SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTENT-SEARCH CAROUSEL FOR MOBILE-COMPUTING DEVICES

摘要

The inventive concepts described herein are generally directed to a mobile and fixedline software application that provides a user with an enhanced graphical toolbar with an edge-on view of a carousel interface populated with a plurality of selectable icons representing information-search channels, and with an integrated, multi-input search bar, which is integrated with the software application and can be communicatively coupled with supporting back-end architecture. This enhanced toolbar is referred to as the Content Search Carousel (CSC), and is especially adapted for use with mobile-computing devices, as it maximizes functionality while minimizing the amount of device-display real estate that is taken up at the expense of other mobile-computing application functionality.

主权项

1. A software-based graphical toolbar used in conjunction with an associated computing application operating on a computing device, said computing device having a user display and a user-input pointing means for selecting areas and/or items on said graphical display, the toolbar comprising:
a plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein:
each of said plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel,said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,said carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,said carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, andeach of said plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.