Task Bar Or Desktop Control Panel Patents (Class 715/779)
  • Patent number: 7716600
    Abstract: An interface for displaying icons or input control portions corresponding to a plurality of functions on screen and pointing each icon or input control portion on screen selectively includes display control means which, along with repeatedly changing and displaying the icons or the input control portions in succession on screen, designates at least one icon or input control portion among the icons or the input control portions and displays the designated icon(s) or input control portion(s) on a permanent basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Sawano
  • Patent number: 7716583
    Abstract: There is read information on a system indicative of how to reach at least one pre-configured, pre-designated application in the system. The information is used to build at least one software button in at least one group of software buttons that allows launching of the pre-configured, pre-designated application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ruth Ann Lim
  • Publication number: 20100115452
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for user interfaces for displaying information content. A request for information content, such as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is received at a server. A navigation bar may be generated for display with the information content. The navigation bar may be configured to display links while a user of a client device navigates through the requested information content. The links may be based on the information content or independent of the information content. The navigation bar may be displayed as either a fixed or expandable navigation bar. A structured approach may be used to generate partially customizable navigation bars. Modified information content including the navigation bars may be generated and sent from the server to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chabot, Gregory J. Athas, Michael P. Mitchell, Thomas E. Hayosh, Pawel Bak
  • Publication number: 20100115453
    Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oliver Fisher, Paul Erickson, Louis Amadio, Brian Teutsch
  • Patent number: 7712048
    Abstract: Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Rockey, Shannon P. Talbott, Gavin M. Kelly, Nancy E. Jacobs, Michael J. Hopcroft, Daniel J. Westreich, Jonathan D. Perlow, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7712033
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling and displaying an Internet browser interface, and to a dynamically controllable Internet browser interface. In accordance with the present invention, a browser interface may be customized using a controlling software program that may be provided by an Internet content provider, an ISP, or that may reside on an Internet user's computer. The controlling software program enables the Internet user, the content provider, or the ISP to customize and control the information and/or functionality of a user's browser and browser interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Shafron
  • Patent number: 7712039
    Abstract: A setting control may be mapped to an edge of a user interface to facilitate control of various settings and access thereto. The mapping may be implemented based on a number of setting values associated with the setting control and a size of a specified edge of the user interface. Additionally, multiple edges of a user interface may be mapped to a variety of setting controls. The edge-mapped setting controls may also be automatically reconfigured according to user preferences and interaction with the interface. Indicators are also generated to provide visual indications about the setting controls and/or a current setting. The appearance of indicators may be altered to convey a variety of information such as the current setting of a control or the type of setting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Banks
  • Publication number: 20100107113
    Abstract: A method and system for modifying, in a combined computing environment, a machine base image having a personalized desktop environment includes executing an operating system associated with a base disk; intercepting, by a filter driver, an instruction from at least one of a plurality of resources to modify a setting stored in at least one of a file system and a registry, the plurality of resources executing inside an isolation environment; storing, in a delta disk, a copy of the modified setting; restarting the operating system; replacing the setting stored in the at least one of the file system and the registry with the copy of the modified setting stored on the delta disk; and restarting at least one operating system process incorporating the modified setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Innes, Richard Hayton, Andrew Borzycki, Anthony Edward Low, Michael Wookey
  • Patent number: 7705833
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and its display method are discussed. According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal includes a display unit of a touch screen type divided into at least one of first and second display regions; and a controller that performs a particular function or re-adjusts a divisional boundary between the first and second display regions according to a user's instruction sensed from the display unit, wherein the display unit displays a movable menu bar that partitions the first and second display regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 7707512
    Abstract: Systems and methods for context switching within enterprise resource planning systems are contemplated, including a first and second user context. A user performing tasks in the first user context actuates an actuator in communication with a context switcher. The context switcher changes the user's user context from the first user context to the second user context in response to an event. The user is then able to perform tasks in the second user context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Johan C. Peters
  • Patent number: 7703036
    Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse Clay Satterfield, Aaron M. Butcher, David A. Morton, Jensen M. Harris, Justin Denney
  • Patent number: 7703037
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method is for enabling a user to efficiently navigate to a portion of a user interface configured to support performance of a particular task. The method includes receiving from the user an input that includes a description of the particular task. A result set is returned to the user and includes a plurality of candidate tasks that correspond to the description. The candidate tasks are displayed relative to an indication of at least one corresponding applet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew John McGlinchey, Brett Alan Waldbaum, Matthew A. Goldberg, Randall Knight Winjum, Mark Richard Ligameri
  • Publication number: 20100088628
    Abstract: A method may be performed by a device having a display and multiple open applications. The method may include displaying a toolbar on a portion of the display, the toolbar including a menu of items, where each item corresponds to an open application window associated with one of the open applications. The method may also include receiving selection of one of the items on the menu and identifying an open application window corresponding to the selected one of the items. The method may further include altering the display to show, behind the toolbar, the identified open application window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Anders FLYGH, Patrik VIKNER
  • Publication number: 20100077338
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system or method for displaying rich presentation taskbar buttons for a corresponding application. In one example, the rich presentation taskbar button may receive content from an application through a programming interface. The present invention further relates to a system and method for displaying a rich presentation taskbar button and for displaying and/or dismissing a thumbnail of an application window associated with the rich presentation taskbar button. The present invention may further include a system and method of pinning the thumbnail on a display or dismissing a thumbnail. The present invention also relates to a system and method for displaying multiple taskbar buttons in a taskbar including controlling the size of individual taskbar buttons, consolidating taskbar buttons and placing taskbar buttons into an overflow based on the type of taskbar button in the taskbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID A. MATTHEWS, MARK R. LIGAMERI, CHARLES CUMMINS, JEFFREY W. PETTIROSS, R. SYAM KUMAR, CHARLES W. STABB, YEMING SHI
  • Patent number: 7681143
    Abstract: A mode of managing windows in a graphical user interface in which the application windows may be presented in a tiled manner is provided. Upon invocation of the mode inactive application windows may be scaled down and organized in a manner so as to set them aside from the currently active application window while the active application window may remain at or near full size and be positioned in a centralized location in the desktop space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J Lindsay, Mark R Ligameri
  • Publication number: 20100064246
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for computerized interfacing and dissemination of election-related information. The method and system includes presenting, via a networked connection, a political engagement map that includes a visual interface display of at least one geographic area. The method and system includes receiving a region selection command relative to the political engagement map and retrieving election-specific information associated with a geographic region indicated by the region selection command. The method and system includes updating the political engagement map to display the geographic region and the election-specific information associated with the geographic region and receiving an election information request via a toolbar interface displayed relative to the political engagement map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Gluck
  • Patent number: 7669142
    Abstract: Search results can be viewed and acted upon. Searches may be conducted using a search input in conjunction with a selected category. The search results may be produced from such a search. One or more of the produced search results may be highlighted for previewing. Along with the preview, available actions are presented that are based on the selected category. A user can initiate an action of the available actions. The initiated action is then performed with respect to the highlighted search result(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Ray, Rodney C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7669140
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment to present and provide access to user information. The system may include a sidebar for hosting a plurality of tiles. Applications may be minimized and inserted into the sidebar upon minimization. Selected features of the application remain available through a tile when the application is represented by a tile in the sidebar. The system may also include user interface tools for allowing a user to command placement of a selected application into the sidebar. The application may include an available feature selection module for allowing an application to provide at least a sub-set of a full feature set upon minimization. An insertion module may be provided for inserting the tile into the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Matthews, Charles Cummins, Justin Mann, Judson Craig Hally, Mark Ligameri
  • Patent number: 7665032
    Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Fisher, Paul Erickson, Louis Amadio, Brian Teutsch
  • Patent number: 7665043
    Abstract: A handheld computer is provided having a housing, a display and a processor. The processor is configured to detect an input corresponding to a menu request, to active a first menu on the display in response to the menu request, process navigation input that causes a menu bar of the active menu to become selectable, and to process selection input for selecting the menu bar when it is selectable. The processor is configured to cancel activation of the menu in response to the menu bar being selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Kho
  • Patent number: 7665031
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system or method for displaying rich presentation taskbar buttons for a corresponding application. In one example, the rich presentation taskbar button may receive content from an application through a programming interface. The present invention further relates to a system and method for displaying a rich presentation taskbar button and for displaying and/or dismissing a thumbnail of an application window associated with the rich presentation taskbar button. The present invention may further include a system and method of pinning the thumbnail on a display or dismissing a thumbnail. The present invention also relates to a system and method for displaying multiple taskbar buttons in a taskbar including controlling the size of individual taskbar buttons, consolidating taskbar buttons and placing taskbar buttons into an overflow based on the type of taskbar button in the taskbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A Matthews, Mark R Ligameri, Charles Cummins, Jeffrey W. Pettiross, R. Syam Kumar, Charles W. Stabb, Yeming Shi
  • Publication number: 20100037173
    Abstract: The present invention is a method, a system and a software arrangement that can be used to determine the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and a material. The invention simplifies the process of determining the interaction by separating the complex process into a plurality of simple transition modules. Each transition module is associated with at least one parameter and represents an electronic transition in the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Evgueni Parilov, Mary J. Potasek, Karl W. Besson
  • Patent number: 7657842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying information on a display such that access to applications or dynamic information through independent user interfaces may be attained in a designated area on a display and may be easily and conveniently moved from the designated area on the display to any other location in the display. Further, the applications or independent user interfaces may be arranged automatically such that the independent user interfaces may be substantially evenly spaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A Matthews, Mark R Ligameri, Charles Cummins
  • Publication number: 20100011314
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable media for associating additional fuctionalities with a sidebar GUI of a computational device are included. An operating system may be provided that includes a sidebar software that will typically have limitations that are intended or unintended by the operating system developer. A user may wish to extend the capabilities that are associated with the sidebar in the interest of usability, efficiency and/or GUI appeal. The method of the present invention may provide a gadget which enables access to the sidebar, while associating additional capabilities with the sidebar. Alternately or additionally, a reseller of the operating system or a third party software provider, may offer software products that enable access to the functionality of the sidebar as provided by the sidebar developer, while associating additional capabilities with a display of the sidebar or an icon representative of a sidebar or sidebar functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Harold Lee Peterson
  • Publication number: 20090319939
    Abstract: A two-dimensional canvas onto which heterogenic objects of various types may be arranged side-by-side. Each type of object has an associated set of control(s), the control(s) at least partially differing from one type to the next. The two-dimensional canvas is fixed in one dimension, but extensible in a second dimension. The canvas may be displayed in miniaturized for with a view box superimposed upon the canvas. As the view box is moved over the miniaturized canvas, the enlarged editable portion of the corresponding canvas is displayed in an edit view. The canvas may also display clusters of objects that are arranged in dashboards. In that case, the display might include a dashboard review area that allows a user to select the appropriate dashboard to display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Danton, Florian Voss, Siddharth Jayadevan
  • Patent number: 7636766
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are directed to managing auxiliary content through an enhanced content management system (ECMS), for such as a blog, over a network. Auxiliary content may be selected from a networked device over the network for integration with another site, such as the blog. Such auxiliary content may include graphics, advertisements including sponsored advertisements, selectable audio clips, or the like. When the auxiliary content is selected, and a identifier of the other site is provided, data that may include a script, code, or the like, and that enables access to the auxiliary content is provided to the ECMS using the identifier. The ECMS may then use the data to position the auxiliary content within the other site. Once the position is determined, automatic incorporation of the auxiliary content within a webpage may also be performed using the ECMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Marc S. Abramowitz
  • Publication number: 20090313170
    Abstract: A downloadable agent facilitates medical image transmission in accordance with a clinical trial protocol. The agent includes program code for obtaining or receiving a medical image from a computer storage device or a DICOM-compliant diagnostic instrument, program code for accepting textual information about the patient or medical image and associating the textual information with the medical image to prevent dissociation of the textual information and the medical image, program code for executing a data compliance protocol, program code for encrypting the image and textual information and for compressing at least the image, and program code for transmitting the encrypted image and textual information across a wide area network to a remote translator for decompressing, de-encrypting and viewing of the image and textual information. The data compliance process prohibits inclusion of patient identity information in the associated textual information and medical image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: AGMEDNET, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Goldner, Abraham Gutman
  • Publication number: 20090307580
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for use on a computer coupled to an enterprise electronic medical records system for accepting order data including an order entry window corresponding to an identified order, the identified order including one or more parameters. The graphical user interface also including an expandable order editing box linked to the order entry window and responsive to identification of the order and adapted to accept an input from a user. The graphical user interface also including an order parameter manager coupled to the enterprise electronic medical records system that is adapted to populate at least one of the one or more order parameters based on information associated with a patient for whom the order is being placed. The graphical user interface further being adapted to display to the user the order and the at least one or more populated order parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Carl Dvorak, Christopher Alban, Indu Prakash
  • Patent number: 7631270
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which network connectivity information may be communicated via a single notifications area (e.g., system tray) icon, including by representing different images of the icon to display different types/states of connectivity and different types of media connections. For example, the icon may indicate whether Internet connectivity is present, and whether the connection is wired or wireless. The icon may regularly transition between at least two images to communicate different variables, e.g., types of connectivity and/or different types of media connections. The icon may be interactive to provide a tooltip, flyout and/or context menu related to the network state, and the icon may change in response to the networking state change event, e.g., be updated when a different capability connection is detected, when a different interface is detected, and/or when a wireless network with a different signal quality is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron W. Cunningham, David Jones, Marieke I. Watson, Patrice Lynn Miner, Bill Begorre, Gursharan S. Sidhu
  • Publication number: 20090300539
    Abstract: An electronic book having various features for manipulating text or other information. The subscriber may highlight, cut and paste, copy and paste, and annotate information within an electronic book. A multiple page view feature permits the subscriber to simultaneously view any plurality of pages of an electronic book, and a multiple screen feature permits the subscriber to view one or more pages on a viewer having multiple screens. A picture-in-picture feature permits the subscriber to simultaneously view a page of an electronic book along with other content, such as a television program or information from another electronic book. The picture-in-picture feature may display an electronic book page as a main image wrapped around an inset image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Discovery Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Hendricks
  • Publication number: 20090300538
    Abstract: A display control apparatus determines if an application manager has attribute information compatible with attribute information of a selected application program, and controls the application manager which is determined to have the attribute information compatible with the attribute information of the application program to execute display processing of the application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: SHUICHI OKAMURA, Yukari Yano
  • Patent number: 7624356
    Abstract: Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Rockey, Shannon P. Talbott, Gavin M. Kelly, Nancy E. Jacobs, Michael J. Hopcroft, Daniel J. Westreich, Jonathan D. Perlow, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7624351
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to control a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer. An object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, is displayed within the graphical user interface. A first user input is received at the first sensitive area on the object. A window slides from the object and includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while the first sensitive area continues to be displayed. A second user input is received in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons. At least one of the applications is then controlled based on the second user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Unger, Mark K. Dillon, Edmund D. Mesterharm
  • Publication number: 20090287573
    Abstract: A system and method for placing a live, interactive, product specific communication conduit on user desktops. A retailer, wholesaler, or any other type of provider of goods or services having a website describing one or more products selects specific products for which the retailer desires to enable direct communication with consumers. The display of the selected products on the retailer's website are marked with an identifiable label, for example, the text “Grab-It”. Consumers are enabled to drag and drop the display of the product to their desktop, creating an interactive icon (also referred to herein as a “satellite icon”.) The interactive icon supports two-way messaging between the retailer and the consumer. The retailer is enabled to push content regarding the selected content, for example, product specific advertising to the icon for display. The consumer is enabled to request information or periodic updates regarding the product through the icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Fluent,Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory MILLER, Michael R. Miller
  • Patent number: 7620916
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques for rendering application user interfaces. Application data is displayed in user interface elements including two or more independent elements and one or more dependent elements. One of the independent elements can have the property of being the selected element and the application data displayed in the dependent elements is made to correspond to the application data displayed in the selected element. User input is received from a user to establish a normal mode or a decoupled mode of user interface operation. Navigation input is received to navigate from one user interface element to another user interface element. In the normal mode, navigation to an independent element causes the independent element to become the selected element. In the decoupled mode, navigation to an independent element does not change which, if any, of the independent elements is the selected element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Bernard Rummel, Heinz Willumeit
  • Patent number: 7614010
    Abstract: An interface apparatus controls at least activation and termination of one or more registered application programs in accordance with user operations. The apparatus includes a first holding section configured to hold information of the application programs; a user operation acceptance section; a second holding section configured to receive and hold status information of each application program; a list presentation section configured to present an application program list window and to indicate at least whether a status of each application program is a running status or a terminated status based on the status information; a selection section configured to select an application program to be controlled from among the application programs in accordance with a predetermined first user operation; and a control section configured to control the status of the selected application program based on the status information when the user operation acceptance section has accepted a predetermined second user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Hosoki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090271704
    Abstract: A window of a computer application on a display device is controlled through associating a pop-up window with the screen window of the computer application, wherein the computer application provides more than one screen window and a pop-up window is associated with each screen window of the computer application, and at least one mouse-sensitive area is defined for each screen window of the computer application, such that a mouse click on a mouse-sensitive area causes the appropriate pop-up window to be displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Burlington English Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark B. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20090267909
    Abstract: An electronic device and a user interface display method thereof are provided. The method organizes a plurality of computer programs and a web browser executable on the electronic device into a virtual book. Each page of the virtual book includes a user interface of one of the computer programs or a web page displayed by the web browser. The method also displays one of the pages as a destination page in response to an operating action of a user on the electronic device so that the user interface or the web page of the destination page is accessible to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Nien Chen, Yi-Ching Liu, Yi-Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 7610562
    Abstract: Methods and systems present commands to a user within a software application program by determining the user's context within the application program and automatically presenting in a user interface commands that pertain to the user's current context. When the user's context changes, the context-sensitive commands are automatically removed from the user interface. In one implementation context blocks and context panes are employed to present the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Rockey, Shannon P. Talbott, Gavin M. Kelly, Nancy E. Jacobs, Michael J. Hopcroft, Daniel J. Westreich, Jonathan D. Perlow, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7600190
    Abstract: A window switching method. A window list is automatically adjusted according a lower limit to the sizes of program symbols on the window list, thus preventing the symbols on the window list from unlimited shrinkage due to an increased number of runtime program windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Mitac Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Huai-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7596761
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for a portable electronic device includes an application display region that displays a current application context of an application and a navigation bar adjacent to the application display region. The navigation bar includes two horizontally adjacent regions, comprising a current context region for displaying an indicator of the current application context and a prior context region for displaying an indicator of an application context preceding the current application context. The application display region simulates shifting of the application display in a first direction upon detecting user selection of the prior context region, and simulates shifting of the application display in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon detecting user selection of an application context different from the current application context and the prior application context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen O. Lemay, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, Marcel Van Os, Freddy Allen Anzures
  • Patent number: 7595810
    Abstract: Methods to manipulate a screen space of a display device are disclosed. A plurality of application windows of a plurality of applications are displayed on a screen space. At least a first application and a second application are executing to display a plurality of windows. A user interface of system level applications maybe displayed. A selection of a single application mode is received. In response to the receiving of the selection of the single application mode, all the windows are removed automatically from the screen space, except for a first application window. At least the first and second applications continue being executed. The user interface of the system level applications may continue to be displayed. Next, a request to display a second application window is received. The second application window is displayed while the first application window is removed from the screen space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John Louch
  • Patent number: 7594185
    Abstract: A method for a user to preview multiple virtual desktops in a graphical user interface is described. The method comprises receiving an indication from a user to preview the multiple virtual desktops and displaying multiple panes on the display. Each pane contains a scaled virtual desktop having dimensions that are proportionally less than the dimensions of a corresponding full-size virtual desktop. Each scaled virtual desktop displays with one or more scaled application windows as shadows if the corresponding full-size virtual desktop has one or more corresponding application windows that are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bret Paul Anderson, Kelly Elizabeth Rollin, Daniel J Shapiro
  • Patent number: 7594183
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a method, system and computer program product for capturing a workflow are provided. A capture application automatically stores at least a portion of a copied screen of a source application from a clipboard to provide a captured screen. The capture application repeats the automatic storing to provide a set of captured screens. In various embodiments, a document is built based on the set of captured screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Scott Dreher
  • Patent number: 7590945
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for managing user-sessions. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes logic configured to display a user interface for initiating a command to launch a business application on a computer display of a user; logic configured to associate a launched business application with a user-session; logic configured to display business applications of an active session on the computer display; a first user interface control for allowing a user to select a particular business application of an inactive session; and logic configured to display the selected particular business application on the computer display with the business applications associated with the active session. Other systems and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lisa K. Sims, Damon Lockwood, Michael Levy, Richard Omanson, Robert Schumacher, Michael Murphy, Frank Germano, Jill Wene Cheeks
  • Publication number: 20090228824
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are disclosed for organizing, managing and presenting widgets in display areas associated with multiple dashboard environments. In some implementations, a first display area associated with a first dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a first set of widgets. A second display area associated with a second dashboard environment is configured for displaying at least one widget from a second set of widgets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott Forstall, Imran A. Chaudhri, John O. Louch, Eric Steven Peyton
  • Publication number: 20090222758
    Abstract: A content reproduction apparatus and method are provided. The content reproduction apparatus includes a creation module which creates a log information list including log information regarding one or more valid portions selected from an original content; and a reproduction module which reproduces an unoriginal content with reference to the log information list, the unoriginal content being a combination of the one or more selected valid portions of the original content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deok-Won KIM, Young-Kyu JIN, Seung-Eok CHOI, Hyun-Joo KANG
  • Patent number: 7581195
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Publication number: 20090199126
    Abstract: A method of automatically organizing toolbars on a user interface for a software application includes calculating an amount of free space in the first toolbar row of the user interface, determining a size of a toolbar in a second toolbar row of the user interface, and automatically moving the tool bar from the second tool bar row to the free space in the first tool bar row if the amount of free space in the first toolbar row is greater than the size of the toolbar. Moving the toolbar to the first toolbar row maximizes available free space for an application window of the computer application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bhavan Kasivajjula Kumar, Kannepalli Venkata Sreekanth
  • Patent number: 7568165
    Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Amadio, Oliver Fisher, Brian Teutsch