Abstract: A computer system displays a first version of a first user interface that includes first user interface objects displayed concurrently with a first background. The first user interface objects include content from a first plurality of applications. In response to detecting a first input, when the first input includes movement in a first direction, the system replaces display of the first version of the first user interface with a second user interface that includes representations of a second plurality of applications. When the first input includes second movement in a second direction, the system replaces display of the first version of the first user interface with display of a second version of the first user interface that includes second user interface objects displayed with a second background. The second user interface objects correspond to a third plurality of applications and include content from the third plurality of applications.

Abstract: In response to a message requesting a method invocation from an application or user, a client application determines the proper method to be invoked by retrieving information from a class data base, comparing the retrieved information with user preferences, and selecting the proper method based upon the comparison. Server connection and start-up involves locating a platform capable of executing code associated with the selected method and, if necessary, executing a process to start an application associated with the selected method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for the interaction of processes in an object-oriented manner by which a system manages "classes" of data instances and applications rather than managing the data itself. The names of classes may be stored in a data base which also contains other information about the classes, such as certain con, non attributes of applications or instances which are supported by the classes. Applications can remotely invoke other applications by sending messages with parameters. Using the message names, as well as information about the classes of certain parameters and certain preference information, a reference to a specific method is selected from the data base. That method will perform the operation specified in the message. Other information in the data base is then used to locate and execute the actual code to implement the referenced method.

Abstract: The system for organizing communication among applications in a data processing network includes data bases and data base control means. The data bases include method entries, message entries, and class entries. Method entries refer to commands or other mechanisms used to invoke applications. Message entries each represent a type of operation which can be performed on instances in a class which correspond to that message and identify a method map which contains one or more references to method entries stored in the data base. Class entries, each of which is unique in a data base, contain information about classes consisting of instances which have common characteristics as well as identifying a corresponding group of message entries.