Narrow mode navigation pane

• US 20060271864A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Harris, Jensen M., Satterfield, Jesse Clay
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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

A narrow mode navigation pane is provided that may be selectively displayed as a replacement of a normal mode or full-size navigation pane to allow more computer display space for displaying other user interface content. The narrow mode navigation pane is divided into sections, and each section may include one or more selectable controls for providing data or functionality previously displayed in and selectable from the normal mode navigation pane. Selection of a “Navigation Pane” control causes the temporary display of a pop-up version of the normal mode navigation pane for allowing a user to view and/or select the full contents of the normal size navigation pane without toggling to the normal mode navigation pane. Other sections of the narrow mode navigation pane may include selectable controls representing a useful subset of controls normally populated in the normal mode pane. Additional sections of the narrow mode navigation pane may provide selectable controls for launching other software applications and associated user interfaces.

Claims

1. In a computer-generated user interface provided by a first software application, a navigation pane for providing access to content and functionality associated with or displayed in the user interface, comprising:

a user interface bar vertically disposed along an edge of the computer-generated user interface for providing the navigation pane in a narrow operating mode;

a means for selectively switching the navigation pane from a narrow operating mode to a normal operating mode; and

a navigation pane control disposed within the user interface bar for selectively displaying a pop-up pane for displaying content and functionality of the navigation pane when the navigation pane is in a normal operating mode.

2. The navigation pane of claim 1, whereby the means for selectively switching the navigation pane from a narrow operating mode to a normal operating mode includes a toggle disposed along an upper end of the user interface bar.

3. The navigation pane of claim 1, further comprising a software application selection section disposed within the user interface bar for housing a selectable control for launching the functionality of a second software application.

4. The navigation pane of claim 1, further comprising a selectable control disposed within the user interface bar associated with a data type, whereby receiving a selection of the selectable control causes population of the computer-generated user interface with data of the data type associated with the selectable control.

5. The navigation pane of claim 4, whereby the selectable control represents a selectable data type available in the navigation pane when the navigation pane is displayed in a normal operating mode.

6. The navigation pane of claim 1, further comprising a selectable control disposed within the user interface bar associated with a functionality of the first software application, whereby receiving a selection of the selectable control causes operation of the associated functionality.

7. The navigation pane of claim 6, whereby the selectable control represents a selectable functionality available in the navigation pane when the navigation pane is displayed in a normal operating mode.

8. The navigation pane of claim 1, whereby the first software application is an electronic mail application.

9. The navigation pane of claim 1, whereby the first software application is an electronic calendar application.

10. A method of providing a narrow mode navigation pane in a computer-generated user interface for increasing display space available for other user interface content, comprising:

displaying a normal mode navigation pane for displaying content and functionality associated with a first software application;

providing a means for selectively replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane;

receiving an actuation of the means for selectively replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane; and

replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane, where the narrow mode navigation pane provides a selectable control for causing a temporary display of the content and functionality associated with the first software application that is displayed in the normal mode navigation pane.

11. The method of claim 10, whereby replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane includes displaying a user interface bar vertically disposed along an edge of a computer-generated user interface provided the first software application.

12. The method of claim 11, whereby replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane includes disposing within the user interface bar a navigation pane control, which when selected causes a temporary display of a pop-up pane for displaying content and functionality associated with the first software application that is displayed in the normal mode navigation pane.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising populating the user interface bar with a software application selection section disposed within the user interface bar for housing a selectable control for launching the functionality of a second software application.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising populating the user interface bar with a selectable control disposed within the user interface bar associated with a data type, whereby receiving a selection of the selectable control causes population of the computer-generated user interface with data of the data type associated with the selectable control.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising populating the user interface bar with a selectable control disposed within the user interface bar associated with a functionality of the first software application, whereby receiving a selection of the selectable control causes operation of the associated functionality.

16. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of providing a narrow mode navigation pane in a computer-generated user interface for increasing display space available for other user interface content, comprising:

displaying a normal mode navigation pane for displaying content and functionality associated with a first software application;

providing a means for selectively replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane;

receiving an actuation of the means for selectively replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane; and

replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane, where the narrow mode navigation pane provides a selectable control for causing a temporary display of the content and functionality associated with the first software application that is displayed in the normal mode navigation pane.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, whereby replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane includes displaying a user interface bar vertically disposed along an edge of a computer-generated user interface provided the first software application.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereby replacing the normal mode navigation pane with the narrow mode navigation pane includes disposing within the user interface bar a navigation pane control, which when selected causes a temporary display of a pop-up pane for displaying content and functionality associated with the first software application that is displayed in the normal mode navigation pane.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising populating the user interface bar with a software application selection section disposed within the user interface bar for housing a selectable control for launching the functionality of a second software application.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising populating the user interface bar with a selectable control disposed within the user interface bar associated with a data type, whereby receiving a selection of the selectable control causes population of the computer-generated user interface with data of the data type associated with the selectable control.