Network connectivity and wireless status in a notification area

• US 20070067734A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, David, Sidhu, Gursharan, Begorre, Bill, Cunningham, Aaron, Watson, Marieke, Miner, Patrice
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

Described is a technology by which network connectivity information may be communicated via a single notifications area (e.g., system tray) icon, including by representing different images of the icon to display different types/states of connectivity and different types of media connections. For example, the icon may indicate whether Internet connectivity is present, and whether the connection is wired or wireless. The icon may regularly transition between at least two images to communicate different variables, e.g., types of connectivity and/or different types of media connections. The icon may be interactive to provide a tooltip, flyout and/or context menu related to the network state, and the icon may change in response to the networking state change event, e.g., be updated when a different capability connection is detected, when a different interface is detected, and/or when a wireless network with a different signal quality is detected.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a method, comprising:

communicating network connectivity information in a notifications area icon, including by representing different images of the icon to display different types of connectivity and different types of media connections.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein representing the different images of the icon to display different types of connectivity includes displaying at least part of an image with a component that indicates Internet connectivity when Internet connectivity is present.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein representing the different images of the icon to display different types of connectivity includes omitting the component that indicates Internet connectivity when Internet connectivity is not present.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein representing the different images of the icon to display different types of media connections includes displaying an image that represents a wireless signal when a wireless connection is present.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein representing different images of the icon to display different types of connectivity and different types of media connections include occasionally transitioning between at least two images to communicate different types of connectivity and/or different types of media connections.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the network connectivity information in the notifications area icon comprises outputting data for display in a system tray of a taskbar.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, aggregating the network connectivity information by querying a network connectivity status indicator component.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, aggregating the network connectivity information by querying a network profile service component.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein more than one type of connectivity is present, and further comprising, selecting an image for representing connectivity based on a higher capability.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, receiving a networking state change event, and changing a current image of the icon to a new image in response to the networking state change event.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, detecting interaction with the icon, and in response to the interaction, outputting at least one of:

a tooltip, flyout and context menu.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, detecting interaction with the icon, and in response to the interaction, starting a connection to a network.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the network icon manager transitions between at least two images to communicate a state data change or variable networking data.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising, means for detecting interaction with the icon, coupled to means for outputting at least one of:

a tooltip, flyout and context menu when interaction is detected.

13. In a computing device, a system comprising:

a network icon manager that receives networking state data;

a system tray manager coupled to the network icon manager for outputting information via a system tray, including via a system tray icon that represents networking state; and

a plurality of images, the network icon manager selecting at least one image for output by the system tray manager to represent the network state via a system tray icon based on the networking state data.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein at least part of one of the images indicates Internet connectivity when Internet connectivity is present, and wherein at least part of another image represents a wireless signal when a wireless connection is present.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:

communicating network connectivity information in a notifications area icon;

receiving networking state change information; and

updating the notifications area icon to reflect the networking state change information, including changing an image of the icon when a different capability connection is detected, and/or when a different interface is detected.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising, changing an image of the icon when a wireless network with a different signal quality is detected.