Patent ID: 7249326
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method in a computer system for organizing and displaying notification items associated with corresponding notification area icons on a display having a notification area, comprising: receiving one or more user inputs associating at least one of a plurality of user selectable hiding behaviors with at least a portion of said notification items, wherein at least one of said plurality of user selectable hiding behaviors includes an inactivity hiding behavior that hides the corresponding notification item icon when a preset threshold of inactivity with is met, and wherein at least one of said plurality of user selectable hiding behaviors displays the corresponding notification item icon without regard to said preset threshold of inactivity; monitoring an interval of time associated with an activity of at least a portion of the notification items; for each of at least a portion of the notification items associated with said inactivity hiding behavior, hiding the corresponding notification area icon from view after said preset threshold of inactivity with is met; and upon receipt of a user input indicating a desire to view the hidden notification area icons, redisplaying the hidden notification area icons in the notification area and repeating said monitoring and said hiding.