Patent ID: 8464172

Claim:
In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a desktop user interface of the computer system, a computer implemented method for adding desktop widgets to a widget layer, the method comprising: executing an operating system, the operating system providing both a desktop user interface and a widget layer that is distinct from the desktop user interface, the operating system configured to execute applications associated with the desktop user interface and desktop widgets associated with the widget layer; responsive to a trigger event, activating, in the desktop user interface, the widget layer according to layer configuration information describing the desktop widgets associated with the widget layer; displaying a first desktop widget in the widget layer according to the layer configuration information; receiving a user input within the widget layer to activate a configuration bar, the configuration bar displaying a plurality of desktop widgets available to add to the widget layer; and responsive to receiving a selection of a second desktop widget from the plurality of desktop widgets displayed in the configuration bar, displaying the second desktop widget within the widget layer.