Abstract: A system and method for device selection in a computer system. In certain systems a user may be required to pick a device from a known set of devices. For example, in a video conferencing application, a user may be required to pick which video camera will be utilized for the session. In one embodiment of the invention, the device selection process comprises the following steps. First, the caller creates the device picker (which in turn creates the common file dialog object). Then, the caller may choose an item filter to use and then initializes the device picker with that item filter. Then the device picker displays all the relevant devices in a common file dialog, and the user may choose a device. After a device is chosen, the device picker returns the reference to that device back to the caller.

Abstract: A tool for creating collections of data objects is described. The tool may include a basket or list pane control in an explorer frame that includes interfaces for receiving and displaying data objects, or shortcuts to data objects, that are selected by a user to be included in a collection such as a static list. The list pane control may be employed by itself to make collections, or it may be hosted by another software object, such as an explorer frame that contains both the list pane control and one or more user interfaces, such as a navigation pane, that a user can employ to navigate an operating system shell and provide data objects to the list pane control, which remains rooted in a single collection as the user navigates throughout the file system.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: System and methods for managing content on a media device such as a portable digital audio device are described. The system recognizes when a digital audio device is connected to a computer and it automatically notifies a user that the audio device is connected and provides an entry point through which content of the audio device can be managed. The audio device is presented in an extended namespace (UI extension) of an operating system user interface in the same manner that typical storage devices (e.g., hard drives and floppy drives) are presented by the operating system user interface. Contents (e.g., music files) of the audio device are manageable through the UI extension in the same familiar manner as the contents of other typical storage devices of the computer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing graphical representations for selected properties. The system draws each item based on the type of property being shown. For example, for selected types of properties, the drawing may be delegated to a drawing handler component for that specific type of property. For example, if a music rating is being displayed, a special drawing handler component handles the drawing, which, in one example embodiment may be a number of graphical stars. The system is architected so that the drawing handlers are registered independently of the other system components, such that new types of drawing handlers can be added without requiring changes to the other system components. This allows for greater flexibility and simplifies updates to the drawing handlers.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which static lists facilitate arbitrary grouping of items of data independent of their locations and in ways that are meaningful to the user. A static list is a set of items defined by a root item, a direction, and the entry relationships with that root item in that direction. The static list also defines the properties that each entry relationship in the list is required to have. Verbs are provided to manage a static list. A verb is an action that may be performed on the items in the static list, and includes, among others, move, copy, add, remove, and delete. A view is provided to specify characteristics for displaying data from a static list, including visibility, order, and formatting, among other characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting a plurality of items to a user with a contextual display. A computer system is provided which includes a data store. At least a portion of the items in the data store include one or more field entries. An explorer interacts with the data store, selects items having one or more desired field entries, and displays the selected items according to an explorer display schema. An application may select the items from the data store and may interact with a shell browser to present the selected items. A method for establishing an explorer for presenting items in a data store to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting related items to a user. A universal data store is provided which contains a plurality of items. A portion of the items contain relational information that allows relationships between two or more of the plurality of items to be determined. A shell presents a selected item to a user and is configured to utilize the relational information to present one or more items in the data store which are related to the selected item.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting a plurality of items of multiple types to a user. A universal data store is provided which contains a plurality of items. A portion of the items contain metadata stored in accordance with an item decoration schema. A shell presents items with corresponding metadata with an item decoration view and items without the metadata with a default display view. A shell display view is utilized to display a set of heterogeneous items and an explorer display view is provided to display items.

Abstract: A programming interface for a computer platform can include various functionality. In certain embodiments, the programming interface includes one or more of a first group of services related to re-usable user interface controls, a second group of services related to user interface dialogs and user interface wizards, a third group of services related to extending the user interface functionality, and a fourth group of services related to extending functionality of a desktop of the user interface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for discovering printers and shares on a computer network. Each domain on the network is identified, and each computer in the domain is identified. In addition, each printer connected to the computer and each share on the computer is identified. Shortcuts to the identified printers and shares are created on at least one computer on the network. Moreover, drivers are preferably installed on the computer for each printer for which a shortcut was created. In the event that the total number of resources (i.e., shares and/or printers) exceeds a threshold, then the process terminates. Otherwise, the present invention continues until all printers and shares on the network are identified, and the appropriate shortcuts are created. Thus, the present invention provides methods and systems for discovering resources on a network.

Abstract: Computers on a local computer network, such as a home network or a small business network, are formed into a secured network group that provides common user access control and enables resource sharing among the computers in the group. A computer on the local network discovers whether there are secured network groups existing on the local network. If one secured network group is found, the computer indicates to a second computer in the group its desire to join the group, and establishes trust with that computer, such as by entering a proper user name and password, or a secret identification number. Once the trust is established, the first computer joins the group. Within the secured network group, user accounts and user profiles are replicated to each of the computers in the group. The establishment of trust and the replication of user accounts and profiles among the computers in the group enable the implementation of security policies and user access control in a group-wide manner.

Abstract: A computer system and method are presented that enhance a user experience when viewing images displayed on the computer. The system includes a user interface for the computer that displays a number of thumbnail images that are representations of image files existing on the computer. The thumbnail images are arranged in alignment with one another, such as at the bottom of a viewing window. An enlarged preview image is positioned adjacent the thumbnail image. The preview image corresponds to a selected one of the thumbnail images. A control is displayed in the window that enables the user to iterate through the thumbnail images in at least one direction. As the user iterates through the thumbnail images, the enlarged preview image changes correspondingly.