Methods and apparatus for controlling a plurality of applications

• US 20030071851A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mesterharm, Edmund D., Dillon, Mark K., Unger, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided to control a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer. An object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, is displayed within the graphical user interface. A first user input is received at the first sensitive area on the object. A window slides from the object and includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while the first sensitive area continues to be displayed. A second user input is received in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons. At least one of the applications is then controlled based on the second user input.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer, comprising:

displaying an object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface;

receiving a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object;

sliding, from the object, a window having a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area;

receiving a second user input in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons; and

controlling at least one of the applications based on the second user input.

2. A computer readable medium capable of configuring a computer to perform method of controlling a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer, comprising:

program code for displaying an object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface;

program code for receiving a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object;

program code for sliding, from the object, a window having a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area;

program code for receiving a second user input in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons; and

program code for controlling at least one of the applications based on the second user input.

3. A device, comprising:

a display; and

a processor interfacing the display based on an operating system and a graphical user interface, and configured to display an object, representing a control application installed in addition to the operating system and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface, receive a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object, slide, from the object, a window having a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area, receive a second user input in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons, and control at least one of the applications based on the second user input.