Generating user interfaces

Abstract

An interface generator 6 generates a user interface for a mobile communication device 2 by providing, at step S 2 , a menu of functional components to a website owner 5 and receiving an indication of which of the functional components are selected for inclusion in the user interface from the website owner, at step S 3 . When the interface generator 6 receives a request for the user interface from the mobile communication device 2 , at step S 7 , it delivers the user interface to the mobile communication device, at step S 8 , for display by the mobile communication device 2 . The generated user interface includes the selected functional components and selection of a functional component included in the displayed user interface by a user of the mobile communication device 2 causes the mobile communication device 2 to carry out a task.

1 . Apparatus for generating a user interface for a mobile communication device, the apparatus comprising a server configured to:
 generate a web resource providing a menu of functional components;   receive an indication that one or more of the functional components in the menu is/are selected for inclusion in the user interface;   generate the user interface including the selected functional component(s) based on the received indication;   receive a request for the user interface from the mobile communication device; and   deliver the user interface to the mobile communication device for display by the mobile communication device,   wherein selection of a functional component included in the displayed user interface by a user of the mobile communication device causes the mobile communication device to carry out a task.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to analyse an existing web resource, and to include content from the existing web resource in the generated user interface. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the server is configured to receive a further indication that one or more of the functional components in the menu is/are selected for inclusion in the user interface and to update the user interface to include the selected functional component(s) based on the received further indication. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to request a payment in dependence on the selected functional component(s). 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the task comprises initiating an application hosted by the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the user interface is displayed by a first application hosted by the mobile communication device and the task comprises initiating a second application hosted by the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the task comprises initiating a telephone call. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the task comprise displaying a location on a map. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the task comprise creating an email. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each functional component is represented by a graphical element within the user interface, each graphical element being displayed in an array. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein each graphical element comprises an icon. 
     
     
         12 . A method for generating a user interface for a mobile communication device, the method comprising the server performing the steps of:
 generating a menu of functional components;   receiving an indication that one or more of the functional components is/are selected for inclusion in the user interface;   generating the user interface including the selected functional component(s) based on the received indication;   receiving a request for the user interface from the mobile communication device; and   delivering the user interface to the mobile communication device for display by the mobile communication device;   wherein selection of a functional component included in the displayed user interface by a user of the mobile communication device causes the mobile communication device to carry out a task.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the server performing the step of analysing an existing web resource, and wherein content from the existing web resource is included in the generated user interface. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the server performing the steps of:
 receiving a further indication that one or more of the functional components in the menu is/are selected for inclusion in the user interface; and   updating the user interface to include the selected functional component(s) based on the received further indication.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the server performing the step of requesting a payment in dependence on the selected functional component(s). 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the task comprises initiating an application hosted by the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the user interface is displayed by a first application hosted by the mobile communication device and the task comprises initiating a second application hosted by the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the task comprises initiating a telephone call. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the task comprises displaying a location on a map. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the task comprises creating an email. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein each functional component is represented by a graphical element within the user interface, each graphical element being displayed in an array. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein each graphical element comprises an icon. 
     
     
         23 . Computer program code executed by a computer to perform the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code adapted to carry out the method of  claim 12  when executed by a computer.