a network, the sidebar application information comprising information used to build a graphical user interface for the browser independent sidebar, wherein the sidebar application information informs the sidebar to display an application module, through which a user can access functions associated with the application module, the application module being selected from a plurality of possible application modules;receiving the sidebar application information; andusing the sidebar application information to build a graphical user interface for the sidebar.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the content provider selects the application module to display in the sidebar based on information, the information comprising user specific information.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the user specific information comprises sidebar application information.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the user specific information further comprises application module preference information.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said user specific information further comprises user preference information.

53. The method of claim 53, wherein said user specific information further comprises shared user information.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising: requesting application module information for the application module of the sidebar;receiving the application module information; andloading the application module information into the application module.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising requesting updated application module information for an application module.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising receiving an alert of updated application module information from another source.

57. The method of claim 48, further comprising obtaining a user name and a password associated with a user.

58. The method of claim 48, further comprising caching the received sidebar application information.

59. The method of claim 48, further comprising: receiving edited user specific information from a user; andtransmitting the edited user specific information to the content provider.

60. A system for providing a browser independent sidebar, the system comprising: a user computer communication application, coupled to a network, the communication application being operable to request sidebar application information, the sidebar application information comprising information used to build a graphical user interface for the browser independent sidebar, wherein the sidebar application information informs the sidebar to display an application module, through which a user can access functions associated with the application module, the application module being selected from a plurality of possible application modules; anda user database server, coupled to the network, the user database server having stored thereon user specific information as part of a user database, wherein the user specific information comprises the sidebar application information.

61. The system of claim 34, further comprising an application module server from which the user computer can request application module information.

62. The system of claim 34, wherein the sidebar application information is created by the content provider based on information, the information comprising user specific information.

63. The system of claim 34, wherein the user database server is maintained by the sidebar provider.