**AN OVERBROAD PATENT ON DISPLAYING ICONS** - This application from [Samsung][6] seeks to patent the idea of... changing icon appearance based on their frequency of use! 10 minutes of your time can help narrow US patent applications before they become patents [HERE][1]

**QUESTION** - Have you seen anything that was **published before Dec 9, 2011** that discusses:

> 1. Storing **FREQUENCY OF USE** of screen icons; and
> 2. Modifying the **APPEARANCE OF AN ICON** based on its **FREQUENCY OF USE**;

If so, please submit evidence of prior art as an answer to this question.. We welcome multiple answers from the same individual.

**EXTRA CREDIT** - A reference to anything that meets all of the criteria to the question above AND ALSO modifies **ICON SIZE** or **ICON SPACING** based on frequency of use of an **ICON**.

**TITLE: CHANGING ICONS BASED ON FREQUENCY OF USE**

**Summary**:  [Translated from Legalese into English] A method of displaying icons on a screen which involves displaying multiple icons, storing the frequency of use of each icon, and modifying how the icons appear based on their frequency of use.  Yes, the applicant wants to patent **any kind of modification** to icons based on **frequency of use**.

- **Publication Number**: [US 20130152017 A1][2]
- **Application Number**: 13/674,833
- **Assignee**: Samsung Corporation
- **Prior Art Date**: Seeking prior Art **predating** Dec 9, 2011
- **Open for Challenge at USPTO:** Open through Dec 13, 2013

**Claim 1** requires each and every step below:

> A method for creating a graphic user interface (GUI), comprising:

> 1. Displaying a **plurality of icons** on a screen;

> 2. Storing a **frequency of use** of each of the icons displayed on the screen; and

> 3. Changing an **external appearance** of at least one **icon** on the screen from among the plurality of icons **to reflect the frequency of use** of the at least one icon.


In English this means:
> A method for modifying icons displayed on a screen, comprising:

> 1. Displaying multiple icons;

> 2. Storing the **frequency of use** of each icon

> 3. **Changing the appearance** of at least one icon based on **frequency of use** of that icon.
 
Good prior art would be evidence of a system that did each and every one of these steps prior to the Dec, 2011.

You're probably aware of ten pieces of art that meet this criteria already... separately, the applicant is claiming a method using all of the steps above and AND ALSO modifies **ICON SIZE** or **ICON SPACING** based on **frequency of use** of an **icon**.

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**"A method of resizing icons based on frequency of use" screen shots from Samsung**
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vWn0G.png" width="500" height="600">

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*What is good prior art? Please see our [FAQ][4].*

*Want to help? Please vote or comment on submissions below. We welcome you to [post your own request for prior art][5] on other questionable US Patent Applications.*


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  [1]: https://patents.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/prior-art-request+pre-grant
  [2]: https://www.google.com/patents/US20130152017?dq=US20130152017+A1
  [4]: https://patents.stackexchange.com/faq#prior-art
  [5]: https://patents.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/prior-art-request+pre-grant
  [6]: http://www.samsung.com