Floating user interface

• US 20050278650A1
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael, Omanson, Richard, Schumacher, Robert, Germano, Frank, Cheeks, Jill Wene, Sims, Lisa K.
• Application Number:
  US11/027,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/778
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5133 Operator terminal details

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for displaying computer applications, such as call-center applications, on a computer desktop. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. Logic is configured to associate a launched computer call-center application with a user-session. A graphical user interface control is further included to enable a user to switch between a plurality of user-sessions, wherein the first user interface is capable of being independently positioned on a desktop of the computer. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for managing user-sessions on a computer display, comprising:

logic configured to associate a launched computer application with a user-session;

logic configured to display at least one computer application of an active user-session on a desktop display of the computer; and

a graphical user interface control to enable a user to switch between a plurality of user-sessions, wherein the graphical user interface control is capable of being independently positioned on the desktop display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system manages user-sessions on a computer display for a call center.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an application bar interface that enables a user to launch a computer application, wherein the graphical user interface control is capable of being independently positioned with respect to the application bar interface.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a first application window for displaying information from a launched computer application, wherein the graphical user interface control is capable of being independently positioned with respect to the first application window.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface control is capable of being dragged to a new position on the desktop display via a drag operation using a mouse control.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface control is capable of being minimized and expanded.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface control remains on top of the desktop display and not hidden by other graphical windows.

8. A method for managing user-sessions on a computer display, comprising the steps of:

associating a launched computer application with a user-session; and

establishing a graphical interface control on a computer desktop display that enables a user to switch between user-sessions, the graphical interface control capable of being independently positioned on the computer desktop display in relation to any other graphical window being displayed on the computer desktop display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer applications comprise call center applications.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

establishing an application bar interface on the desktop display to launch a plurality of computer applications, the graphical interface control capable of being independently positioned on the computer desktop display in relation to the application bar interface.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

moving the graphical interface control to a new location on the desktop via a drag operation using a mouse control.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical interface control is capable of being minimized and expanded.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical interface control remains on top of the desktop display and not hidden by other graphical windows.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

visually indicating, in the graphical interface control, each user-session that has been created.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

visually indicating, in the graphical interface control, each computer application that has been launched for each user-session that has been created.

16. A computer readable medium having a program for managing user-sessions on a computer display, the program comprising the steps of:

associating a launched computer application with a user-session;

establishing a graphical interface control on a computer desktop display that enables a user to switch between user-sessions, the graphical interface control capable of being independently positioned on the computer desktop display in relation to any other graphical window being displayed on the computer desktop display; and

establishing an application bar interface on the desktop display to launch a plurality of computer applications, the graphical interface control capable of being independently positioned on the computer desktop display in relation to the application bar interface.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the computer applications comprise call center applications.

18. The medium of claim 16, the program further comprising the step of:

moving the graphical interface control to a new location on the desktop via a drag operation using a mouse control.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein:

the graphical interface control is capable of being minimized and expanded; and

the graphical interface control remains on top of the desktop display and not hidden by other graphical windows.

20. The medium of claim 16, the program further comprising the steps of:

visually indicating, in the graphical interface control, each user-session that has been created; and

visually indicating, in the graphical interface control, each computer application that has been launched for each user-session that has been created.