Cross version and cross product user interface

• US 20070006206A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ramani, Preethi, Morton, David, Chang, Andy, Hayashi, Sylvia, So, Angela, Dhanjal, Savraj
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

When a user interface of a parent software application is modified such that user interface components of an add-in application are not compatible with the parent application user interface, user interface components associated with functionalities of the add-in application are added to the modified parent application user interface. A prior user interface of the parent application to which the add-in application user interface components are added is run in a background of the parent application and is not visible to users. User interface components in the parent application user interface are linked to corresponding add-in application user interface components in the prior user interface. Selection of a user interface component from the present user interface that is associated with an add-in application functionality causes selection of a corresponding user interface component in the background user interface, and the associated add-in functionality is executed.

Claims

1. A method for exposing functionalities of an add-in software application via a parent software application user interface, comprising:

receiving a parent software application for providing one or more functionalities via a parent user interface;

receiving from an add-in software application an add-in user interface for providing one or more functionalities of the add-in software application to the parent software application and for integrating components of the add-in user interface with components of the parent user interface,

if the parent user interface has been modified such that the components of the add-in user interface may not be integrated with components of the modified parent user interface, integrating the components of the add-in user interface with a prior version of the parent user interface into which the components of the add-in user interface may be integrated;

generating a selectable component in the modified parent user interface corresponding to each selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface; and

linking each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface with each corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface so that in response to a selection of a generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface, causing a selection of a selectable component in the prior version parent user interface corresponding to the selected generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the modified parent user interface for exposing the one or more functionalities of the parent software application and for exposing each generated selectable component of the modified parent user interface corresponding to each selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, whereby linking each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface with each corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface includes embedding in each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface a path to a corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, whereby causing a selection of a selectable component in the prior version parent user interface corresponding to the selected generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface includes passing an execution call along the path from a selected component in the modified parent user interface to a corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable component in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable component in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface; and

in response to receiving a selectable component in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable component in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface, causing an activation of the corresponding selectable component.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising causing execution of a functionality of the add-in software application associated with the activated corresponding selectable component.

7. The method of claim 2, whereby while displaying the modified parent user interface, running the prior version parent user interface including the integrated add-in user interface components as a background user interface that is not visually displayed, but where any functionalities of the add-in software application that may be executed via the prior version parent user interface may be executed by selection of corresponding selectable components of the modified parent user interface that correspond to selectable components included in the add-in user interface that are integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

8. A method for exposing functionalities of an add-in software application via a parent software application user interface, comprising:

receiving a parent software application for providing one or more functionalities via a parent user interface;

receiving an add-in software application for addition to the parent software application, the add-in software application including an add-in user interface for providing one or more functionalities of the add-in software application, where the add-in user interface includes one or more selectable controls for executing one or more corresponding functionalities of the add-in software application, but where the one or more selectable controls of the add-in user interface may not be added to the parent user interface;

generating a selectable control in the parent user interface corresponding to each selectable control in the add-in user interface; and

linking each generated selectable control in the parent user interface with each corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface so that a selection of a generated selectable control in the first user interface causes a selection of a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby linking each generated selectable control in the parent user interface with each corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface includes embedding in each generated selectable control in the parent user interface a path to a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, whereby causing a selection of a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface includes passing an execution call along the path from a selected control in the parent user interface to a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying the parent user interface for exposing the one or more functionalities of the parent software application and for exposing each generated selectable control in the parent user interface corresponding to each selectable control in the add-in user interface; and

running the add-in user interface as a background user interface that is not visually displayed, but where any functionalities of the add-in software application that may be executed via the add-in user interface may be executed by selection of corresponding selectable controls of the parent user interface that correspond to selectable controls in the add-in user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable control in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user;

in response to receiving a selection of a selectable control in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable control in the add-in user, causing an activation of the corresponding selectable control in the add-in user interface; and

causing execution of a functionality of the add-in software application associated with the activated corresponding selectable control.

13. A computer readable medium on which is stored computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for exposing functionalities of an add-in software application via a parent software application user interface, comprising:

receiving a parent software application for providing one or more functionalities via a parent user interface;

receiving from an add-in software application an add-in user interface for providing one or more functionalities of the add-in software application to the parent software application and for integrating components of the add-in user interface with components of the parent user interface,

if the parent user interface has been modified such that the components of the add-in user interface may not be integrated with components of the modified parent user interface, integrating the components of the add-in user interface with a prior version of the parent user interface into which the components of the add-in user interface may be integrated;

generating a selectable component in the modified parent user interface corresponding to each selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface; and

linking each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface with each corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface so that in response to a selection of a generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface causing a selection of a corresponding selectable component in the prior version parent user interface.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying the modified parent user interface for exposing the one or more functionalities of the parent software application and for exposing each generated selectable component of the modified parent user interface corresponding to each selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, whereby linking each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface with each corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface includes embedding in each generated selectable component in the modified parent user interface a path to a corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, whereby causing a selection of a corresponding selectable component in the prior version parent user interface includes passing an execution call along the path from a selected component in the modified parent user interface to a corresponding selectable component included in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable component in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable component in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface; and

in response to receiving a selectable component in the modified parent user interface that is linked to a corresponding selectable component in the add-in user interface that is integrated into the prior version parent user interface, causing an activation of the corresponding selectable component.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising causing execution of a functionality of the add-in software application associated with the activated corresponding selectable component.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14, whereby while displaying the modified parent user interface, running the prior version parent user interface including the integrated add-in user interface components as a background user interface that is not visually displayed, but where any functionalities of the add-in software application that may be executed via the prior version parent user interface may be executed by selection of corresponding selectable components of the modified parent user interface that correspond to selectable components included in the add-in user interface that are integrated into the prior version parent user interface.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising automatically initiating the running of the prior version parent user interface including the integrated add-in user interface components as a background user interface upon receiving a selection for displaying the modified parent user interface.