RU2336553C2 - System and method for support of applications that are minimised with expanded set of functions - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, computer equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention is related to systems and methods of provision of user access to information. System may include insert for installation of multiple elements of mosaic image, and applications may be minimised and installed in insert after minimisation. At that, when application is represented by element of mosaic image in insert, selected functions of application remain available through element of mosaic image. Besides, system may also contain elements of user interface control that give the chance to user to control location of selected application in insert, at that application may include module of available functions selection so that application could provide at least subset of full set of functions after minimisation. Module of insert may be provided for insertion of mosaic image element into user interface.

EFFECT: provision of automatic dynamic access to communications and awareness in information in interactive peripheral display, so the user does not have to switch between communication channels or types of information.

36 cl, 18 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to computing environments. In more detail, embodiments of the invention are oriented to a system and method for presenting information to end users for selection and interaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's information-rich environments, such as the Internet, local or remote computer networks, or in any combination of the Internet and such networks, it is often difficult for the user to trace potentially large volumes of communications and information of interest. Such communications and information include, for example, email, instant messaging, file transfer, local weather, appointments, schedules, personal contacts, statistical information, file status, stock prices, sports results, local traffic or any other type of communication or information. This problem becomes especially acute when communications and / or information are dynamic, such that rapid, numerous or large changes in the state of communications or channels, or in information, lead to obsolescence of the message and / or information, which often become practically useless to the user.

In response to this problem, several common schemes have been developed to assist users in monitoring certain communications or information that do not require the user to manually search or manually check for communications or information updates each time the user wishes to check communications or information. However, such schemes are usually limited to the types of communications or information that can be traced or displayed in a way that accesses the communications or information or otherwise provides them to the user, or the inability to allow the sharing of communications or information between users. Further, the well-known circuits with which they tried to solve these problems are characterized by limitations associated with the inability to provide a single interface that allows parallel extraction of information, display or access in combination with communications and communication access points in a dynamic integrated environment. Consequently, users often remain with randomly organized display images that provide access or interaction with specific types of communications or with certain information, but not simultaneously with communications, access to information and interaction in an integrated environment.

Several well-known messaging schemes have attempted to solve these problems. However, such schemes usually provide large windows, which occupy a significant part of the screen space. In addition, such schemes, while providing a small amount of communication capabilities, along with some information collection or display capabilities, tend to separate communication capabilities from information capabilities through one or more bookmarks or the like. Therefore, specific information cannot be easily shared or transferred from the applications provided by these schemes. In addition, such schemes become slow as the amount of user-tracked information increases, as well as as the number of communication contacts supported by an increased number of users. In particular, as the amount of information increases, the user is forced to view a large amount of data or communication channels.

For example, several well-known messaging schemes provide the ability to track information, such as stock prices, weather, news, or other information, over the Internet, or some other local or remote network, or some combination thereof. Further, these conventional schemes also provide access to communications, such as instant text messaging, file transfer, email, etc. through one of the many communication channels for contacts in one or more contact groups. Therefore, the user is able to monitor information and communicate with specific objects. Unfortunately, with these schemes, the user cannot do both at the same time. He is forced to switch between different types of information and communication capabilities. Therefore, the user is not able to share the data observed through information bookmarks and contacts in communication bookmarks, unless the user manually saves or copies information, switches bookmarks, manually creates a message to a specific contact, and either does not attach or paste information into it message.

Further, since these well-known schemes are characterized by the presence of numerous bookmarks, they require a rather large window for displaying information and related controls or icons. Unfortunately, such windows are hidden under the windows of other applications in the case when the user uses other applications. Therefore, the user is often forced to interrupt the progress of work in order to switch between windows. Some schemes are aimed at solving this problem, which provide a support mode for an open message window. Although these schemes solve the problem of blocking the message window under other windows, the message window closes a potentially large part of any other open application window. Despite the fact that you can manually resize various application windows and move them around the screen in an attempt to give each window its own space, such manual user intervention can be time-consuming and annoying for an ordinary user.

In at least one conventional scheme, an attempt has been made to solve some of the above problems. This scheme provides an application that allows the user to configure at least one icon in the scroll bar along one edge of the computer display. This scheme provides links to specific sources of information folded into an icon and uses well-known techniques for filling each custom icon with information extracted from information sources. However, this scheme has several important limitations.

Despite the fact that this scheme provides for the collection and provision of information to the user, it is not able to provide the level of communication capabilities offered by message transfer schemes. For example, this scheme does not provide initiation of communication by means of an icon, while the icon can provide a communication state, such as the number of received messages, it does not provide a response to such messages. In addition, this scheme does not provide an attachment or other organization of groups of icons for combining multiple icons. In other words, opening a window associated with a single icon does not provide access to additional levels of grouped icons. Therefore, when using a large number of pictograms, pictograms are difficult to organize. In addition, the icons of this diagram are not easily moved and there is no real mechanism for transferring icons between users. Instead, users are required to receive icons from the application used to manage the icons. Other limitations of this scheme include the lack of resizing ability of a window containing a scroll bar used to display thumbnails. Further, for this scheme, it is characteristic that if the user adds too many elements, another line or bar is automatically created within the window, even if this line has only one icon, thereby wasting valuable display space.

The corresponding scheme allows the user to customize the creeping line display window to provide continuously updated scrolling of information from a predetermined set of available information. Although useful, this design is more limited than the previous design, for several reasons. First, a predefined set of information that is available to this scheme. Thus, if the type and source of information are not listed as elements of choice, they are not available. However, users are provided with limited control over certain types of information, such as, for example, characteristic stock symbols for stock quotes, selecting areas or news sections to generate automatic alerts, or selecting specific cities for generating weather reports. Another limitation is that users cannot add or edit sources of information by changing the icons as described above. In addition, since the creeping line scrolls, there is no guarantee that all information of interest will be visually accessible at any given time. Specifically, if the information of interest to the user is not currently visible, the user must wait for the information to scroll into the visible area. Therefore, this circuitry may become too distracting because the user is forced to watch the display constantly. Further, due to the fact that the scrollable scrolling line is in constant motion, this in itself is potentially very distracting to the user's attention, since it creates constant movement in the user's peripheral vision zone. Finally, the communication capabilities of this scheme are minimal compared to the aforementioned message transfer schemes.

However, other schemes for providing user-configurable representations or displays of information include a technique known as "Web-based Escarassing". In general, such schemes allow the user to define specific parts of unique Internet web pages, that is, the original web pages to be displayed on a separate, individually configured web page. Therefore, while such schemes provide the extraction and display of information, they do not provide communication capabilities.

For example, one Web escarnation scheme allows users to "clip off" the required data and informationally meaningful content (content) from various Internet websites and move it all together into one dynamic browser page, called a "presentation". This view is actually a composite web page. Thus, as soon as any of the source web pages undergoes a change, the composite web page is automatically updated. This scheme allows users to edit views in a variety of ways, such as adding, deleting, and rearranging data items and personalizing the view through data entered by the user himself. In addition, this scheme provides a way to transfer views between users. However, this scheme is characterized by many of the basic limitations that have been described above with respect to the above schemes. Such limitations include the inability to nest or organize representations and to organize many representations that are subject to simultaneous display. Also, as mentioned above, such schemes typically provide minimal communication or messaging capabilities.

The Web escarnation technique also requires views to open in a window that occupies a significant portion of the display device. In addition, the content of conventional web pages is usually not developed to minimize the area in which information is displayed, which leads to inefficient use of screen space. Further, if the part of the web page that has been escaped or otherwise cut off from the existing web page includes animation, the web page can be distracting if it is in the user's peripheral vision. Finally, because the Web escarnation technique is a mixture of different elements, the composite web page that results from this technique is usually an unattractive mix of disparate elements that were never designed visually to appear together on the same page. .

In some cases, the user may wish to be informed in real time about information and notifications. Known user interface systems do not provide a solution that is adequately focused on both of these needs, while providing the user with flexibility, ease of use, and configuration choice.

Even more than that, users often have to use controls or other application interfaces that are independent of their current task. In these cases, the user must switch the current task window to another window or application. For example, if a user uses a word processing package and wants to change the track of a CD or solve another similar problem, the user will have to access the controls of the application program of the media data player (media player), which is usually displayed in another window. An example of this is the WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER player in environments such as the WINDOWS operating system.

A new system and method are necessary in order to automatically provide dynamic access to communications and information awareness in an interactive peripheral display, without requiring the user to switch between communication channels or types of information. Further, such a system and process should not require the user to select from a predetermined list of communication access points and categories or sources of information, but instead should allow the creation and configuration of communication access points and information sources on an individual basis. Such communication access points should include communication channels for contacting other objects and displaying information from multiple applications. Sources of information should include any required elements of information, such as, for example, certain types of information or categories of information. In addition, this system and process should allow users to organize any required information sources into any required number of groups or nested groups. Also, these groups or nested groups must support user extension to enable the user to view nested groups, or communication access points, or information items within these groups or nested groups. Finally, this system and process should reduce clutter and increase uniformity in the user display while providing operational information and a platform for frequently used controls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for presenting and providing user access to information. A diagram is provided for representing frequently used controls and information.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for providing a user interaction scheme in a computing system. The method includes minimizing the application upon receipt of a user command, deploying a tile to represent the minimized application, and providing access to selected application features through the tile.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for providing a user interaction scheme in a computing system using a frame. The method includes moving the application to the insert after receiving a user command to minimize the application and providing access from the minimized application to the insert to selected functions belonging to the application.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for providing a user access to a variety of information elements. The system includes a frame for accommodating a plurality of tiles, and at least one application including an insertion module for inserting a tile into a frame, while selected application functions remain accessible through the tile when the application is represented by a tile sidebar images. The system further includes user interface tools to enable the user to control the placement of the selected application in the frame.

In a further aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for providing access through a user interface to a minimized application. The system includes a module for selecting available functions to enable an application to provide selected application functions after minimization, and a mosaic element insertion module for expanding a mosaic element to provide access to the complete set of application functions, a subset of the full set of functions and / or additional functions, usually not available in the app.

LIST OF FIGURES

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1 - illustrative computing environment in which the present invention can be implemented;

2A is a block diagram illustrating representative components of a system of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating the addition of an application minimized with an expanded set of functions to the frame from a user perspective in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; FIG.

2C is a block diagram illustrating the addition of an application minimized with an expanded set of functions to the frame, from the point of view of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

2D is a block diagram illustrating application recovery minimized with an expanded set of functions;

figure 3 - screen image of the inset for the implementation of the present invention in practice;

figure 4 - the flying menu of the element of the mosaic image from the frame of figure 3;

figa - inset before the appearance of the temporary element of the mosaic image;

5B is a side view of FIG. 5A including a temporary tile;

FIG. 5C is a side view of FIG. 5B after the temporary tile has been removed and placed in the overflow area; FIG.

6 is a conventional screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention to provide a user request to add or remove tiles from a frame;

figa - inset with mosaic elements displayed in the default size;

figv - inset of figa with one of the elements of the mosaic image, the size of which was resized;

Fig.8 is a sidebar, along with the usual menu of options that may be available to the user to configure the sidebar;

figa - screen image showing an open application;

figv is a screen image showing the application of figa minimized to the side;

figs is a screen image showing the important functions available in the application minimized to the side; and

10 is an embodiment of a taskbar that is known in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for providing a user interface that allows a user to access important functions of an application, even when the application is minimized. When the application is minimized, a tile representing the application appears in the sidebar. The sidebar provides the ability to automatically or user-oriented add or remove tiles. Even further, the inset visually reduces the display of its content, providing users with a preview of the placement and appearance of the newly added tile. In addition, an overflow area can be provided for icons representing mosaic elements that could not be placed within the frame.

Having completed a brief overview of the present invention, embodiments of the invention will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-10, an illustrative operating environment for the present invention is described below.

Normal operating environment

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment 100 in which the invention may be practiced. The computing system environment 100 is only one example of a suitable computing environment, not intended to impose any limitation on the scope or functionality of the invention. The computing environment 100 should not be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any of the components or combinations thereof illustrated in the illustrative operating environment 100.

The invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. In general, program modules include procedures, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In addition, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can be implemented using other computer system configurations, including handheld devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, universal computers (mainframes), etc. The invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 1, an illustrative system 100 for practicing the invention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer 110 comprising a processor 120, a system memory 130, and a system bus 121 that connects various system components, including system memory, to processor 120.

Computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may include computer storage media and transmission media. System memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) 131 and random access memory (RAM) 132. The main input / output system 133 (BIOS) contains basic procedures that help transfer information between elements within the computer 110 (for example, at startup) and is usually stored in ROM 131. RAM 132 typically contains data and / or program modules to which processor 120 can access and / or ie the currently processed them. As an example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates an operating system 134, application programs 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137.

Computer 110 may also include other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 141 that reads from or writes to non-removable non-volatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 151 that reads from or writes to a removable non-volatile magnetic disk 152, and a drive 155 an optical disk that reads from, or writes to, a removable non-volatile optical disk 156, such as a CD-ROM or other optical medium. Other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer storage media that can be used in an illustrative operating environment including, but not limited to, magnetic tape tapes, flash memory modules, digital multifunction disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM and the like. A hard disk drive 141 is typically connected to the system bus 121 via a non-removable memory interface such as interface 140, and a magnetic disk drive 151 and an optical disk drive 155 are usually connected to the system bus 121 via a removable memory interface such as interface 150.

The drives and drives and related computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 1 provide storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for computer 110. For example, in FIG. 1, a hard disk drive 141 is shown as a repository of the operating system 144, application programs 145, other software modules 146 and data 147 programs. It should be noted that these components can be either the same or different from operating system 134, application programs 135, other program modules 136 and program data 137. Operating system 144, application programs 145, other program modules 146, and program data 147 other numbers are assigned here to illustrate that they can be at least other copies. The user can enter commands and information into the computer 110 through data input devices, such as a keyboard 162 and pointing device 161, usually referred to as a mouse, trackball (trackball) or touch keyboard. Other data input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, gaming keyboard, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processor 120 via a user input interface 160 that is connected to the system bus, but can be connected via other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, a game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 191 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 121 via an interface, such as video interface 190. In addition to the monitor, computers can also include other peripheral output devices, such as speakers 197 and a printer 196, which can be connected via 195 output peripheral interface.

Computer 110 in the present invention will operate in a networked environment using logical connections with one or more remote computers, such as remote computer 180. Remote computer 180 may be a personal computer and typically includes many or all of the elements described above with respect to computer 110, although figure 1 shows only the storage device 181. The logical connections shown in figure 1, include a local area network (LAN) 171 and a wide area network (WAN) 173, but can also include other networks .

When used in a LAN network environment, computer 110 connects to a local area network 171 via a network interface or adapter 170. When used in a WAN network environment, computer 110 typically includes a modem 172 or other means of communicating via WAN 173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus 121 via a user input interface 160 or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to computer 110, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote storage device. As an example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates remote application programs 185 as resident in memory device 181. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are illustrative and other means of establishing a communication link between computers can be used.

Although many other internal components of computer 110 are not shown, one skilled in the art will recognize that such components and their interconnects are known. Accordingly, further details regarding the internal structure of computer 110 do not require disclosure in connection with the present invention.

UI box

The sidebar, as mentioned here, is different from the currently known taskbar. As used herein, an inset refers to a constant strip on a display screen located along one or more edges on a screen of a conventional display device. The tile image is a dynamic thumbnail or “element” including a combination of descriptions of information of interest and “viewers” for displaying any information presented. A more detailed description of the frame and mosaic image element, which is otherwise referred to as the "label", can be found in patent application No. 10/063296, filed June 8, 2001, which is incorporated into this description by reference. Various sidebar functions are described in US Patent Application No. 10/423597, filed April 25, 2003, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

As mentioned previously, well-known user interface images limit the information that they present to the user. Such systems usually provide a taskbar from which the user is able to activate the application window of interest for interaction or information. Various types of controls are used to present information to the user by such conventional prior art systems. Some of these types of controls include scrollbars, extensible shortcuts, start menus, dashboards, and controls that make only active items visible. An example of a known user interface is illustrated in FIG. 10 and is generally referred to as a display screen image 1000.

As shown in FIG. 10, the display screen image 1000 includes a task panel 1002. In general, the taskbar 1002 may contain various groups or sections of tasks that provide access to applications or functions of the operating environment through icons. For example, a section of the taskbar 1002 may provide a quick start section 1003. The quick start section 1003 enables the launch of one or more application programs, such as a word processing application, an email program, or any other programs in a computer system that are respectively configured to run from the quick start section 1003.

In another section of the task pane 1002, such as active tasks 1004, the currently executing tasks may be listed. Of the active tasks 1004, the user can access a window on the display screen that is associated with the program to interact with the data of certain active programs. An example of such a window is a window 1006 of a multimedia data playback program (media player). Using the window 1006 of the media player, the user can observe operational information regarding the currently playing media and control the actions of the media player at the discretion of the user.

Another section of the taskbar 1002 may be the language bar 1008. The language bar 1008 is an example of language controls for the operating environment.

A section of the taskbar 1002 may also contain notifications 1010. The notification area 1010 provides icons related to applications or system-level data exchange. For example, through the icons in the notification section 1010, you can access the status of e-mail to friends from the interactive messaging group or even to control the volume.

In an attempt to provide operational status information, task bar 1002 presents a toast 1012. Toast 1012 is essentially a pop-up window that provides a message from an application. For example, as shown, a pop-up message is displayed informing the user that there are messages in the inbox.

When a significant amount of information is available, the taskbar 1002 can become quite cluttered. In addition, the various types of icons available to the end user are controversial. Even further, the taskbar 1002 does not provide the user with easy access to information and controls that the user may need to access immediately. In addition, the taskbar 1002 includes a multi-step approach for accessing any information. For example, to gain access to volume control, the user must first select the volume control icon in the notification section 1010. This causes the volume control to display. The user can then adjust the volume to the desired level.

A user interface configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. Box 300 is shown in image 300 of the display screen. Box 302 may include an online data area 304 for operational information of interest to the user, as well as an important platform control area 306 for frequently used controls. Within the operational data 304, there may be a plurality of tiles associated with a plurality of applications and information elements. Important control elements 306 may also contain mosaic elements for one or more elements used in parameter management of the system or applications.

The live data 304 includes, for example, a Pamela Jones Online tile 308 that can provide access to the Internet or network applications, or other functions, including interactive messaging messaging, email and browsing. The Pamela Jones Online tile 308 also contains tile 310 related to individual contacts. Some of the individual contact mosaic elements 310 for “Pamela Jones Online” 308 are also displayed within the operational data 304. In other words, the “Pamela Jones Online” mosaic image 308 can be interpreted as a header, and the mosaic elements 310 relating to individual contacts can be interpreted as a body (the internal part of an information object). Another example of the live data 304 is a mail notification tile 312 that contains a list of email messages 314. As shown, the “mail notification” 312 indicates that there are two new email messages. Accordingly, the top two items of the email message list 314 are highlighted to indicate that they are new and unread. Another example of live data 304 is a mosaic video element 316 that is updated in real time within box 302. Box 302 can be positioned differently and can provide changing information.

The user has the ability to change box 302. The user can add, delete, resize tiles, or, as necessary, perform other manipulations with the displayed tiles. When adding a tile, the frame determines whether the full display area that will be occupied by all the tiles, including the new tile, exceeds the frame of the frame. If all elements of the mosaic image fit into the frame, the new tile element will be added to the frame and displayed. On the other hand, if the new tile does not fit into its default size, then all tiles will be compressed or flattened. Thus, both the existing tiles and the new tiles will be scaled down within the frame. The new tile is shown in a preview state, which may not necessarily show the entire tile content. If the previewed tile element has a natural size that is too large, then this tile element may be, in addition to zooming out, cropped. At the end of the preview, the new tile image grows to its natural size and can remain in the frame or can be moved to the overflow area, as will be discussed later in this document. Other mosaic tiles in the frame are usually scaled down. Mosaic elements are reduced to the extent necessary so that all mosaic elements are visually inscribed within the frame 302.

The system applies any of a variety of criteria to select which tiles and how many of them should be removed from the frame, allowing the remaining tiles to be displayed in their default sizes. In parallel with the removal of any tile, an icon is created to represent the deleted tile. The icon can be placed in the overflow area (not shown) located in frame 302. With the removal of the “redundant” tile element (s), the remaining tile elements can be expanded to their default sizes.

The expanded presentation of a tile may vary depending on the type of tile and other contents of the tile. For example, as shown by the screen image 400 of FIG. 4, the tile element “Pamela Jones Online” is displayed in the pop-up menu 408. Within the pop-up menu 408, there are two categories of displayed information. The first category is an interactive group 410, which can have one or more interactive separate contacts and groups, 410. The second category is an autonomous group 412, which can only have a single contact. When the information for "Pamela Jones Online" is displayed within box 402, the body 406 will include separate contacts from both the interactive group 410 and the offline group 412. In other words, the two categories of the flyout menu 408 are mixed in box 402. For example, the offline pin 412A (Harold) is included within body 406 of box 402 and displayed as a separate pin 406B (Harold) in the flyout menu 408.

Mosaic elements can be added to the frame in automatic mode or in user request mode. Automatic addition can occur with the installation of applications and the functioning of temporary controls. The user requested adding a tile image occurs through a user interface program for configuring the tile element, or through a user-specified indication within the application program. The add tile mode determines the priority and, therefore, the position of the tile within the frame.

Regarding the automatic addition of a tile image element during installation of the application, new corresponding tile elements are added to the bottom of the frame. In an embodiment of the present invention, users are allowed to preview the sidebar. Users can see how the frame will look as soon as a new tile is added. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, adding an inbox email tile 704 to frame 702 results in a user invitation 706. Using this prompt 706, the user can optionally instruct the Inbox email tile 704 to remain shown in Box 702 or to be hidden. Similarly, in FIG. 7B, the user is prompted to add a calendar tile 708 to frame 702. When the user selects to display a new tile in the frame, this new tile is added to the bottom of the frame. This effect is illustrated in FIG. 7C, where the Inbox email tile 704 and the calendar tile 708 are placed at the bottom of the frame 702. It will be appreciated that the placement of the tiles in the frame may vary according to other aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates tools provided to enable a user to rearrange or resize tiles, move a frame, and minimize a frame while maintaining access to the tiles. The image 800 of the display screen may provide the user with the opportunity to select one of many individual configuration options for any tile image within box 802. For example, the user using option 804 can collapse the tile image, perform automatic or manual resizing using option 806, by options 808 move the tile up or down relative to other tiles in the frame, or just hide the brain image using option 810.

As shown in the above explanation, the taskbar and sidebar are separate and distinct concepts. The taskbar remains focused on managing windows for applications that take up large space and are final applications. The relationship between available windows and items in the taskbar is direct. When the user turns off the computer, in the taskbar all running applications are closed and will not be in the taskbar at the next login. Additionally, as detailed below, finalized minimized applications placed in the sidebar have functionalities that are not available when these applications are minimized in the taskbar. In addition, the sidebar may contain information in addition to completed applications. In addition, the information in the sidebar is customizable. After the user shuts down the computer, the applications will remain in the sidebar the next time you log in.

Mosaic temporary elements and applications minimized with advanced features

Some of the above mosaic elements shown in the sidebar remain present in the sidebar and are not available outside the sidebar. Other tile elements, known as temporary tile elements, may include applications that exist outside the frame and are present in the frame only upon user request. For example, a user may request that an application appear in the sidebar when it is minimized. A minimized sidebar application can provide basic application functionality without excessive space consumption. Applications with this feature are referred to herein as “applications minimized with advanced features” or “RMA”.

2A illustrates a system for implementing an embodiment of the invention. The system operates within a computing environment, such as that shown in FIG. 1, and includes an application 210 minimized with an expanded set of functions, sidebar controls 230 and selection controls 240 in the user interface.

Application 210, minimized with an expanded set of functions, is an application capable of providing important functions, even when the application is minimized. Using the available function selection module 212, the application 210 minimized with an expanded set of functions selects those functions that are most likely to be used by the user when the application 210 is minimized. Many applications have a special set of functions that are useful to the user, even when the application window is minimized. This function selection module 212 is capable of determining which functions are so important that they should be available on the screen, even when the application 210 is minimized. The functions selected by module 212 may themselves be or include a subset of the original set of functions, the entire initial set of functions, or additional functions not included in the initial set of functions.

Insert module 216 can control the insertion of a tile into a frame or other user interface mechanism in which the application 210 resides after the application 210 is minimized. Recovery module 218 may be provided to enable application 210 to recover from its minimized state. Special controls 220 may also be provided. Special control elements 220 preferably include an application header minimized with an expanded feature set having a restore button. The restore button may hang next to the tile of the minimized application. For application 210, the right-click context menu may include restore, expand, and close commands. Special control elements 220 may further include the “remove from frame” option. The “remove from insert” option preferably includes a dialog box with a message such as “Removing this tile in the future will prevent minimizing the application to the insert”. The user will be able to choose between "OK" or "Cancel" ("Cancel").

In addition to these special controls, application 210 should exhibit the same behavior as any other temporary tile element. After rebooting or logging out, minimized application 210 should remain in the frame. The tile for application 210 may be responsible for restarting any processes, and application 210 should also be able to tell the sidebar which application should be launched after receiving a user restore command.

The selection controls 240 in the user interface include selection tools to enable the user to determine which applications should be minimized in the box where the user interface (UI) is placed and how much space the applications occupy. Sidebar controls 230 can be observed to determine when a window is minimized. Sidebar controls can hide and expand the application window, the taskbar button for the application, and the menu item corresponding to the application that appears when you press the Alt-Tb key combination (Alt-Tb menu), if necessary.

Using the aforementioned components, an application that wishes to offer controls and information to the user, even when minimized, can insert a tile element of the application minimized with an expanded set of functions into the frame. For example, an application, such as a media player, may offer controls such as “play / pause” and information such as the name of the song, while the application is minimized to the sidebar. When the user minimizes the application, either by clicking on the minimize window button or in another way, the main application window disappears and the tile appears in the sidebar. The mosaic element provides some information and controls that are placed in the main window so that the user retains access to them even with a minimized window.

Applications that can provide such functionality include applications such as a clock, a virus scanner, or a list of buddies that are online. The email program can be minimized, but can provide access to specific email messages. A television window can offer video clips. The media player may be offered with limited functionality, such as a pause or play button, in the sidebar. In an embodiment of the invention, inset minimized applications decide which controls to offer in a minimized state, but the user determines how much space an application can occupy in an inset. In additional embodiments, the application independently determines the controls and / or the amount of occupied space if the user decides not to adjust these functionalities.

2B, 2C, and 2D illustrate the process by which an application 210 appears in a frame and disappears from it in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2B illustrates procedures performed from a user's perspective to minimize application 210. In step A10, the user minimizes application 210. In step A12, after receiving a command from the user in step A10, the application becomes hidden. At step A14, the tiled tile becomes visible to the user.

2C further illustrates the same process from a system perspective. At step A20, the application implements a procedure for linking a frame mosaic image. This procedure implements the identifier of the tile element and a string to obtain the tile element, and, optionally, a pointer to the application window. At step A22, the application receives a minimize command from the user. In step A24, an inset is observed to determine when the window will be minimized. The box hides the taskbar button for the application and the "Alt-Tb" menu item corresponding to the application and shows the tile in step A26.

FIG. 2D illustrates procedures for recovering an application 210 after it has been minimized by frame. At step B10, the application 210 receives a restore command from the user. The user can give a command by pressing the restore button in the tile. At step B20, the application determines whether a recovery handler, such as recovery module 218, is available. If a recovery handler is implemented for the tile, the frame in step B60 calls the recovery handler in a separate subprocess and hides the tile in step B70. In step B80, the frame deletes the tile in the original subprocess after recovery is complete.

If the recovery handler is not implemented for the tile element in step B20, then the PI tile is hidden in step B30, and the inset gets rid of this tile in step B40. In step B50, the sidebar restores the application window, the taskbar button, and the Alt-Tab menu item. From the user's point of view, if the user wishes to switch back to the larger window, then in the embodiment of the invention, the user can select the restore button in the tile. The restore button may be unique to RMA tile elements. Selecting the restore button reopens the application window and removes the tile from the frame.

If the user does not want to minimize the application 210 to the sidebar, the user can select the "Remove from sidebar" option, available in the context menu or on the "Add / Remove tile image" page. Selecting "remove from frame" will prevent minimizing application 210 into the frame. In this case, the user can be provided with a confirmation to make sure that the user wants to delete the tile, and not just close the tile. The user can re-add the application 210 from the Add / Remove page, and the application 210 will again be allowed to minimize to the sidebar.

The sidebar provides several functions for an application that is minimized to RMA. When the application is minimized, sidebar controls 240 are more likely to resize the window to the sidebar than to the taskbar. Sidebar controls 240 remove the window button from the taskbar and remove the item from the Alt-Tab menu. When the window is restored, the inset will guarantee a button in the taskbar and resume displaying the "Alt-Tab" menu item.

The system and method according to the present invention can process a variety of tiles. Some mosaic elements may be visually present all the time. A temporary tile element, such as a tile element representing RMA, is such that it appears only when necessary or when the user requires it. The operation of the temporary tile element is best explained by the example shown in the display screen image 500 of FIG. 5A. The last tile, shown within frame 502, is the volume control tile 504, below which the overflow area 506 is located. When a temporary progress bar tile 508 is needed (FIG. 5B), the tile is added to frame 502, making frame 502 compressed or flattened to make room. This flattening effect is illustrated in the display screen image 507 of FIG. 5B.

A tapered or compressed box 510 is shown in the display screen image 507. The tapered inset 510 has all of its constituent mosaic elements reduced from their previous dimensions in the inset 502 of FIG. 5A. This flattened preview state can only be maintained for a short time. The frame returns to its uncompressed state after the preview period, and the temporary tile element is placed in the overflow area. This effect is shown in FIG. 5C, where the progress bar mosaic element 508 is removed from frame 512, and the new icon 514 represents a temporary mosaic element placed in the overflow area 516.

The second mode of operations for adding or removing a tile image includes operation at the request of the user. The user requested to add or remove tiles can occur through a configuration interface, such as the interface illustrated in the display screen image 600 of FIG. 6. Due to the operating environment or any pre-installed application programs, a screen 602 of options may be presented to the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the options screen 602 includes a column 604 of added tiles and a column 606 of deleted tiles. The mosaic tile column 604 provides the user with a mosaic tile image 608, a description 610, and display buttons 612. After viewing the corresponding description 610, the user can select the display button 612, causing the associated mosaic to be placed within the frame. The process of placing a mosaic element within a frame is virtually identical to the automatic addition of a mosaic image element described previously. The compression of the inset and the movement of the tiles in the overflow area are virtually identical. However, there is one exception to the behavior of the tile before the tile is shifted to the overflow area. When a manually added tile element causes flattening of the frame, tile elements that undergo a shift to the overflow area will flash. In other words, before expanding a pre-compressed or flattened cut-in and before shifting any elements of the mosaic image to the overflow area, the user's attention can be drawn to the elements of the mosaic image that will undergo a shift.

Removing an existing tile image from the frame can be accompanied by a user request through the options screen 602. A column 606 of deleted tile elements provides the user with a tile image 608, a property icon 616 and a hide button 614. Column 606 of the deleted tile elements lists all existing and deleted tile elements that are within the frame. Column 606 of deleted mosaic elements also separately displays mosaic elements that are of a temporary nature. Temporary tile elements are defined under the heading 618 of the automatic tile elements. An icon 616 of properties, as the name suggests, allows the user to see information specific to a tile image. The hide button 614 causes the associated tile element to be removed from the frame or overflow area. In the case of a temporary tile, the hide button 614 prevents the tile from being displayed in the frame, even when a temporary tile is needed.

As mentioned previously, the addition of a tile may also occur through user-defined instructions from within the application. For example, an application might contain a standard control that adds a tile image to the frame. When such a tile is added to the frame, the tile can be placed at the top of the region, as opposed to other situations where the tile is placed at the bottom of the region. In cases where there is not enough space in the insert, the insert is flattened, as in all other cases. Before expanding, the elements of the mosaic image in the lower part flash before moving them to the overflow area.

Figa-9C are screen images showing examples of the use of RMA applications. 9A shows a display screen image 900 having a taskbar 920 and a box 902. The taskbar 920 includes icons 908 and 910 representing open applications 906 and 904, respectively. FIG. 9B illustrates a screen 900 after minimizing the application 904 of FIG. 9A. Instead of the open application 904, FIG. 9B includes a minimized application 912 in box 902. The minimized application 912 may include a restore button 934 to restore the application window and hide the application tile. As shown in FIG. 9C, application 912 is an application minimized with an expanded set of functions. The flyout menu window 914 provides song selection options 916, a catalog of 917 other albums and artists, and other playback options 918. Despite the fact that the application is minimized, since the application is an RMA, it continues to provide functionality while it is in box 902.

Applications minimized with an expanded set of functions, which are located in the sidebar, provide standard methods for applications to provide access to controls and information, even when applications are minimized. The user has control over which applications can do this and how much space the application takes up while minimizing.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, frames, as well as tiles, are created using application programming interface (API) procedures provided by the operating system vendor or other third parties. In the described examples of the preferred embodiment, the operating system environment is Microsoft Windows. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the system and method of the present invention can be implemented within other tools and other operating environments without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein. Examples of tools in which the present invention may be practiced include DirectX and Macromedia.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail here, it should be understood that various changes and modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the scope and purpose of the invention. The embodiments described herein are intended in all respects to illustrate and not limit. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs without departing from its scope.

From the foregoing, it is understood that the invention is well adapted to achieve all aspects and objectives set forth above, together with other advantages that are obvious and inherent to the system and method. It is clear that some features and their combination are used and can be used independently of other features and their combination. This is intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims (36)

1. A method of providing a user with access to application functions in a computing system, comprising the steps of: minimize the application after receiving the minimize command; deploying a tile to represent a minimized application; and provide access to application features through a tile. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the application functions include a subset of the original application functions. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which the application functions include all the initial functions of the application. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing access to additional functions not available in the application. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of hiding the application window after receiving the minimization command. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of hiding the application button in the taskbar after receiving the minimize command. 7. The method according to claim 1, additionally containing a stage in which, after receiving the minimization command, the menu item associated with the application that occurs when the Alt-Tab key combination is pressed is hidden. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of expanding the tiled image element in the inset. 9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of providing access to a subset of the application functions using the fly-out menu, accessible through a tile image. 10. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of providing the user with a restore button, accessible through the tile, to enable the user to deploy the application to the maximum size. 11. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of: providing a module for selecting available functions to enable the application to select functions available through the tile. 12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of allowing the user to determine the size of the tile image element. 13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, instruct the processor to implement the method of claim 1. 14. A method for providing a user with access to application functions in a computing system using a frame, including the steps of move the application to the side after receiving a command to minimize the application from the user; and from the minimized sidebar, applications provide access to at least a subset of the functions belonging to the application. 15. The method according to 14, further comprising the step of providing access to additional functions not available in the application. 16. The method according to 14, further comprising the step of inserting a tile into the box to provide access to the application. 17. The method according to 14, further comprising the step of hiding the application window after receiving the minimize command. 18. The method according to 14, further comprising the step of hiding the application button in the taskbar after receiving the minimize command. 19. The method according to 14, further comprising the step of hiding, after receiving the minimization command, a menu item associated with the application that occurs when the Alt-Tab key combination is pressed. 20. The method according to clause 16, further comprising the step of providing access to a subset of the application functions through the fly-out menu, accessible through the tile. 21. The method according to clause 16, further comprising the step of providing the user with the option to restore the application, accessible through a tile, to enable the user to deploy the application to the maximum size. 22. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a module for selecting available functions to enable the application to select functions available through the tile. 23. The method according to clause 16, further comprising the step of allowing the user to determine the size of the tile. 24. A machine-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, instruct the processor to implement the method of claim 14. 25. A system for providing a user with access to application features, comprising sidebar for placing many elements of the mosaic image; at least one application including an insertion module for inserting a tiled element into a frame, wherein one or more application functions remain accessible through the tiled element when the application is represented by a tiled element in a frame; and user interface controls to enable the user to control the placement of the selected application in the sidebar. 26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a recovery module for restoring the application using the tile image. 27. The system of claim 25, further comprising a module for selecting available functions for selecting application functions available through the tile. 28. The system of claim 25, further comprising special controls to enable removal of the application from the frame. 29. The system of claim 25, further comprising sidebar controls for hiding, after receiving a minimization command, an application button in the taskbar, a menu item that occurs when the Alt-Tab key combination is pressed, and the application window. 30. The system of claim 25, further comprising a fly-out menu to provide access to a subset of the application features available through the tile. 31. A system for providing a user with access to application functions through a user interface, comprising a module for selecting available functions to enable the application to provide selected functions, including at least a subset of the full set of functions, after minimization; and a tile element insertion module for expanding a tile element and for providing access to selected functions. 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising an insert for placing a tile image within a user interface. 33. The system of claim 31, further comprising a recovery module for restoring the application using the tile image. 34. The system of claim 31, further comprising special controls to enable the removal of the application from the frame. 35. The system of claim 31, further comprising sidebar controls for hiding, after receiving the minimize command, an application button in the taskbar, a menu item that occurs when the Alt-Tab key combination is pressed, and the application window. 36. The system of claim 31, further comprising a pop-up menu to provide access to a subset of the application functions available through the tile.

Images