Searchable task-based interface to control panel functionality

• US 20060242586A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ligameri, Mark Richard, McGlinchey, Andrew John, Winjum, Randall Knight, Goldberg, Matthew A., Waldbaum, Brett Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method is for enabling a user to efficiently navigate to a portion of a user interface configured to support performance of a particular task. The method includes receiving from the user an input that includes a description of the particular task. A result set is returned to the user and includes a plurality of candidate tasks that correspond to the description. The candidate tasks are displayed relative to an indication of at least one corresponding applet.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to efficiently navigate to a portion of a user interface configured to support performance of a particular task, the method comprising:

receiving from the user an input that includes a description of the particular task; and

returning to the user a result set that includes a plurality of candidate tasks that correspond to said description, the plurality of candidate tasks being displayed relative to an indication of at least one corresponding applet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein returning further comprises returning a result set that includes a plurality of selectable candidate tasks that, upon selection, support a transfer to a corresponding portion of the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving input communicated through a searching interface implemented as part of a control panel user interface associated with an operating system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein returning further comprises returning a result set that includes a plurality of candidate tasks each including a selectable string of text that is at least partially descriptive of an underlying task and that, upon selection, supports a transfer to a corresponding portion of the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of performing a search, based at least in part on the description of the particular task, to determine which candidate tasks to place in the result set.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing a search comprises comparing textual components of the description of the particular task to textual components of identifiers associated with each of the candidate tasks.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein performing a search comprises comparing textual components of the description of the particular task to keywords or key phrases associated with the candidate tasks.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, for a given candidate task, performing a search comprises comparing textual components of the description of the particular task to keywords or key phrases stored within a data file associated with the given candidate task.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving input communicated through a searching interface implemented outside of any control panel user interface associated with an operating system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving input that represents a description of the particular task in the user'"'"'s own words.

11. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display, a method of providing a menu on the display, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a set of candidate tasks bearing a predetermined association with an indication of a particular task; and

displaying each candidate task form said set in association with an indication of a corresponding applet.

12. The computer system of claim 11 further comprising a user interface selection device, wherein the method further comprises a method of selecting from a menu on the display, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a menu entry selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device pointing at one of the candidate tasks included in the set; and

receiving an execution signal indicative of a user selecting said one of the candidate tasks, and in response to the execution signal, updating the graphical user interface with information pertinent to execution of a task associated with said one of the candidate tasks.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein updating the graphical user interface comprises providing access to a portion of an applet associated with the candidate task.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein updating the graphical user interface comprises providing access to a guided help component.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein retrieving a set of candidate tasks bearing a predetermined association with an indication of a particular task comprises retrieving a set of candidate tasks having a descriptor with textual components that correspond to textual components of the indication of the particular task.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein retrieving a set of candidate tasks bearing a predetermined association with an indication of a particular task comprises retrieving a set of candidate tasks having an associated keyword or key phrase that corresponds to textual components of the indication of the particular task.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein retrieving a set of candidate tasks bearing a predetermined association with an indication of a particular task comprises comparing textual components stored within a data file to textual components of the indication of the particular task.

18. A display device having rendered thereon a set of search results produced in response to input including a description of a particular task, the set of search results comprising:

a first grouping of at least one candidate task;

an indication of a first applet that corresponds to the first grouping, the first grouping appearing, at least in terms of relative proximity, as related to the first applet;

a second grouping of at least one candidate task; and

an indication of a second applet that corresponds to the second grouping, the second grouping appearing, at least in terms of relative proximity, as related to the second applet.

19. The display device of claim 18, wherein each candidate task, regardless of being included in the first or second groupings, includes a textual component that is at least partially descriptive of an underlying task.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the first and second applets are control panel applets associated with an operating system control panel.