System and method for managing software applications in a graphical user interface

• US 20040066414A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Greg, Baudisch, Patrick Markus, Meyers, Brian, Robbins, Daniel C., Robertson, George G., Czerwinski, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,183 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

A system and method for managing software application windows in a graphical user interface having a desktop and taskbar display area are provided. Each instantiated program is represented as one or more graphical windows in the desktop and as a control tile in the taskbar. Control tiles are grouped into control tile groups that facilitate organization and single access control. Project control tile groups allow the grouping of multiple software applications. Additionally, minimized control tile group layout and state may be preserved and previewed prior to being restored.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a display and at least two software applications, wherein the software applications are represented as graphical windows in a first portion of the display and as graphic controls on a second portion of the display when the software applications are instantiated on the computer system, a method for managing the at least two software applications comprising:

obtaining an indication to organize a first graphic control corresponding to a first software application and a second graphic control corresponding to a second software application;

grouping the first and second graphic controls on the second portion of the display; and

displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining an indication to organize the first and second graphic controls includes obtaining a user manipulation of a selection device to drag and drop the first graphic control on the second graphic control.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising displaying a set of guides indicating one or more possible groupings of graphic controls corresponding to a drag and drop on a selected guide.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the set of guides include a curved carat indicating the inclusion of a selected graphic control to a group and a straight line to indicate the exclusion of a selected graphic control from a group.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display including displaying a graphic group control for instantiating an action on the first and second graphic controls.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein instantiating an action on the first and second graphic controls is selected from a group consisting of minimizing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second graphic controls, restoring the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second graphic controls, closing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second graphic controls, saving data within the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second graphic controls, and resizing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second graphic controls.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display includes displaying at least a portion of the first and second graphic controls, the method further comprising:

obtaining an indication to collapse the group; and

displaying the group solely as a group graphic control.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein obtaining an indication to collapse the group includes:

monitoring the frequency of manipulation of the first and second graphic controls; and

automatically collapsing the group if the frequency of manipulation is below a threshold level.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein obtaining an indication to collapse the group includes obtaining a user indication to collapse the group.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display includes associating a name with the group and displaying the name on a portion of a group indicator.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining an indication to remove the second group control from the group; and

displaying the first and second graphic controls as separate graphic controls.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display includes displaying a continuous border around the first and second graphic controls indicating the association of the first and second graphic controls to the group.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer system includes a third software application represented as a graphical window in the first portion of the display and as a graphic control on the second portion of the display when the third software application is instantiated on the computer system, the method further comprising:

obtaining an indication to organize a graphic control corresponding to a third software application into the group corresponding to the first and second graphic control;

grouping the third graphic control with the first and second graphic controls on the second portion of the display; and

displaying the first, second and third graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:

obtaining a manipulation of the order of the first, second and third graphic controls; and

modifying the display of the first, second and third graphic controls as a group in accordance with the manipulation of the order.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the group corresponds to a project and wherein displaying the first and second graphic controls as a group within the second portion of the display includes displaying a project control for toggling the software applications corresponding to the first and second graphic controls between a minimized state and a restored state.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein displaying a project control includes displaying a project name and a number of software applications included with the project.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein obtaining an indication to organize the first and second graphic controls includes obtaining a user manipulation of a selection device to drag and drop the first graphic control on the second graphic control to organize the first and second graphic controls as a project.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer system includes a base project group separate from the project including the first and second graphic controls and wherein the first and second software applications belong to the base project.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

toggling the project corresponding to the first and second software applications in a minimized state;

obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project; and

displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying a reduced size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying a full size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying at least semi-transparent representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project includes obtaining a manipulation of a user selection device to hover over a minimized project control.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project includes obtaining a selection of a preview control corresponding to a minimized project control.

25. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising:

generating a time-line associated with the project corresponding to the first and second software application;

generating at least one snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application, wherein the at least one snapshot is dependent on a time value; and

displaying the snapshot on the time-line as a time-based icon.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the time-line is associated only with the project corresponding to the first and second software application.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein storing at least one snapshot includes generating a snapshot according to pre-determined time criteria.

28. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein storing at least one snapshot includes:

obtaining an indication to generate a snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application; and

generating a snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application in accordance with the indication.

29. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:

obtaining a selection of the time-based icon; and

generating a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 further comprising:

obtaining a subsequent selection of the time-based icon;

recalling the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon; and

restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein generating at least one snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application according to a time as a time-based icon includes storing state information corresponding to the first and second software application and wherein restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon includes restoring state information stored for the first and second software application.

32. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications;

storing the record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications; and

generating a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying a reduced size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

34. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying a full size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

35. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes displaying at least semi-transparent representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the first portion of the display.

36. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows includes obtaining a manipulation of a user selection device to hover over the group corresponding to the first and second software applications.

37. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows includes obtaining a selection of a preview control associated with the group corresponding to the first and second software applications.

38. The method as recited in claim 32 further comprising:

obtaining an indication to restore the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software applications; and

restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display stored according to the record of the layout.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein generating a record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications includes storing state information corresponding to the first and second software application and wherein restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the first portion of the display includes restoring state information stored for the first and second software application.

40. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second portion of the display corresponds to a taskbar.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, wherein the second portion corresponds to multiple toolbars.

42. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

43. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 15.

44. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 32.

45. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system for performing the method recited in claim 1.

46. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system for performing the method recited in claim 15.

47. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system for performing the method recited in claim 32.

48. In a computer system including a display and a plurality of software applications, wherein the display includes a desktop for displaying graphical windows and taskar for controlling the software applications and wherein the plurality of software applications are represented as graphical windows on a desktop portion of the display and as control tiles on a taskbar portion of the display when instantiated on the computer system, a method for managing the plurality of software applications comprising:

obtaining an indication to group a first control tile corresponding to a first software application and a second control tile corresponding to a second software application;

grouping the first and second control tiles on the taskbar portion of the display; and

displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display.

49. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein obtaining an indication to organize the first and second control tiles includes obtaining a user manipulation of a selection device to drag and drop the first control tile adjacent to the second control tile.

50. The method as recited in claim 48 further comprising displaying a set of guides indicating one or more possible groupings of control tiles corresponding to a drag and drop on a selected guide.

51. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the set of guides include a curved carat indicating the inclusion of a selected control tile to a group and a straight line to indicate the exclusion of a selected control tile from a group.

52. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display including displaying a graphic group control for instantiating an action on the first and second control tiles.

53. The method as recited in claim 52 wherein instantiating an action on the first and second control tiles is selected from a group consisting of minimizing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second control tiles, restoring the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second control tiles, closing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second control tiles, saving data within the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second control tiles, and resizing the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second control tiles.

54. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display includes displaying at least a portion of the first and second control tiles, the method further comprising:

obtaining an indication to collapse the group; and

displaying the group solely as a group control tile.

55. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display includes associating a name with the group and displaying the name on a portion of a group indicator.

56. The method as recited in claim 48 further comprising:

obtaining an indication to remove the second control tile from the group; and

displaying the first and second control tiles as separate control tiles.

57. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display includes displaying a continuous border around the first and second control tiles indicating the association of the first and second control tiles to the group.

58. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein displaying a continuous border around the first and second control tiles indicating the association of the first and second control tiles to the group includes displaying the continuous border in a color separate from a color corresponding to the taskbar.

59. The method as recited in claim 58 wherein displaying a continuous border around the first and second control tiles indicating the association of the first and second control tiles to the group includes displaying the continuous border in a color separate from any other color of a group on the taskbar.

60. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the computer system includes a third software application represented as graphical windows in the desktop portion of the display and as a control tile on the taskbar portion of the display when the third software application is instantiated on the computer system, the method further comprising:

obtaining an indication to organize a control tile corresponding to the third software application into the group corresponding to the first and second control tile;

grouping the third control tile with the first and second control tiles on the taskbar portion of the display; and

displaying the first, second and third control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display.

61. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the group corresponds to a project and wherein displaying the first and second control tiles as a group within the taskbar portion of the display includes displaying a project control for toggling the software applications corresponding to the first and second control tiles between a minimized state and a restored state.

62. The method as recited in claim 61, wherein displaying a project control includes displaying a project name and a number of software applications included with the project.

63. The method as recited in claim 61, wherein the computer system includes a base project separate from the project including the first and second control tiles and wherein the first and second software applications belong to the base project.

64. The method as recited in claim 63 further comprising:

toggling the project corresponding to the first and second software applications in a minimized state;

obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project; and

displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display.

65. The method as recited in claim 63, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying a reduced size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

66. The method as recited in claim 63, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying a full size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

67. The method as recited in claim 63, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying at least semi-transparent representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

68. The method as recited in claim 64, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project includes obtaining a manipulation of a user selection device to hover over a minimized project control.

69. The method as recited in claim 64, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows corresponding to the minimized project includes obtaining a selection of a preview control corresponding to a minimized project control.

70. The method as recited in claim 61 further comprising:

generating a time-line associated with the project corresponding to the first and second software application;

generation at least one snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application, wherein the at least one snapshot is dependent on a time value; and

displaying the snapshot on the time-line as a time-based icon.

71. The method as recited in claim 70 further comprising:

obtaining a selection of the time-based icon; and

generating a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display.

72. The method as recited in claim 71 further comprising:

obtaining a subsequent selection of the time-based icon;

recalling the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon; and

restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon.

73. The method as recited in claim 72, wherein generating at least one snapshot of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software application according to a time as a time-based icon includes storing state information corresponding to the first and second software application and wherein restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display stored according to the time-based icon includes restoring state information stored for the first and second software application.

74. The method as recited in claim 48 further comprising:

generating a record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications;

storing the record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications; and

generation a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display.

75. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying a reduced size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

76. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying a full size representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

77. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein displaying a preview of the display graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes displaying at least semi-transparent representation of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application on the desktop portion of the display.

78. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows includes obtaining a manipulation of a user selection device to hover over the group corresponding to the first and second software applications.

79. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein obtaining an indication to preview the graphical windows includes obtaining a selection of a preview control associated with the group corresponding to the first and second software applications.

80. The method as recited in claim 74 further comprising:

obtaining an indication to restore the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software applications; and

restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display stored according to the record of the layout.

81. The method as recited in claim 80, wherein generating a record of the layout of the first and second graphical window corresponding to the first and second software applications includes storing state information corresponding to the first and second software application and wherein restoring the display of the graphical windows corresponding to the first and second software application in the desktop portion of the display includes restoring state information stored for the first and second software application.

82. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 48.

83. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the toolbar portion is represented as two or more distinct areas on the display.

84. A computer system for managing a plurality of software applications, the system comprising:

means for displaying two or more software applications as graphical windows when the two or more software applications are instantiated on the computer system;

means for displaying two or more control tiles corresponding two or more software applications when the two or more software applications are instantiated on the computer system; and

means for displaying the two or more control tiles as group in response to indication to organize the first and second control tiles.

85. The system as recited in claim 84, wherein the means for displaying the two or more control tiles includes means for generating a set of guides indicating one or more possible organizations of control tiles.

86. The system as recited in claim 84 further comprising means for instantiating an action on the two or more control tiles organized as a group.

87. The system as recited in claim 84, wherein the means for displaying the two or more control tiles as a group includes means for displaying a group control without displaying any portion of the two or more control tiles.

88. The system as recited in claim 84, wherein the means for displaying the two or more control tiles as a group includes means for displaying the two or more control tiles as a project for toggling the software applications corresponding to the two or more control tiles between a minimized and a restored state.

89. The system as recited in claim 88 further comprising means for displaying a time-dependent representation of the project.

90. The system as recited in claim 89 further comprising means for restoring a time-dependent representation of the project.

91. The system as recited in claim 84 further comprising means for previewing the layout of the graphical windows corresponding to the two or more software applications on the means for displaying two or more software applications as graphical windows.

92. The system as recited in claim 91 further comprising means for storing state corresponding to the two or more software applications.