Extensible object previewer in a shell browser

• US 20040189695A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Beam, Tyler Kien, Hally, Judson Craig, DeVorchik, David George, Kurtz, James Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for extending the functionality of an object previewed in a shell browser to improve the user experience. The shell browser provides an extensibility mechanism so that third party developers can extend the functionality of the default previewer for particular file types. A graphical user interface includes a control which enables a user to select a previewer for displayed files from a plurality of available previewers. Alternatively, the shell browser can automatically select a previewer from a plurality of available previewers. A data structure contains information indicative of the availability of multiple previewers in a shell browser.

Claims

1. A shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

2. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the default previewer is a preview control.

3. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the default previewer is a preview pane.

4. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the multiple item types include multiple file types.

5. The shell browser of claim 1, further comprising an installed application program which provides the functionality beyond the standard level for at least one item type.

6. The shell browser of claim 1, wherein the extensibility mechanism includes a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) which enable third party software developers to extend the functionality beyond the standard level.

7. An operating system stored on one or more computer-readable media, the operating system including the shell browser of claim 1.

8. A computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory including a shell, and an operating system including the shell browser of claim 1.

9. A shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a first previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for the multiple item types; and

a second previewer which provides an alternative level of functionality for one or more of the multiple item types;

wherein the shell browser is configured to selectively deploy one of the first and second previewers for the one or more item types.

10. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the first and second previewers are preview controls.

11. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the first and second previewers are preview panes.

12. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the multiple item types include multiple file types.

13. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the shell browser selectively deploys the one previewer in response to an indication from the user.

14. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the shell browser selectively deploys the one previewer automatically.

15. The shell browser of claim 9, wherein the second previewer is an installed application.

16. The shell browser of claim 9, further comprising a third previewer which provides another alternative level of functionality for one or more of the multiple item types, wherein the shell browser is configured to selectively deploy one of the first, second and third previewers for a particular item type.

17. An operating system stored on one or more computer-readable media, the operating system including the shell browser of claim 9.

18. A computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and an operating system including the shell browser of claim 9.

19. A graphical user interface embodied on one or more computer-readable media and executable on a computer, said graphical user interface comprising:

a first screen area for displaying a set of items in a shell browser which supports multiple item types; and

means for selecting a previewer for the displayed items from a plurality of available previewers.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the plurality of available previewers are preview controls.

21. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the plurality of available previewers are preview panes.

22. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the multiple item types include multiple file types.

23. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of available previewers is an installed application.

24. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the means for selecting a previewer is based on a user selection of the previewer.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the means for selecting a previewer is based on an automatic selection of the previewer.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 19, further comprising a second screen area which selects the selected previewer for the displayed items.

27. A computer-implemented method for selecting a previewer in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of previewers in the shell browser for a particular item type;

selecting one of the plurality of previewers for the particular item type; and

associating the selected previewer with the particular item type.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the selecting is performed by the user.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the selecting is performed by the shell browser.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the two or more previewers is an installed application.

31. One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 27.

32. A computer-implemented method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the default and alternative previewers are preview controls.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the default and alternative previewers are preview panes.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein providing the extensibility mechanism includes exposing application programming interfaces (APIs).

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further comprising registering the alternative previewer in the shell browser.

37. One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 32.

38. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a data structure, said data structure comprising:

a first field containing information indicative of a default previewer in a shell browser which supports multiple item types;

a second field containing information indicative of an alternative previewer for a first item type; and

a third field containing information indicative of whether to invoke the default previewer or the alternative previewer when one or more items of the first item type are displayed in the shell browser.

39. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the default and alternative previewers are preview controls.

40. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the default and alternative previewers are preview panes.

41. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the multiple item types include multiple file types.

42. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the alternative previewer is an installed application.

43. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, further comprising a fourth field containing information indicative of a second alternative previewer for the first item type, wherein the third field contains information indicative of whether to invoke the default previewer, the alternative previewer or the second alternative previewer when one or more items of the first item type are displayed in the shell browser.

44. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, further comprising a fourth field containing information indicative of an alternative previewer for a second item type and further comprising a fifth field containing information indicative of whether to invoke the default previewer or the alternative previewer when one or more items of the second item type are displayed in the shell browser.

45. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the information contained in the first field is code for the default previewer.

46. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein the information contained in the second field is code for the alternative previewer.