System and methods to access computer files and position and control application window(s) on a graphical user interface

• US 20060224963A1
• Filed: 04/02/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eloqui Voice Systems, LLC (2S Ventures, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evan Glenn Katsuranis, Ronald Mark Katsuranis
• Inventors: Katsuranis, Evan Glenn, Katsuranis, Ronald Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,001,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/728
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The invention enables a computer user to issue voice commands to open computer readable files and control and/or position their associated graphical application windows on a graphical user interface. Further, the operator can issue voice commands to precisely position and control application window(s) on a graphical user interface displayed on either one or a plurality of display monitors, so that the information contained in the application windows is visible, organized, and available on the computer desktop to the user when and where he/she needs it.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating the control of at least one object from a plurality of objects in a graphical user interface in a windowed computing environment comprising:

a command list wherein the command list includes task commands, show commands, position commands, control commands and a cancel command,

an application manager wherein the application manager is enabled to receive and process commands,

an itemizer wherein the itemizer is enabled to find, identify, organize, uniquely label, and display objects from a plurality of objects,

a controller wherein the controller is enabled to select and control the selected items,

wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a show command,

invokes the itemizer, wherein the itemizer finds, identifies, uniquely labels, it and displays the specified items,

wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command referencing the uniquely identified objects displayed by the itemizer,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller acts on each selected item in accordance with the specified command.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a positioning command,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller sizes and positions each selected item to the specified position on the graphical application interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a control command,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller carries out the specified command on each selected item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a command, obtains the identity of the user'"'"'s original application window, saves and restores input focus to the user'"'"'s original application window.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager is enabled to receive commands from a speech recognition engine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager is enabled to receive keyboard commands.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the application manager is enabled to receive commands from a tablet computing device.

8. A method for facilitating the control of at least one object from a plurality of objects in a graphical user interface in a windowed computing environment comprising the steps of:

associating a command list with the application manager, the command list including task commands, show commands, position commands, control commands and a cancel command,

associating an application manager with the windowed computing environment wherein the application manager is enabled to receive and process commands from the command list,

associating an itemizer with the windowed computing environment wherein the itemizer is enabled to find, identify, uniquely label, and display objects from a plurality of objects,

associating a controller with the windowed computing environment wherein the controller is enabled to select and control the selected items,

wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a show command,

invokes the itemizer, wherein the itemizer finds, identifies, uniquely labels, and displays the specified items,

wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command referencing the uniquely identified objects displayed by the itemizer,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller acts on each selected item in accordance with the specified command.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a positioning command,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller sizes and positions each selected item to the specified position on the graphical application interface.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a control command,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller carries out the specified commands on each selected item.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a show command,

invokes the itemizer, wherein the itemizer identifies the new location and finds, identifies, uniquely labels, and displays the specified items.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a second command, wherein the second command is a task command,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller carries out the specified action on each selected item.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a “

cancel”

command, closes the display of the specified items.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a command, obtains the identity of the user'"'"'s original application window, saves and restores input focus to the user'"'"'s original application window.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager is enabled to receive commands from a speech recognition engine.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager is enabled to receive keyboard commands.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager is enabled to receive commands from a tablet computing device.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of objects includes an open graphical window application.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of objects includes a computer readable file.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein the controller resizes and relocates each selected item on a plurality of display monitors.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a “

copy”

command, clears the clipboard, obtains and stores the identity of the user'"'"'s original application window and cursor position,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller activates the selected item, resizes and relocates it as necessary,

wherein the application manager, upon receipt of information being copied into the clipboard,

invokes the controller, wherein the controller reactivates the original application window, pasting the clipboard contents at the original cursor location.

22. The method of claim 8 wherein the application manager, upon receipt of a “

position” and

/or “

control”

command;

invokes the controller, wherein the controller resizes and repositions each selected objects on the desktop one at a time for the time specified by the user.