Transitioning command user interface between toolbar user interface and full menu user interface based on use context

• US 10,082,931 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Douglas, Malia, Zheng, Qixing, Haruyama, Rebecca, Blackheart, Jason, Kinast, Ruediger
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHREWSBURY, NATHAN K
• Application Number:
  US14/738,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

Transitioning of a command user interface (UI) between a toolbar UI and a full menu UI based on a use context is provided. An application such as a messaging application detects a request to interact with a message. A presentation mode is identified based on the use context associated with the request. The use context includes a reading mode or an authoring mode. A command UI is generated based on the presentation mode. The command UI includes a toolbar UI for the reading mode or a full menu UI for the authoring mode. The command UI is displayed in proximity to the message within a messaging UI.

Claims

1. A computing device to transition a command user interface (UI) between a toolbar UI and a full menu UI based on a use context, the computing device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions associated with a messaging application;

one or more processors coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more processors in conjunction with the instructions stored in the memory are configured to;

detect a request to interact with a message;

analyze attributes associated with a usage of the message, wherein the attributes include at least a historical use pattern associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identify the use context based on the analysis of the attributes associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identify one of a reading mode and an authoring mode as a presentation mode based on the use context;

automatically select one of the toolbar UI and the full menu UI as the command UI based on the identified presentation mode, wherein the toolbar UI includes reading mode commands and the full menu UI includes authoring mode commands; and

provide for display the selected command UI in the identified presentation mode.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically detect an intent to read the message, wherein the intent includes one or more of a read selection to read the message and a read command to read the message; and

automatically identify the reading mode as the presentation mode.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically place the reading mode commands on the toolbar UI to present the toolbar UI as the command UI, wherein the reading mode commands include one or more of a reply command, a reply to all command, a forward command, and a delete command.

4. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically create the toolbar UI as the command UI, wherein the toolbar UI includes a set of commands that are displayed within a layer.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically place the set of commands in one of a horizontal arrangement and a vertical arrangement based on one or more of a configuration setting of a UI of the messaging application and a user preference.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically detect an intent to author the message, wherein the intent includes one or more of an authoring selection to author the message and an authoring command to author the message; and

automatically identify the authoring mode as the presentation mode.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically place the authoring mode commands on the full menu UI to present the full menu UI as the command UI, wherein the full menu UI includes one or more of a set of format commands, a set of insert commands, a set of layout commands, a set of design commands, a set of view commands, and a set of review commands.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the set of format commands includes commands associated with operations to modify a format of a content of the message, the set of insert commands includes commands associated with operations to insert a new content into the message, and the set of review commands includes commands associated with operations to review changes to the content of the message.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically detect a screen size as within a range that includes a mobile device screen;

automatically identify the presentation mode as the reading mode; and

automatically place the reading mode commands on the toolbar UI to present the toolbar UI as the command UI.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

automatically detect a screen size as larger than a range that includes a mobile device screen;

automatically identify the presentation mode as the authoring mode; and

automatically place the authoring mode commands on the full menu UI to present the full menu UI as the command UI.

11. A method executed on a computing device to transition a command user interface (UI) between a toolbar UI and a full menu UI based on a use context, the method comprising:

detecting a request to interact with a message, wherein the request includes one of a first intent to read the message and a second intent to author the message;

analyzing attributes associated with a usage of the message, wherein the attributes include at least a historical use pattern associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identifying the use context based on the analysis of the attributes associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identifying one of a reading mode and an authoring mode as a presentation mode based on the use context;

automatically selecting one of the toolbar UI and the full menu UI as the command UI based on the identified presentation mode, wherein the toolbar UI includes reading mode commands and the full menu UI includes authoring mode commands; and

displaying the selected command UI in the identified presentation mode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting an application platform of a messaging UI as a mobile application; and

automatically identifying the reading mode as the presentation mode.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically placing the reading mode commands on the toolbar UI to present the toolbar UI as the command UI;

automatically positioning a subset of the reading mode commands on the toolbar UI based on a display size of the toolbar UI;

automatically positioning a menu command on the toolbar UI with operations to display a hidden subset of the reading mode commands; and

in response to an identification of an ergonomic preference, presenting the toolbar UI in a location on the messaging UI based on the ergonomic preference.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting an application platform of a messaging UI as a desktop application; and

automatically identifying the authoring mode as the presentation mode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

automatically placing the authoring mode commands on the full menu UI to present the full menu UI as the command UI;

automatically partitioning the authoring mode commands to a plurality of command group menus;

displaying one of the plurality of command group menus based on the use context; and

in response to a detection of an ergonomic preference, presenting the full menu UI in a location on the messaging UI based on the ergonomic preference.

16. A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon to transition a command user interface (UI) between a toolbar UI and a full menu UI based on a use context, the instructions comprising:

detecting a request to interact with a message, wherein the request includes one of a first intent to read to message and a second intent to author the message;

analyzing attributes associated with a usage of the message, wherein the attributes include at least a historical use pattern associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identifying the use context based on the analysis of the attributes associated with the usage of the message;

automatically identifying one of a reading mode and an authoring mode as a presentation mode based on the use context;

automatically selecting one of the toolbar UI and the full menu UI as the command UI based on the identified presentation mode, wherein the toolbar UI includes reading mode commands and the full menu UI includes authoring mode commands; and

displaying the selected command UI in the identified presentation mode.

17. The computer-readable memory device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise:

detecting an intent to read the message, wherein the intent includes one or more of a read selection to read the message and a read command to read the message;

automatically identifying the reading mode as the presentation mode; and

automatically placing the reading mode commands on the toolbar UI to present the toolbar UI as the command UI, wherein the reading mode commands include one or more of a reply command, a reply to all command, a forward command, and a delete command.

18. The computer-readable memory device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise:

detecting an application platform of a messaging UI as a desktop application;

automatically identifying the authoring mode as the presentation mode;

automatically placing the authoring mode commands on the full menu UI to present the full menu UI as the command UI;

automatically partitioning the authoring mode commands to a plurality of command group menus; and

displaying one of the plurality of command group menus based on the use context.