User interface start page

• US 20050188314A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, David A., McKee, Timothy P., Stabb, Charles W., Sierra, Giampiero M., Cooperman, Hillel N., Cummins, Charles, VedBrat, Kanwal, Flo, Eric R., Hally, J. Craig, Ligameri, Mark R., Noonan, Timothy D., Reasor, Sterling M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/741
• 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

In an implementation of user interface start page, the start page includes a user-identifiable indicator associated with a user of a computing system to indicate that the user is logged-on to the computing system. The user interface start page also includes user-selectable controls from one or more regions of a user interface desktop page which is displayed after a transition from the user interface start page to the user interface desktop page. Each of the user-selectable controls on the user interface start page initiate a display of information associated with the user when selected.

Claims

1. A user interface start page, comprising:

a user-identifiable indicator associated with a user of a computing system to indicate that the user is logged-on to the computing system; and

user-selectable controls from one or more regions of a desktop page which is displayed after a transition from the user interface start page, each of the user-selectable controls configured to initiate a display of information associated with the user when selected.

2. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a start control configured to initiate that multiple application programs start together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page.

3. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a start control configured to initiate that a group of application programs start together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs executing when a previous computing session was discontinued.

4. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a start control configured to initiate that a group of application programs start together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs often selected for use by the user.

5. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a start control configured to initiate that a group of application programs start together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs recently selected for use by the user.

6. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a time-based display of information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

7. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a date-based display of information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

8. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a date-based user-selectable control corresponding to an application program associated with the user.

9. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a logoff control configured for user-selection to logoff the computing system and initiate a transition to a logon page that includes one or more selectable logon controls that each correspond to a different user of the computing system.

10. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a settings change control configured for user-selection to change display settings of the user interface start page.

11. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a desktop selection control configured for user-selection to select from one or more desktop pages each corresponding to the user and each having a unique display configuration.

12. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a desktop selection control configured for user-selection to select from one or more desktop pages each corresponding to the user and each having a unique display configuration of any of the one or more regions of the desktop page.

13. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, further comprising a desktop selection control configured for user-selection to select from one or more desktop pages that include at least one of a work environment desktop, a home environment desktop, a weekend activities desktop, and a weekday activities desktop.

14. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of resources that each correspond to at least one of (i) a resource recently accessed by the user and (ii) a resource designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

15. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of resources that each correspond to a resource recently accessed by the user, and wherein a resource is initiated for display when the corresponding user-selectable control is selected and after the transition to the desktop page.

16. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of resources that each correspond to a resource designated for user-selection from the user interface start page, and wherein a resource is initiated for display when the corresponding user-selectable control is selected and after the transition to the desktop page.

17. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of documents that each correspond to at least one of (i) a document recently accessed by the user and (ii) a document designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

18. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of directory locations that each correspond to at least one of (i) a directory location recently selected for use by the user and (ii) a directory location designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

19. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of application programs that each correspond to at least one of (i) an application program recently selected for use by the user and (ii) an application program designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

20. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of application programs that each correspond to an application program recently selected for use by the user, and wherein an application program is initiated when the corresponding user-selectable control is selected and after the transition to the desktop page.

21. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of application programs that each correspond to an application program designated for user-selection from the user interface start page, and wherein an application program is initiated when the corresponding user-selectable control is selected and after the transition to the desktop page.

22. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of on-line users that each correspond to a particular user selected for display notification when the particular user is on-line.

23. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of e-mail notifications that each correspond to an e-mail received after a previous computing session was discontinued.

24. A user interface start page as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-selectable controls include a list of e-mail notifications that each correspond to an e-mail received after a previous computing session was discontinued, and wherein an e-mail is configured to be displayed when the corresponding e-mail notification is selected and after the transition to the desktop page.

25. A method, comprising:

displaying a user interface start page having a user-identifiable indicator associated with a user of a computing system to indicate that the user is logged-on to the computing system; and

displaying user-selectable controls on the user interface start page that are included in one or more regions of a desktop page which is displayed after a transition from the user interface start page, each of the user-selectable controls corresponding to information associated with the user.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start multiple application programs together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs executing when a previous computing session was discontinued.

28. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs often selected for use by the user.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together after the transition to the desktop page, the group of application programs including application programs recently selected for use by the user.

30. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying time-based information on the user interface start page, the time-based information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

31. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying date-based information on the user interface start page, the date-based information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

32. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a date-based user-selectable control on the user interface start page, the date-based user-selectable control corresponding to an application program associated with the user.

33. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a logoff control on the user interface start page, the logoff control being user-selectable to logoff the computing system and initiate a transition to a logon page that includes one or more selectable logon controls that each correspond to a different user of the computing system.

34. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a settings change control on the user interface start page, the settings change control being user-selectable to change display settings of the user interface start page.

35. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a desktop selection control on the user interface start page, the desktop selection control being user-selectable to select from one or more desktop pages each corresponding to the user and each having a unique display configuration.

36. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a desktop selection control on the user interface start page, the desktop selection control being user-selectable to select from one or more desktop pages each corresponding to the user and each having a unique display configuration of any of the one or more regions of the desktop page.

37. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising displaying a desktop selection control on the user interface start page, the desktop selection control being user-selectable to select from one or more desktop pages that include at least one of a work environment desktop, a home environment desktop, a weekend activities desktop, and a weekday activities desktop.

38. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of resources that each correspond to a resource recently accessed by the user.

39. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of resources that each correspond to a resource designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

40. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of documents that each correspond to a document recently accessed by the user.

41. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of documents that each correspond to a document designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

42. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of directory locations that each correspond to a directory location recently selected for use by the user.

43. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of directory locations that each correspond to a directory location designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

44. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of application programs that each correspond to an application program recently selected for use by the user.

45. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of application programs that each correspond to an application program designated for user-selection from the user interface start page.

46. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of on-line users that each correspond to a particular user selected for display notification when the particular user is on-line.

47. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the user-selectable controls includes displaying a list of e-mail notifications that each correspond to an e-mail received after a previous computing session was discontinued.

48. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing device to perform the method of claim 25.

49. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing device to:

display a user interface start page having a user-identifiable indicator associated with a user of a computing system to indicate that the user is logged-on to the computing system; and

display user-selectable controls on the user interface start page that are included in one or more regions of a desktop page which is displayed after a transition from the user interface start page, each of the user-selectable controls corresponding to information associated with the user.

50. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start multiple application programs together at approximately a same time after the transition to the desktop page.

51. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together at approximately a same time, the group of application programs including application programs executing when a previous computing session was discontinued.

52. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together at approximately a same time, the group of application programs including application programs often selected for use by the user.

53. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a start control on the user interface start page, the start control being user-selectable to start a group of application programs together at approximately a same time, the group of application programs including application programs recently selected for use by the user.

54. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display time-based information on the user interface start page, the time-based information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

55. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display date-based information on the user interface start page, the date-based information corresponding to an environment associated with the user.

56. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a date-based user-selectable control on the user interface start page, the date-based user-selectable control corresponding to an application program associated with the user.

57. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a logoff control on the user interface start page, the logoff control being user-selectable to logoff the computing system and initiate a transition to a logon page that includes one or more selectable logon controls that each correspond to a different user of the computing system.

58. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a settings change control on the user interface start page, the settings change control being user-selectable to change display settings of the user interface start page.

59. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display a desktop selection control on the user interface start page, the desktop selection control being user-selectable to select from one or more desktop pages each corresponding to the user and each having a unique display configuration.

60. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of resources that are each associated with the user.

61. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of documents that are each associated with the user.

62. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of directory locations that are each associated with the user.

63. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of application programs that are each associated with the user.

64. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of on-line users that each correspond to a particular user selected for display notification when the particular user is on-line.

65. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing device to display the user-selectable controls to include a list of e-mail notifications that each correspond to an e-mail received after a previous computing session was discontinued.