In 1999, Apple filed a patent application for what was a “user interface for providing consolidation and access,” in short, the OS X Dock. Only two days ago did the US Patent Office approve it, sources are reporting.

The Dock is a key feature of the graphical user interface (GUI) of Apple OS. The dock is a place where users can place their application shortcuts to launch them more easily and faster, but also to switch between running applications, just like with the taskbar found in Microsoft's Windows. While this is the Dock's main purpose, it also holds folders and stacks of items for enhanced user-accessibility. Items can be dragged away from the Dock, making room for others, so the user's view isn't cluttered, while the Dock's size itself is adjustable.

Apple has long associated the success of its Mac OS X operating system with the usability and the intuitiveness of the Dock we're all so fond of. Not only does the OS X Dock sport a hefty appearance, practically defining the Aqua interface, which uses translucency and reflection effects, but it is also highly customizable, with some software applications being specifically aimed at this.

A summarized description of Apple's invention is available below, from the US Patent Office.

User interface for providing consolidation and access

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.

Inventors credited are Bas Ording, Donald Lindsay, and of course, Apple Chief Exec, Steven P. Jobs. For a detailed view of what Apple calls “The Dock,” see the patent “claims” here.