Patent ID: 7793232

Claim:
In a computer system including a display screen comprising an area displaying a user interface, a computer-implemented method for presenting a unified interest layer, the computer-implemented method comprising: using the computer system to perform the steps of: executing an operating system that provides a user interface for receiving user interactions; executing at least one user application that is configured to receive a user interaction through the user interface provided by the operating system; executing a layer server for activation of the unified interest layer separately from the execution of the at least one user application; executing within the unified interest layer at least one layer application, wherein each layer application is a client of the layer server; activating a configuration bar that comprises categories of layer applications responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to configure the unified interest layer; responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to access a selected category, displaying within the configuration bar one or more layer applications included in the selected category; and responsive to receiving a command at the layer server to add the layer application to the unified interest layer, adding a layer application from the selected category to the unified interest layer.