Patent ID: 7823071

Claim:
A user interface displayed on a display of a computing system, the user interface for enhancing a computing session by providing seamless continuity when a user logs onto the computing system, the user interface comprising: a logon page which is displayed to the user prior to logging onto the computing system, the logon page including: one or more selectable logon controls; and one or more user-identifiable indicators corresponding to the user, wherein each displayed user-identifiable indicator is associated with its corresponding selectable logon control displayed on the logon page; and a user interface start page displayed in response to user selection of the selectable logon control via the logon page, the user interface start page displayed to the user after a first transition from the logon page but prior to a second transition to a desktop page, wherein the user interface start page and the desktop page each include the user-identifiable indicator corresponding to the user, wherein the user-identifiable indicator is a scalable image shown to continually evolve in size during the first and second transitions, wherein the user identifiable indicator appears in a scale distinct from the scale in which it appears on the logon page, wherein the user-identifiable indicator is displayed uninterrupted throughout the first transition and throughout the second transition, and wherein the user interface start page further includes; user-selectable controls from one or more regions of the desktop page which is displayed after the second transition, each of the user selectable controls configured to initiate a display of information associated with the user when selected; a start control that is user-selectable to initiate that multiple application programs start together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page and after a single user input; and a user-configurable on-line selectable control on the user interface start page which permits the user to designate an on-line status before transitioning to the desktop page, wherein the user is permitted via the user-configurable on-line selectable control to select a status wherein at least one other user is not notified that the user has changed status from off-line to on-line.