Task Bar Or Desktop Control Panel Patents (Class 715/779)
  • Patent number: 8832586
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a network or Internet site; and a controller operatively connected to the wireless communication unit and configured to set an automatic login region or time period within the mobile terminal for automatically logging into the network or Internet site, to determine whether or not the mobile terminal has entered or exited the automatic login region or time period and generate a corresponding determination result, and to automatically log into the network or Internet site if the determination result indicates that the mobile terminal has entered the automatic login region or time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yoo Mee Song, Byung Sang Yeo, Seong Yoon Cho, Yee Rang Yun, Hye Youn Cho, Dong Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8819576
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating an input to an electronic device are described herein. An example method for facilitating an input field of an electronic device includes presenting a menu item for selection while the electronic device is in a first physical state and identifying the menu item selected when the electronic device is in the first physical state. The method includes detecting whether the electronic device is in a second physical state after selection of the menu item and presenting an input field associated with the menu item selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Ignor, Simon Edward Coulson
  • Patent number: 8819585
    Abstract: Tabs or other display elements that do not comply with traditional “window” requirements can be individually presented to a user when the window containing such tabs or other display elements is hidden or obscured. The user can be enabled to perform tab-specific actions, such as closing a particular tab, or viewing a specific tab without interacting with the containing window. Executing processes utilizing such tabs can register them and provide order and display information. Subsequent tab-specific actions can be received and directed to such executing processes. Additional requests, such as for thumbnails and bitmaps, can be directed to such executing processes in order to implement the tab presentation mechanisms and to provide for the tab-specific actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chaitanya Dev Sareen, Gregory Alexander Lett, Tony Edward Schreiner, Helen Elizabeth Drislane
  • Publication number: 20140229886
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for controlling a system bar of a user equipment, and a user equipment. The method includes: detecting a display status of the system bar; and when the system bar is presented on the screen of the user equipment, and the presented system bar includes a hidden button, receiving a first input used to select the hidden button and input by an input unit to hide the system bar; or when the system bar is not presented on the screen of the user equipment, receiving a second input which is input by the input unit to present the system bar. In the foregoing technical solutions, by flexibly invoking or hiding a system bar integrated with various information and/or convenient buttons, the screen can be used to display content to the greatest extent, so as to improve the utilization rate of the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HUAWEI DEVICE CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Yi DING, Bin WU, Feng HE, Hang YIN, Yuandan KE, Zejin GUO
  • Publication number: 20140229885
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing tasks and related tasks. While a user is performing a task, a group of related tasks is presented. When a new task is selected, a new group of related tasks is provided. This allows a user to perform a series of tasks without having to separately search for each task. As the user moves between tasks, task information items are passed between the tasks so that previously provided information can be preserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Sandy Wong, William Ramsey, Peter Bailey, I, Paul Reinholdtsen
  • Patent number: 8806363
    Abstract: A framed user interface operating on a computer or similar system may allow a user to select certain interactive instances contained within the framed user interface. The user of the computer system may modify the framed user interface to suit individual or group preferences. The user may select the user interactive instances through the framed user interface and then the framed user interface may act on that selection. Once selected, the user interactive instance may be available in a workspace area for user manipulation. The framed user interface may allow for logical organization of various types of user instances available on a typical computer or consumer electronics platforms. It also may enable ready-availability of certain user interactive instances and instant startup by having them perennially loaded in a random access memory and executable without the need to be later launched or initiated from permanent memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jinesh Sonawala
  • Patent number: 8799813
    Abstract: A method and system for providing menu tools directly from an operating system includes a computer system having a user interface including a display, a cursor, and a cursor control device, and an operating system. Menu tools are provided to one or more application windows. A menu item associated with a menu tool represents an available operating system function and an interactive icon associated with the menu item may be placed in a toolbar region in one of the application windows for access to the function. A special operating mode is activated for selecting menu items for use in the toolbar and making the function associated with the menu item available to the application by moving the menu item to the toolbar region. The menu item is represented as an interactive icon once the special operating mode is activated. The operating system function associated with the menu item is made available to the application window directly from the operating system by interaction with the icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay, Tim Wasko
  • Patent number: 8793618
    Abstract: A robust window pane display system and method for coordinating window pane displays in the form of dashboards to assist nurses and doctors in the treatment of a medical patient based upon various medical situations. The window pane display system may be linked to a computer or computer network. The system may involve multiple dashboards for a multi-stage procedure or operation having discrete dashboards for each stage of the multi-stage procedure. A method for creating new dashboards for use in the window pane display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140208257
    Abstract: Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated with respective one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions provided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up interface for providing at least one of preview information determined from information managed by the applications and/or functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventor: Sherryl Lee Lorraine SCOTT
  • Publication number: 20140201672
    Abstract: A predictive contextual toolbar is presented that provides an identifiable region on which predicted commands can be surfaced. This user interface can be presented in cases where an indication of a request for a command (such as a formatting tool) is received, for example, while a user is interacting with a canvas of a productivity application. When conditions for surfacing a predictive command are met, the system can display an identifiable region on which predicted commands are surfaced according to context associated with the conditions for surfacing the predictive command. The identifiable region may be an extension of a mini toolbar. One or more dynamic predicted commands can be surfaced on the identifiable region to provide easily accessible, user specific, context related commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric M. Borzello, Kathleen R. Kelly, Charles Marcus Reid, III
  • Publication number: 20140195962
    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: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    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: 8776078
    Abstract: A method dynamically frees computer resources in a multitasking and windowing environment by activating a GUI widget to initiate pausing of an application, pausing CPU processing of the application code, maintaining data of the application in main memory, storing state information for the application code and a process of the application in mass storage, removing the application code from main memory to mass storage, when another application requires additional memory, activating another GUI widget to resume running of the application, restoring the state information for the code and the process to main memory before the application resumes running, and resuming the CPU processing of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arnon Amir, Nimrod Megiddo
  • Patent number: 8775967
    Abstract: An integrated graphical runtime interface that provides a secure, highly available environment for process control systems is disclosed. In one example, a method for displaying process control information via a graphical user interface instantiates a runtime workspace application to operatively interpose between an operator station operating system and a user. The example method displays a plurality of panels via the graphical user interface and displays a portion of the process control information associated with a runtime application in at least one of the plurality of panels via the runtime workspace application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Ken J. Beoughter, Bruce Campney, Tennyson Hao, Richard Rodriguez, Cheyenne Hernanadez, Stephen Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20140189546
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a mechanism to allow end users to install web applications and websites onto their desktop. In accordance with one or more embodiments, client-side code can be utilized to allow developers associated with a website to define boundaries associated with user interaction, and have those boundaries enforced by a run-time engine. In at least some embodiments, developers can provide, through JavaScript code and/or HTML markup, various configurations for the creation of a start menu shortcut, navigation, and so-called jumplist integration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Israel Hilerio, Mara B. Patton, Phu Hoang Le, Justin Martin Posey, Kinnary M. Jangla, Carlos Yeung, Alexander H. Malek, Bruce A. Morgan, John E. Davis, Mustapha Jaber, Mary-Lynne Williams, Martin J. Hall
  • Patent number: 8769428
    Abstract: The present disclosure features methods and systems for updating a taskbar, generated and displayed by a local computer, with a user interface element representative of a remote application executing on a remote computer and application output generated by the remote application. These methods and system include a local client receiving application output generated by a remote application and remote window configuration information, generating an application output window comprising local taskbar grouping configuration information, and updating a taskbar responsive to the local taskbar grouping configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham Mir, Georgy Momchilov, Prasanna Padmanabhan
  • Publication number: 20140181726
    Abstract: A method for proving a quick launch access includes: acquiring position information of a Taskbar in an operation interface; creating a self-defined quick launch window, and providing a quick launch access in the self-defined quick launch window; arranging the self-defined quick launch window adjacent to a Start menu bar in the operation interface according to the position information of the Taskbar; and detecting a change of the Taskbar periodically, and adjusting a position of the self-defined quick launch window according to the change of the Taskbar. Further, a device for providing a quick launch access and a storage medium are provided. With the technical solution stated above, the user operation can be improved efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Baojian WANG, Liming LlU, Zhongxing HU, Xin TUO, Kang GAO
  • Patent number: 8756524
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a portable electronic device comprising at least one processor; a display connected to the processor and controllable by the processor; and non-volatile storage configured to maintain a plurality of applications and an application programming interface for enabling generation and control of a title bar, wherein the application programming interface includes a private part for managing the state of the title bar and a public part that provides an interface to the applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Yoojin Hong, Donald James Lindsay, Dominik Buszko, Michael Lee Foster
  • Publication number: 20140164957
    Abstract: A display device for executing a plurality of applications and a method for controlling the display device are provided. The method includes displaying a plurality of windows in which applications are executed respectively, receiving an iconize input for executing the plurality of windows, checking window information about each of the plurality of windows and discontinuing the displaying of the plurality of windows, and generating a shortcut icon for executing the plurality of windows simultaneously, based on the checked window information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Hyuck SHIN, Sung-Hwan KIM, Doo-Hwan KIM, Jae-Yeol LEE, Kun-Woo BAEK, Hee-Ran YOUN
  • Patent number: 8751951
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to control computer-based interfaces from anywhere in a GUI (e.g. a window, a desktop, etc.) regardless of the fixed position of the instances. Specifically, using a pointing device or the like (e.g., by right clicking), a user can activate an instance control function that allows the user to open an instance, close an instance, and/or or switch between running instances. Along these lines, the instance control function can be activated by interacting with an icon, a window (e.g., corresponding a folder or a running instance), or a desktop. Once activated, the instance control function allows the user full control over instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hema J. Kaprani, Vinay V. Peshave, Anand G. Umbare, Dinesh G. Wadekar
  • Patent number: 8745520
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing content previews. One apparatus operates to display one or more user interface controls as a foreground against a background on a display device; receive user input resulting in a user interface state that has an associated action; and display as the background a preview of the associated action. In another aspect, the user input gives focus to a user interface control that has associated content; and a preview of the associated content is displayed without further action on the part of the user. In another aspect, user interface controls are displayed; and giving input focus to a particular user interface control that has associated content causes an apparatus to play a preview of the associated content without further action on the part of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Allan P. Padgett, Johnnie B. Manzari
  • Patent number: 8739065
    Abstract: In a method for managing software menus using a computing device, a template file from a storage system is loaded. A name of an array, names of a plurality of software menus of the array, names of a plurality of buttons of the software menus and separators between the buttons, and parameters comprising an identifier (ID) and an image path of each of the buttons are obtained by parsing each line of instructions in the template file. A toolbar container for storing the obtained data having a predetermined memory frame is created. The software menus are established at a predetermined location in a preset window and the buttons of each of the software menus are added for each of the established software menus by reading data in the toolbar container. The window with the established software menus is displayed on a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Xin-Yuan Wu, Fei Wang, Heng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8739058
    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: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Fisher, Paul Erickson, Louis Amadio, Brian Teutsch
  • Patent number: 8732614
    Abstract: A system may provide a toolbar in a browser at a client, where the toolbar permits user selection from multiple different services for sharing document content. The system may receive a selection of a first one of the multiple different services from a user via the toolbar and may receive a selection of content of a first document browsed by the user. The system may post the selected content in a second document associated with the first one of the multiple different services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Blain, Alex Mendes da Costa, Na Tang
  • Patent number: 8726145
    Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed to facilitate communication to, with, and for persons with special needs. The system can provide assistance with reading, test-taking, language development, or other forms of communication. The system is compatible with a variety of types of input (173), and provides a variety of options for output (174). In one embodiment, the system is portable, and can be connected to a number of different devices having varying purposes. In another embodiment, the system is software designed to be utilized as a stand-alone software application, or in conjunction with an existing or third-party application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: gh LLC
    Inventors: David A. Schleppenbach, Joe P. Said
  • Publication number: 20140123054
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a dockbar implementation method, device and system, which belong to the field of communications. The method includes: acquiring an interface operation instruction for an application program inside a dockbar; generating a dockbar interface refresh data according to the interface operation instruction; and refreshing an interface of the dockbar according to the dockbar interface refresh data. The device includes an application layer and a logic layer. The present disclosure can realize the dynamicity of the dockbar and improve the flexibility of the dockbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yanqing Cai, Zhuomeng Li, Yong Peng, Jinqiu Li, Hongjie Liu, Yangfeng Ou, Yanbing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8713466
    Abstract: Method and user interface for controlling an apparatus are provided. At least one dynamic bar is provided for displaying on a main screen of a graphical user interface for controlling the apparatus. Each dynamic bar is associated with respective one or more interfaces for applications and/or functions provided by the apparatus and each dynamic bar has a pop-up interface for providing at least one of preview information determined from information managed by the applications and/or functions and links to invoke said respective interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott
  • Patent number: 8713444
    Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing multiple content windows. The content windows may host a web browser, a shell view, a word processing application, and the like. A set of content windows are grouped into a frame in a manner such that a taskbar shows one item for the set of content windows. Each content window is associated with a tab for the frame. A content-specific menu may be associated with each tab. The content-specific menu includes a set of commands based on the heterogeneous content hosted in the content window. The set of commands provide functionality to the heterogeneous content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron J. Sauve, Charles Cummins, Cornelis K. Van Dok, Tony E. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 8707198
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing tasks and related tasks. While a user is performing a task, a group of related tasks is presented. When a new task is selected, a new group of related tasks is provided. This allows a user to perform a series of tasks without having to separately search for each task. As the user moves between tasks, task information items are passed between the tasks so that previously provided information can be preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Sandy Wong, William Ramsey, Peter Bailey, Paul Reinholdtsen
  • Patent number: 8706708
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for creation, implementation, and use of computer-generated “smart” documents to which functionality is attached for providing contextually sensitive tools, controls and help content to users of those documents. Portions of documents are annotated with Extensible Markup Language (XML) tags and structure so that when a user enters those portions, such as by placing a computer cursor in those portions, the user is provided contextually sensitive tools, controls and/or help content. A document tools pane may open on the user's computer screen adjacent to the document being edited for providing the document tools, controls or help content related to the context of the text or data in which the cursor is located. If the user moves the cursor to another portion of the document, the user may obtain information associated with the context of the new portion of the document in which the cursor is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Reynar, Paul Broman, Joe Keng Yap
  • Publication number: 20140101599
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an advertisement in a sidebar, and/or in a slidesheet associated with an application module displayed in the sidebar. The advertisement is targeted to the sidebar user based upon user specific information maintained by a content provider. The user specific information can comprise, sidebar application information, user preference information, shared user information and other information associated with the user that can be used to select an advertisement targeted to the user. An advertisement displayed in a slidesheet can be selected based upon user information and/or the functionality provided by the application module associated with the slidesheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Ashit Gandhi, Vincent Sollicito, Marc Bishop, Stephen Miller
  • Patent number: 8694920
    Abstract: An application status system is described herein that informs the user about application-specific status updates and notifications through a changing status icon associated with an application-switching user interface displayed by an operating system when the application is running. When an application has focus, there is typically no way for another application to display status to the user without displaying a dialog box or a notification balloon that interrupts the user. The application status system takes advantage of the existing application-switching user interface to display a lightweight status icon overlay on the application-switching user interface itself. Thus, the application status system allows applications to provide application-specific status updates without interrupting a user's activity in another application and without adding additional UI for a user to process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Latika Kirtane, Chaitanya D. Sareen, Bret P. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140096065
    Abstract: A user interface display method that facilitates setting of various setting parameters for controlling an application program and preserving past values of the setting parameters as historical snapshots. When a setting panel is displayed and the user modifies setting parameter values in the setting panel and saves the new values, the pre-modified setting parameter values are saved as a historical snapshot, and the modified values are saved as the current setting parameters for controlling the program. Historical snapshots of setting panels that have been saved in the past can be displayed simultaneously with the current setting panel in a manner that visually simulates a stack of panels. The user can select any one of the historical panels in the stack, modify the setting values in that panel, and save the modified values as the current settings while keeping the historical snapshot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Danny Naoshi Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 8689133
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for managing a catalog display in an e-commerce system. In an embodiment, an e-commerce data processing system can include a catalog sub-system and catalog display management logic. The catalog display management logic can include program code enabled to select between displaying an active mode view and a passive mode view for catalog items in a catalog. In this regard, the active mode can include a catalog display, a subset of catalog items rendered in a static view in the catalog display, and at least one detailed view of detailed information in the catalog display for a selected one of the catalog items in the static view. Likewise, the passive mode view can include a catalog display, a subset of catalog items rendered in a static view in the catalog display, and at least one detailed view of changing detailed information in the catalog display for cycled ones of the catalog items in the static view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Muller
  • Publication number: 20140075353
    Abstract: Systems and methods for uploading documents to a document database by using an efficient drag and drop interface is provided. The drag and drop interface may include a persistent and movable drop box rendered on an operating system. The drop box may be preconfigured to interface with or access a document database to upload one or more documents. Furthermore, the drop box may be persistently available on a desktop of the operating system. For example, the drop box may be visible and accessible through any other interface, such as a web browser or email client, that may be rendered in the same pixel locations as the drop box. Accordingly, one or more objects may be dragged and dropped for upload to the document database from any other interface or from the desktop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: INWARE, LLC
    Inventor: David D. McDermott
  • Publication number: 20140075370
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a device and a method allows for body-based interaction with 3D applications on wall displays. The interface consists of virtual dockable tools which can be unholstered, used to manipulate geometry, and holstered on the user's body. The system also utilizes proprioceptive cues to allow the user to manipulate and holster tools without visual feedback. A 3D depth camera maps 3D user position to 3D coordinates in the virtual scene. Partitioning the physical work space into a region for interaction with geometry, and a region for tool management allows for intuitive mapping between the physical and virtual work space. The system can support multiple users, including simultaneous interaction with the environment, and tool exchange between users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Kelleher Riccio Guerin, Gregory Hager
  • Patent number: 8667505
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide message queue management techniques designed to reduce the likelihood of multi-component applications becoming nonresponsive and enable recovery options for individual components if they do become nonresponsive. In at least some embodiments, a message queue manager detects when a component of an application interface becomes nonresponsive and detaches the component from a shared message queue. The shared message queue can continue to process messages for other responsive components while messaging for the nonresponsive component is managed via a separate queue. The message queue manager can also notify a user regarding the nonresponsive component and provide the user with options to facilitate recovery of the nonresponsive component. Further, in at least some embodiments, the message queue manager can monitor a detached component and reattach the detached component when it becomes responsive again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn M. Woods, Herman H Ng, Daniel James Plaster, Alex J. Glover
  • Publication number: 20140059477
    Abstract: Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Curtis Glenn Wong
  • Publication number: 20140053097
    Abstract: A method for providing a user interface, the method includes displaying a foreground application window on a touch screen of a mobile communication device, detecting an input pattern for displaying a multi-tasking bar, displaying the multi-tasking bar on the touch screen in response to detecting the input pattern for displaying the multi-tasking bar, the multi-tasking bar configured to divide the touch screen into at least two areas, and resizing the foreground application window within a first area of the at least two areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Hyang Eim SHIN, Ye Seul Park, Tong Jeong
  • Patent number: 8656300
    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: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Matthews, Mark R. Ligameri, Charles Cummins, Jeffrey W. Pettiross, R. Syam Kumar, Charles W. Stabb, Yeming Shi
  • Patent number: 8645839
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for an online desktop distribution is described. In one embodiment, an online desktop operates on a client with an online desktop distributor having an operating system with one or more kernels compiled for usermode. A server coupled to the client stores and uploads a user profile setting to the client to configure the online desktop on the client based on a user login on the online desktop. The online desktop can be booted from the client with the online desktop distributor or run as a hosted operating system in usermode under a default operating system of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Paul Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140033112
    Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of window panels within a computer software application including generating a window panel that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application, indicating that a plurality of window panels generated by the generating are fastened together as a single union, wherein a union comprises at least one window panel that behave together as a single geometrical area when moved by a user within a computer display screen, the indicating occurring when one of the plurality of window panels is in close proximity to another of the plurality of window panels within the computer display screen, rigidly moving a union of window panels as a single geometrical area within the computer display screen, and detecting that a second union is in close proximity to a first union within the computer display screen. A system and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: ACD Systems International Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Landman, Joaquin De Soto
  • Publication number: 20140033111
    Abstract: A method of displaying a status bar includes displaying a status bar indicating a played state of contents and enlarging a section including a selected position and displaying the enlarged section at a position separated from the status bar when a predetermined position is selected from the status bar. A second section including a second position is enlarged to display the enlarged second section at a position separated from the status bar and the enlarged section when the second position is selected from the displayed enlarged section. The section is enlarged proportional to a distance to a terminated position of a drag from the status bar and displaying the enlarged section when a touch is dragged from the predetermined position of the status bar in a direction other than an advance direction of the status bar in the predetermined position of the status bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: HUMAX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youngjoe YOO
  • Patent number: 8640089
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing and deploying a business activity monitoring (BAM) dashboard associated with an event-based process are disclosed. A configuration module receives an event-based process identifier for an event-based process and data, such as inputs or outputs, for the event-based process. A generation module then generates a dashboard description that includes the identifier and an associated dashboard template having one or more dashboard components. This dashboard description is used by a dashboard server to automatically generate a BAM dashboard for monitoring the event-based process by using the association between the dashboard template and the event-based process to display data associated with the event-based process using one or more dashboard components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Software AG
    Inventors: John Bates, Gareth Smith, Richard M. Bentley, James Arsenault, Aston Chan, Kevin A. Palfreyman, Robert S. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8640153
    Abstract: An interactive TV device is configured to receive and process multiple broadband input streams simultaneously. The device includes functionality to perform as a Web browser, HF, cable and satellite TV receiver, a digital PVR, an interactive TV set-top box, an advanced central processing unit and a videoconferencing device, thanks to an integrated videoconferencing camera. The present interactive TV device is configured to manage all multimedia sources identically, whether the input is a TV channel, a Web page, or a video stream played back from a data carrier such as a DVD, for example. The present interactive TV device is also configured to enable a user to watch and record a plurality of video streams simultaneously and to display them on four independently manageable quarter screen segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Korishima Property LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Gatto, Luis Nobre
  • Patent number: 8640045
    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 user bar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater ease of access to open application windows, a context menu listing open windows associated with an item representation can be generated in response to a user input received by the item representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8640044
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8631342
    Abstract: A computer display control system comprises an input module adapted to receive a user input corresponding to a composited desktop display where the composited desktop display displays at least two active desktops corresponding to at least two different computers. The input module is adapted to automatically determine to which of the desktops the user input corresponds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Roland M. Hochmuth, John Marks
  • Patent number: 8621373
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Burtner, Thomas V. Gruver
  • Patent number: 8621372
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an advertisement in a sidebar, and/or in a slidesheet associated with an application module displayed in the sidebar. The advertisement is targeted to the sidebar user based upon user specific information maintained by a content provider. The user specific information can comprise, sidebar application information, user preference information, shared user information and other information associated with the user that can be used to select an advertisement targeted to the user. An advertisement displayed in a slidesheet can be selected based upon user information and/or the functionality provided by the application module associated with the slidesheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ashit Gandhi, Vincent Sollicito, Marc Bishop, Stephen Miller
  • Publication number: 20130346907
    Abstract: A method may include generating a desktop including a plurality of objects organized in accordance with at least one of a theme and a structure; generating a toolbar configured for presentation with the desktop; and generating, based on the multi-level zoom, a second view representative of the at least one of the plurality of objects and a third view representative of the at least one of the plurality of objects, the second view providing more content of the at least one of the plurality of objects when compared to the first view, and the third view providing more content of the at least one of the plurality of objects when compared to the second view, the first, second, and third views maintaining the same context within the toolbar, when presented with respect to the toolbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Udo Arend, Johan Christiaan Peters, Vera Legisa, Rainer Matthias