Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100107120 | Painting user controls - The described implementations relate to dynamically painting user-controls. One method dynamically determines a highlight color of a user-control under a cursor on a graphical user-interface. The method also paints at least a portion of the user-control with the highlight color. | 04-29-2010 |
20120159363 | Z-ORDER BANDS - The subject disclosure relates to managing z-dimensional ordering of elements within a computing system display through the use of z-order bands. As described herein, z-order bands are utilized to arrange windows and other graphics corresponding to respective application types. A policy engine controls which windows and/or other graphical elements can enter and exit each band. Graphical elements within a given band can additionally be subject to per-band properties corresponding to the band and/or user preferences. As additionally described herein, z-order bands and/or other suitable mechanisms are utilized to facilitate registration watermarking for a computing environment by rendering a registration watermark display upon determining that one or more licensed elements of a computing system have not been registered. The registration watermark display is assigned a z-order band that enables its display over all other graphical elements associated with the computing system and prevents other graphical elements from interfering with its display. | 06-21-2012 |
20130298056 | PAINTING USER CONTROLS - The described implementations relate to dynamically painting user-controls. One method dynamically determines a highlight color of a user-control under a cursor on a graphical user-interface. The method also paints at least a portion of the user-control with the highlight color. | 11-07-2013 |
20140298272 | CLOSING, STARTING, AND RESTARTING APPLICATIONS - Described herein are embodiments that relate to implementation of multi-stage gestures, using multi-stage gestures to control applications, and allowing, under certain conditions, invocation of an open operation (which would normally only open an application or bring an application to the fore) to cause a target application to terminate before being newly opened. A multi-stage gesture may be used to invoke different functions at respective gesture stages of a same input stroke. The functions may be different forms of application “closing”, such as backgrounding or suspending an application, terminating an application, and restarting an application. The restarting (including termination) of an application when the application is opened may be termed a “smart-restart”, which may involve interpreting from specific user activity that a user intends to restart an application. | 10-02-2014 |
20140310642 | DEFERRED PLACEMENT PROMPT - A deferred placement prompt is provided in a user interface when an application window is launched. Responsive to the presentation of the deferred placement prompt, the user can provide a directional placement instruction (e.g., a “drag” of the prompt, a selection of a screen region, a keyboard input) to indicate the user's preference for placement of the launched window. The user interface can give cooperative feedback to the user during the deferred placement prompt operation, such as highlighting an application window to be replaced, responsive to a directional placement instruction, animating the deferred placement prompt, etc. | 10-16-2014 |
20140310646 | Application Window Divider Control for Window Layout Management - An application window divider control is shared by a first application window and a second application window in a user interface. Based on a received directional instruction that moves the application window divider control along an axis of the user interface, placement of the first application window and the second application window may be positioned across a range of consistently spaced points along an axis of the user interface. Placement adjustment can also impact other application windows in the user interface. The application window divider control may also snap to provide “magnetic” points along the axis when certain conditions are satisfied. | 10-16-2014 |
20140310728 | APPLICATION-TO-APPLICATION LAUNCH WINDOWING - A window management system manages the placement of a window of a target application within a user interface. A source application launches the target application. The window management system arbitrates placement of a window of a target application within the user interface based on a target application placement preference parameter and a source application placement preference parameter. The window management system displays the window of the target application within the user interface according to the arbitrated placement. The window management system can also display a window of the source application within the user interface according to the arbitrated placement. | 10-16-2014 |
20140325430 | CONTENT-BASED DIRECTIONAL PLACEMENT APPLICATION LAUNCH - A user can select content on an interface screen and provide an associated directional placement instruction to launch a new application window that displays the selected content or information associated with the selected content. The directional placement instruction may indicate an area of the screen where the user prefers to display the new application window. Responsive to the initiation of the directional placement instruction, a conversion module converts the selected content into a placeable representation of the new application. Responsive to receipt of the directional placement instruction, a window management system presents the new application window in the user interface in a location based on the directional placement instruction. | 10-30-2014 |
20140325431 | AUTO-GROUPING OF APPLICATION WINDOWS - Described herein are techniques for automatically forming groups of application windows. The techniques may be performed with a computing device executing a windowing system, the windowing system having a user interface element that can be interacted with by a user to manage applications executing on the computing device. Each application may correspond to a separate process and application window. It may be determined that an operation has occurred that will evict the application windows of target applications from the display, and in response an application group may be automatically formed. The application group may have indicia of the evicted target applications. The application group may be provided to the user interface element, and when the user interface element is interacted with by the user the user interface element displays user-selectable graphic application indicators for both the application group and applications other than the target applications. | 10-30-2014 |
20140337794 | SMART INSERTION OF APPLICATIONS INTO LAYOUTS - Embodiments described herein relate to maintaining a tiled arrangement of application windows as a user inserts application windows into a managed display region. A tiled arrangement is an arrangement where windows do not overlap each other and substantially maximize window occupation of the display region. Generally, when a user inserts an application window the tiled arrangement is maintained by resizing any previously present application windows. Where to insert a window, which displayed windows to resize and to what extent can be determined based on factors such as user input, any prior manual adjustment of the tiled arrangement, and/or minimum window sizes. Whether tile arranging is performed in a managed or curated fashion (e.g., by sharing space equally among windows) or in a semi-curated fashion may be determined by taking into account any of the aforementioned factors. | 11-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090288044 | ACCESSING A MENU UTILIZING A DRAG-OPERATION - Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for intuitively invoking a presentation action (e.g., rendering a menu) by applying a drag-operation at a top-level control button rendered at a touchscreen display are provided. Initially, aspects of a user-initiated input applied at the top-level control button are detected. These aspects may include an actuation location and a distance of a drag-movement therefrom. If a distance of the drag-movement at the touchscreen display is greater than a threshold distance in a particular radial direction from the actuation location, the user-initiated input is considered a drag-operation. Typically, a set of trigger boundaries are constructed based on system metrics to assist in disambiguating the drag-operation from a tap-type operation. If a drag-operation is identified, the presentation action is invoked; otherwise, a principle action associated with the top-level control button (e.g., manipulating content of an application) may be invoked. | 11-19-2009 |
20100077347 | DISPLAYING APPLICATION INFORMATION IN AN APPLICATION-SWITCHING USER INTERFACE - 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. | 03-25-2010 |
20130042207 | ACCESSING A MENU UTILIZING A DRAG-OPERATION - Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for intuitively invoking a presentation action (e.g., rendering a menu) by applying a drag-operation at a top-level control button rendered at a touchscreen display are provided. Initially, aspects of a user-initiated input applied at the top-level control button are detected. These aspects may include an actuation location and a distance of a drag-movement therefrom. If a distance of the drag-movement at the touchscreen display is greater than a threshold distance in a particular radial direction from the actuation location, the user-initiated input is considered a drag-operation. Typically, a set of trigger boundaries are constructed based on system metrics to assist in disambiguating the drag-operation from a tap-type operation. If a drag-operation is identified, the presentation action is invoked; otherwise, a principle action associated with the top-level control button (e.g., manipulating content of an application) may be invoked. | 02-14-2013 |
20130067394 | POINTER INVOCABLE NAVIGATIONAL USER INTERFACE - Systems and methods for use with a pointer invocable navigational user interface are provided. The system may include a navigational module configured to provide a navigational user interface having a hidden invocation region positioned along a logical left edge of a display. Application program graphical user interfaces (GUIs) may be ordered in an application order. The navigational module may be configured to detect an invocation pointer input in the hidden invocation region. Upon detecting the invocation pointer input, the navigational module may be to configured display a visible GUI selector element of the navigational user interface including a preview of a most recently used application program GUI not currently in focus. While the preview is displayed, a focus switching input from the pointer device may be received. In response to the focus switching input, focus may be switched to the application program GUI for which the preview is displayed. | 03-14-2013 |
20130176212 | REPOSITIONING GESTURES FOR CHROMELESS REGIONS - In graphical computing environments, applications are often presented as windows and other regions with visual controls that enable standardized region management functions, including repositioning the regions. However, in some scenarios (particularly devices with small displays), such user interface “chrome” may undesirable diminish the size of the region devoted to the output of the application, and removing such visual controls without eliminating repositioning functionality may be advantageous. Presented herein are repositioning gestures that may be invoked to request repositioning of a selected region by “hovering” a pointer near an edge of the display that is near the selected region; optionally by activating the pointer; and by moving the pointer away from the edge of the display (e.g., “dragging” the pointer while depressing a mouse button). This gesture may easily and unambiguously invoke a region repositioning mode for the selected region, despite the absence of visual repositioning controls confluent with the region. | 07-11-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090193364 | DISPLAYING THUMBNAIL COPIES OF RUNNING ITEMS - Methods, user interfaces, and computer-readable media for displaying thumbnail copies of running items for a particular running application on a display are provided. The displayed thumbnail copies are interactive, and provide the user with an easy and efficient way to identify and manage multiple items, such as windows, that are concurrently running. The thumbnail copies are either snapshots or real-time displays of the corresponding running items, depending on whether the running item is minimized or maximized at the time the thumbnail copies are displayed. The user interacts with the thumbnail copies by choosing to either close a particular running item by selecting the closing icon on the corresponding thumbnail copy, or view a particular running item on the display by selecting the corresponding thumbnail in any location other than the closing icon. | 07-30-2009 |
20090199127 | PREVIEWING TARGET DISPLAY AREAS - Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for previewing target display areas are provided. A preview indication that indicates a desire to preview a target display area is detected. Upon detecting a preview indication, events are associated with display areas. The preview events associated with the respective display areas are applied to the display areas such that a preview of the target display area is temporarily presented in an inactive state. In one embodiment, the preview events include changing relative opacity and/or transparency such that the target display area is visibly presented. | 08-06-2009 |
20100107115 | CHILD WINDOW SURFACING AND MANAGEMENT - 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. | 04-29-2010 |
20100107123 | SURFACING AND MANAGEMENT OF WINDOW-SPECIFIC CONTROLS - The functionality traditionally provided by an application program through a window presented as part of a window-based user interface can be accessed while the window remains hidden. A toolbar, or similar collection of user interface elements, can be presented when a user indicates an intention to interact with an application program whose window is hidden. The toolbar can comprise elements associated with functions specific to the hidden window. The user's selection can be communicated to the application program so that it can perform the requested function. If the user no longer indicates an intention to interact with the application program, the toolbar can be removed. In one embodiment, the toolbar can be presented together with a thumbnail of the relevant window in a floating display element. | 04-29-2010 |
20120299968 | MANAGING AN IMMERSIVE INTERFACE IN A MULTI-APPLICATION IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses for managing an immersive interface in a multi-application immersive environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user to alter sizes and/or a layout of multiple immersive interfaces with as little as one selection. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304092 | MULTI-APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a multi-application environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable multi-application environments having combinations of immersive interfaces, windows-based interfaces, and a desktop treated as an immersive interface. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304102 | Navigation of Immersive and Desktop Shells - Desktop as an immersive application techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an immersive environment module is configured to provide an immersive shell through which a user may interact with applications of a computing device. The immersive environment module is further configured to provide a desktop shell within the immersive shell to support additional techniques for interaction with the application of the computing device. The desktop shell, for instance, may be configured for accessibility similar to that provided to applications in the immersive shell. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304103 | Display of Immersive and Desktop Shells - Desktop as an immersive application techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an immersive environment module is configured to provide an immersive shell through which a user may interact with applications of a computing device. The immersive environment module is further configured to provide a desktop shell within the immersive shell to support additional techniques for interaction with the application of the computing device. The desktop shell, for instance, may be configured for accessibility similar to that provided to applications in the immersive shell. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304106 | Desktop as Immersive Application - Desktop as an immersive application techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an immersive environment module is configured to provide an immersive shell through which a user may interact with applications of a computing device. The immersive environment module is further configured to provide a desktop shell within the immersive shell to support additional techniques for interaction with the application of the computing device. The desktop shell, for instance, may be configured for accessibility similar to that provided to applications in the immersive shell. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304108 | MULTI-APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a multi-application environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable multi-application environments having combinations of immersive interfaces, windows-based interfaces, and a desktop treated as an immersive interface. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304114 | MANAGING AN IMMERSIVE INTERFACE IN A MULTI-APPLICATION IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses for managing an immersive interface in a multi-application immersive environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user to alter sizes and/or a layout of multiple immersive interfaces with as little as one selection. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304131 | EDGE GESTURE - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an edge gesture. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through an edge gesture that is easy-to-use and remember. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304132 | SWITCHING BACK TO A PREVIOUSLY-INTERACTED-WITH APPLICATION - This document describes techniques and apparatuses for switching back to a previously-interacted-with application. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through a simple gesture that is both easy-to-use and remember. | 11-29-2012 |
20120304133 | EDGE GESTURE - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an edge gesture. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through an edge gesture that is easy-to-use and remember. | 11-29-2012 |
20130042203 | MANAGING AN IMMERSIVE INTERFACE IN A MULTI-APPLICATION IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses for managing an immersive interface in a multi-application immersive environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user to alter sizes and/or a layout of multiple immersive interfaces with as little as one selection. | 02-14-2013 |
20130047105 | MULTI-APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a multi-application environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable multi-application environments having combinations of immersive interfaces, windows-based interfaces, and a desktop treated as an immersive interface. | 02-21-2013 |
20130047126 | SWITCHING BACK TO A PREVIOUSLY-INTERACTED-WITH APPLICATION - This document describes techniques and apparatuses for switching back to a previously-interacted-with application. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable selection of a user interface not currently exposed on a display through a simple gesture that is both easy-to-use and remember. | 02-21-2013 |
20130167058 | CLOSING APPLICATIONS - Application closing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a computing device recognizes an input as involving selection of an application displayed in a display environment by the computing device and subsequent movement of a point of the selection toward an edge of the display environment. Responsive to the recognizing of the input, the selected application is closed by the computing device. | 06-27-2013 |
20130179838 | MAINTANENCE OF TERMINATED APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE BACKSTACK - The claimed subject matter provides for systems and/or methods for affecting the maintenance of applications, and re-launching of applications, on a backstack in a computing environment in which the applications have been killed and/or terminated. The backstack comprises a list of application that have been recently used or otherwise invoked by the computing environment or the user via the computing environment. In one embodiment, the computing environment comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) in which the user may engage in deliberate gestures to interact with applications, including the re-launching of killed or otherwise terminated applications. Upon a user command intending such relaunching, the computing environment may present to the user a temporary UI screen associated with the killed application and present a more fully functioning screen upon a commit signal to execute the killed application. | 07-11-2013 |
20130219343 | THUMBNAIL-IMAGE SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS - This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling thumbnail-image selection of applications. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable a user interface having selectable thumbnail images for applications not currently exposed on a display. The techniques and apparatuses may enable selection of this user interface through a simple gesture that is both easy-to-use and remember. Further, selection of applications not currently exposed on the display may be selected through thumbnail images representing each application's application interface as it will appear on selection. | 08-22-2013 |
20130311932 | SURFACING AND MANAGEMENT OF WINDOW-SPECIFIC CONTROLS - The functionality traditionally provided by an application program through a window presented as part of a window-based user interface can be accessed while the window remains hidden. A toolbar, or similar collection of user interface elements, can be presented when a user indicates an intention to interact with an application program whose window is hidden. The toolbar can comprise elements associated with functions specific to the hidden window. The user's selection can be communicated to the application program so that it can perform the requested function. If the user no longer indicates an intention to interact with the application program, the toolbar can be removed. In one embodiment, the toolbar can be presented together with a thumbnail of the relevant window in a floating display element. | 11-21-2013 |
20150058869 | REVERSE LAUNCH PROTOCOL - One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for implementing a reverse protocol launch. For example, the reverse protocol launch may be implemented between apps (e.g., as an app-to-app protocol) such that a user may navigate between apps in a contextually relevant manner using the reverse protocol launch. In an example, a search app may display vacation search results based upon a search query. Responsive to a selection of a vacation movie search result, a transition to a movie app may occur. A context, specifying a contextual state of the search app (e.g., information regarding the vacation search results, the search query, etc.), may be sent to the movie app. The movie app may implement a reverse protocol launch using the context to transition from the movie app back to the search app in the contextual state (e.g., the search app may be repopulated with the vacation search results, etc.). | 02-26-2015 |