Integrated, context passing user display

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate an integrated display of information to a user. According to some embodiments, a first service and a second service may be registered with a registry. The information stored in the registry might include, for example, indications that the first and/or second services are to receive data from disparate remote sources. According to some embodiments, placement information is received from a user to lay out the first and second services within a pane of an application. Moreover, information from the remote sources may be displayed to the user within the pane.

1 . A method, comprising:
 registering, with a registry, a first service including an indication that the first service is to receive data from a first remote source;   registering, with the registry, a second service including an indication that the second service is to receive data from a second remote source, the second remote source being independent of the first remote source;   receiving, from a user, placement information laying out the first and second services within a pane of an application;   registering, with the registry, information associated with the pane including layout information; and   displaying to the user information from the first and second remote sources within the pane.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registry is locally stored at a user device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registry is stored at a remote server such that the information associated with the pane is to be available to a plurality of user devices within an enterprise. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein information associated with a plurality of panes is stored at the registry, and a pane is to be selected for a user device based on a user role. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pane is associated with a contact information application. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said receiving is performed via a graphical user interface tool bar component added to the contact information application, and said providing is performed via a contact information display. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registration information associated with the first service further includes an indication that the first service is to publish data. 
   
   
       8 . A method, comprising:
 receiving from a user, via a contact information application, placement information laying out a first and second display area, the first display area being associated with a first service to receive data from a first remote source and the second display area being associated with a second service to receive data from a second remote source; and   displaying to the user data from the first and second remote sources via the contact information application.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said displaying is performed via a display pane of the contact information application. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said displaying is facilitated via an application separate from the contact information application. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 registering, with a registry, the first service including an indication that the first service is to receive data from the first remote source; and   registering, with the registry, the second service including an indication that the second service is to receive data from the second remote source, the second remote source being independent of the first remote source.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 registering, with the registry, information associated with the pane including layout information.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the registry is locally stored at a user device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the registry is stored at a remote server such that the information associated with the pane is to be available to a plurality of user devices within an enterprise. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein information associated with a plurality of panes is stored at the registry, and a pane is to be selected for a user device based on a user type. 
   
   
       16 . A method, comprising:
 establishing a first service to receive data from a first remote source;   establishing a second service to receive data from a second remote source, the second remote source being independent of the first remote source;   receiving, from a user, placement information laying out the first and second services within a pane of a host application;   dynamically determining context information associated with the first service; and   displaying to the user information from the first and second remote sources within the pane, wherein the information from the first remote source is associated with the context information.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the context information is received from the host application. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the context information is received from the second service. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a communication port adapted to exchange data via a network;   a display device; and   a processor coupled tot he communication port and display device, wherein the processor is to:
 register, with a registry, a first service including an indication that the first service is to receive data from a first remote source via the communication port, 
 register, with the registry, a second service including an indication that the second service is to receive data from a second remote source via the communication port, the second remote source being independent of the first remote source, 
 receiving, from a user, placement information laying out the first and second services within a pane of an application, 
 registering, with the registry, information associated with the pane including layout information, and 
 displaying on the display device information from the first and second remote sources within the pane. 
   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a storage device to store at least one of: (i) the registry, or (ii) user role information.   
   
   
       21 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 registering, with a registry, a first service including an indication that the first service is to receive data from a first remote source;   registering, with the registry, a second service including an indication that the second service is to receive data from a second remote source, the second remote source being independent of the first remote source;   receiving, from a user, placement information laying out the first and second services within a pane of an application;   registering, with the registry, information associated with the pane including layout information; and   displaying to the user information from the first and second remote sources within the pane.