Abstract: A system and method is directed to selecting a media file for a mobile device. The system is configured to select a media file from a plurality of media files based in part on a selection rule, and a heuristic associated with the media file. Heuristics are collected based in part on execution of the media file. The heuristics may include skipping a media file, repeating a-media file, and a frequency of execution of the media file. In one embodiment, a user interface enables a consumer to determine a frequency the media file is selected. The selection rule may include selecting a media file based on an artist, a seasonal characteristic of the media file, size of the media file, frequency of selection of the media file, and other heuristics associated with the media file.

Abstract: The hand-held computing device user interface (UI) of the present invention displays information for an active application program in a middle portion of the screen, and displays a shell program controlled navigation bar at a top portion of the screen. The navigation bar includes a navigation icon which when tapped by the stylus aids the user in navigating to other application programs. The navigation bar also includes a title for the active application program, thus saving vertical real estate on the screen. The UI of the present invention also displays an application menu bar at a bottom portion of the screen so that the user of the hand-held device can manipulate data from the active application by tapping menu items with a stylus without blocking view of the middle portion of the display.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates control of the power states of a mobile device's wireless radios. Radios can be collectively turned off in a straightforward, intuitive operation, and can be restored to a powered-on state in a similar manner. In addition to collective powering down and restoring, the power states of individual radios can be controlled in a selective manner. When any radio is on, a connectivity dialog provides a link for collectively turning wireless devices off. When no radios are on, the connectivity dialog provides a corresponding link to turn wireless radios on, which may be only those that were on prior to the collective shutdown. A settings user interface, such as accessible via a link on the connectivity dialog, provides on/off radio buttons and checkboxes that enable the selective control of radio power state.

Abstract: A mobile device selectively deactivates and reactivates software input panel (SIP) auto-deploy functionality. A software input panel is automatically displayed if a user needs to enter data. The present invention allows the mobile device to utilize space on the display more effectively if a physical keyboard is coupled to the mobile device. If a physical keyboard is coupled to the mobile device and a key is pressed on the physical keyboard, the present invention hides the software input panel, and deactivates the software input panel auto-deploy functionality. Software input panel auto-deploy is reactivated if the user manually launches the software input panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user interface for a hand-held device that allows users to activate the full “card” for an entry using one gesture on a button while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a second gesture on a button. In particular, the present invention recognizes certain button inputs as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. The present invention also allows a user to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a common namespace for Internet and local filesystem objects. In a preferred embodiment, the common namespaces constructed by first accessing a namespace definition table. The namespace definition table contains entries referencing both a filesystem namespace subtree definition module and an Internet namespace subtree definition module. The entry referencing the filesystem namespace subtree definition module is used to access the filesystem namespace subtree definition module in order to define a filesystem namespace subtree that encompasses filesystem addresses. Similarly, the entry referencing the Internet namespace subtree definition module is used to access the Internet namespace subtree definition module to define an Internet namespace subtree that encompasses Internet addresses. The defined filesystem and Internet namespace subtrees are then combined in order to assemble a namespace encompassing both filesystem addresses and Internet addresses.

Abstract: A system and method on a computing device that significantly reduces the average time required to locate and select a desired command of the device. A two-dimensional menu (grid) of commands is provided, in combination with improved selection techniques including simultaneous hardware button usage. Pressing and holding a menu button causes display of the command menu, with the center, default item initially selected. A directional control button may be used to change the selection, and scroll the display if more commands are available than presently displayed. When the menu invoke button is released, the currently selected item is invoked, thereby rapidly enabling selection and invocation of a command. The method and system may be enhanced with a menu locking feature to facilitate single-handed command selection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user interface for a pen-based device that allows users to activate the full “card” for an entry using a single tap while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a simple gesture. In particular, the present invention recognizes certain stylus and/or button inputs as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. The present invention also allows a user to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

Abstract: A requesting computer system accesses an identifier, which is representative of services (such as electronic mail or news groups) that will be consumed by consumer modules included in a consuming computer system. The identifier may be received at a configuration computer system that contains configuration information associated with the consumer modules. Receiving the identifier causes a search of the configuration information contained in the configuration computer system. As a result of the search, the configuration computer system may identify configuration information associated with the network services that will be consumed. A configuration computer system may identify configuration information associated with itself or other external services providers. The configuration computer system causes the identified configuration information to be sent to the consuming computer system.

Abstract: The UI of the present invention increases the number of contacts initially shown to the user of a hand-held device to aid the user in finding information in a Contacts database. While displaying a list of Contacts database entries, the UI displays a column which contains single letters indicating the type of information displayed for the names represented in the list of entries. A tap on a letter in that column causes a sub-list of other most commonly needed information to be deployed for the corresponding entry, potentially eliminating the need for the user to open the entire record for that entry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quick searching method for filtering a contact list in a hand-held device. Under the method, upon receiving a search string from a user, a database object is opened that is sorted alphabetically on the first name of each contact. A search is then performed on the sorted list to retrieve the ID's of the first record in the sorted list and the last record in the sorted list that have a first name that matches the search string. A second database object is then opened that is sorted alphabetically on a “filed as” field. The “filed as” list is then searched to find the first and last records that match the search string. The first name search results and the “filed as” search results are then combined. The records in the combination are then displayed to the user.

Abstract: An operating system provides extensions through which application developers may extend the capabilities of a shell of the operating system. For example, application developers may add menu items to context menus for objects that are visible within an integrated system name space. In addition, developers may add property sheet pages for such objects. Application developers also have the option of providing per-instance icons for each instance of an object. Application developers may provide data object extension handlers for customizing data sources on a per-object class basis and may provide drop target extension handlers on a per-object class basis to customize drop target behavior. Developers may additionally provide copy-hook handlers to regulate file system operations on objects. Developers may also extend the functionality provided by the shell of the operating system by adding their own custom name spaces to the integrated system name space.

Abstract: Sitemaps are utilized to hold content-related information about hypertext documents stored at a server site. The hypertext documents may be web pages for the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. Each sitemap file may hold a hierarchical index of the web pages that are accessible at the server site. Each sitemap may also hold search results that identify web pages that comply with the search criteria and/or ratings information regarding the content of the web pages at the server site. The sitemaps may also be utilized by web crawler programs to build an index of web pages available at the server site. The sitemap files may be located at a default location of the server site or, alternatively, may be located at a site designated by information held in a specified hypertext document at the server site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a common namespace for Internet and local filesystem objects. In a preferred embodiment, the common namespaces constructed by first accessing a namespace definition table. The namespace definition table contains entries referencing both a filesystem namespace subtree definition module and an Internet namespace subtree definition module. The entry referencing the filesystem namespace subtree definition module is used to access the filesystem namespace subtree definition module in order to define a filesystem namespace subtree that encompasses filesystem addresses. Similarly, the entry referencing the Internet namespace subtree definition module is used to access the Internet namespace subtree definition module to define an Internet namespace subtree that encompasses Internet addresses. The defined filesystem and Internet namespace subtrees are then combined in order to assemble a namespace encompassing both filesystem addresses and Internet addresses.

Abstract: An operating system provides extensions through which application developers may extend the capabilities of a shell of the operating system. For example, application developers may add menu items to context menus for objects that are visible within an integrated system name space. In addition, developers may add property sheet pages for such objects. Application developers also have the option of providing per-instance icons for each instance of an object. Application developers may provide data object extension handlers for customizing data sources on a per-object class basis and may provide drop target extension handlers on a per-object class basis to customize drop target behavior. Developers may additionally provide copy-hook handlers to regulate file system operations on objects. Developers may also extend the functionality provided by the shell of the operating system by adding their own custom name spaces to the integrated system name space.

Abstract: Sitemaps are utilized to hold content-related information about hypertext documents stored at a server site. The hypertext documents may be web pages for the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. Each sitemap file may hold a hierarchical index of the web pages that are accessible at the server site. Each sitemap may also hold search results that identify web pages that comply with the search criteria and/or ratings information regarding the content of the web pages at the server site. The sitemaps may also be utilized by web crawler programs to build an index of web pages available at the server site. The sitemap files may be located at a default location of the server site or, alternatively, may be located at a site designated by information held in a specified hypertext document at the server site.

Abstract: An operating system provides extensions through which application developers may extend the capabilities of a shell of the operating system. For example, application developers may add menu items to context menus for objects that are visible within an integrated system name space. In addition, developers may add property sheet pages for such objects. Application developers also have the option of providing per-instance icons for each instance of an object. Application developers may provide data object extension handlers for customizing data sources on a per-object class basis and may provide drop target extension handlers on a per-object class basis to customize drop target behavior. Developers may additionally provide copy-hook handlers to regulate file system operations on objects. Developers may also extend the functionality provided by the shell of the operating system by adding their own custom name spaces to the integrated system name space.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and customizing an architectural component, namely a deskbar. The deskbar may simultaneously contain toolbars and toolbar components from multiple application programs, and may exist in an application window or on the desktop. This allows a user to select toolbar components or entire toolbars from one or more application programs and house these toolbars or toolbar components in a single deskbar. Users may also create new deskbars and populate them with selected toolbars and toolbar components. The user is then able to use these tool bar components and toolbars to perform their standard functions at any time without being required to directly access the specific application program that is associated with the toolbar component or toolbar. The user is also able to resize, move, and delete deskbars as desired by direct manipulation.

Abstract: Sitemaps are utilized to hold content-related information about hypertext documents stored at a server site. The hypertext documents may be web pages for the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. Each sitemap file may hold a hierarchical index of the web pages that are accessible at the server site. Each sitemap may also hold search results that identify web pages that comply with the search criteria and/or ratings information regarding the content of the web pages at the server site. The sitemaps may also be utilized by web crawler programs to build an index of web pages available at the server site. The sitemap files may be located at a default location of the server site or, alternatively, may be located at a site designated by information held in a specified hypertext document at the server site.

Abstract: Searches are automatically initiated to intelligently locate resources, particularly World Wide Web sites, within a distributed environment in response to a user specifying text via a user interface element. In a particular embodiment, a Web browser is enhanced to include a browser search capability. The browser includes a text box allowing the user to enter a URL. Depending on the particular browser used in the embodiment, this text box may be called, among other things, a destination field, location field, or URL field. When the user enters a valid URL, the corresponding web site is accessed. If the user enters text that is not a URL, the system may first try to construct a valid URL from the user-entered text. If a valid URL cannot be constructed, the browser then automatically formats a search engine query using the user-entered text and forwards the query to an Internet search engine. The browser chooses a particular search engine by determining the meaning or category of the user-entered text.