US 9235428

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 9235428:

US Patent Number: 9235428
Title: User interface method and system for application programs implemented with component architectures
Current Assignee: Adeia Technologies Inc. (as of September 25, 2024)
Inventors: Jeffrey A. Smith, Alan Page, S. Prassad Maruvada, Scott A. Northmore
Filing Date: August 23, 2006 (Application number US11/509,503)
Issue Date: January 12, 2016

Abstract:
A computer implemented system for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for an application program is disclosed. The system includes a renderer, a proxy, and a workflow manager. The renderer is defined to render the GUI. The proxy is defined to provide to the renderer each component necessary for rendering the GUI. The proxy appears to the renderer as a single monolithic application program. The workflow manager is defined to communicate one or more document viewers and their associated user interface components to the proxy for provision to the renderer. The document viewers and their associated user interface components represent components necessary for rendering the GUI.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (System): This claim describes a computer-implemented system for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for application programs. It comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium and three key software components:

  1. Renderer: A component that displays the GUI for the application.
  2. Proxy: A component that acts as a single, unified interface to the renderer, hiding the underlying complexity of the application's individual components. Crucially, this proxy is designed to determine if the GUI needs a completely new layout or just an update to the current layout during the application's operation.
  3. Workflow Manager: A component responsible for sending "document viewers" (which display content) and related user interface elements to the proxy. These viewers and UI elements are what the proxy then provides to the renderer for display.
     All these components (renderer, proxy, and workflow manager) are executed from the non-transitory computer readable medium.

• Independent Claim 9 (Method): This claim outlines a method for providing a graphical user interface for an application program, detailing the operational steps corresponding to the system components in Claim 1:

  1. Operating a Renderer: The method involves running a renderer to display the GUI for the application.
  2. Operating a Proxy: A proxy is run to supply all necessary components for the GUI to the renderer. Like the system claim, this proxy appears as a single, complete application to the renderer and is tasked with deciding whether to render a new GUI layout or update the existing one as the application runs.
  3. Operating a Workflow Manager: A workflow manager is operated to send document viewers and their associated user interface components to the proxy. These are then passed to the renderer to form the GUI.

Litigation Information:
The patent family for US9235428B2 has been involved in litigation. Specifically, a PTAB case IPR2026-00053 was filed and reached "Procedural Termination". Additionally, a US case was filed in the Delaware District Court (case number 1:24-cv-01231). Searches of CAFC dockets for 2026 did not reveal any currently active cases directly involving US9235428B2.