Accessing an out-space user interface for a document editor program

• US 20090007003A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Harris, Jensen M., Law, Elaine Y., Guntaur, Paula, Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Mandic, Mirko, Dukhon, Marina
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

An out-space actuator is selected to access an out-space user interface for a document editor program. An out-space actuator is associated with an in-space user interface having a displayed document. When the out-space actuator is selected, an out-space user interface is displayed that includes an expanded feature selection surface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for accessing an out-space user interface for a document editor program, the method comprising:

providing an in-space user interface having an out-space actuator associated with the in-space user interface, wherein the in-space user interface includes a document and a ribbon having authoring features for authoring the content of the document;

receiving a selection of the out-space actuator; and

in response to receiving the selection of the out-space actuator, displaying an out-space user interface, wherein displaying the out-space user interface includes removing the document, expanding the display area of the ribbon, removing authoring features from the ribbon and associating non-authoring features with the ribbon.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the out-space user interface includes converting the document into an image and associating the document image with the expanded display area of the ribbon.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein selecting the document image redisplays the in-space user interface.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting an in-space actuator redisplays the in-space user interface.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the in-space user interface does not include non-authoring features.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the out-space user interface does not include authoring features.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the expanded display area of the ribbon includes the display area that was associated with the document.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the document editor includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a word processing editor, a spreadsheet editor, an email editor, a webpage editor, and a slide presentation editor.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the non-authoring features include at least one member of a group comprising:

document information features, document log features, print features, getting started features, and application information features.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the authoring features includes at least one member of a group comprising:

home features, insert features, page layout features, reference features, mailing features, review features, and view features.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for accessing an out-space user interface for a document editor program, the instructions comprising:

providing an in-space user interface having an out-space actuator associated with the in-space user interface, wherein the in-space user interface includes a document and a ribbon having authoring features for authoring the content of the document;

receiving a selection of the out-space actuator; and

in response to receiving the selection of the out-space actuator, displaying an out-space user interface, wherein the out-space user interface includes an expanded ribbon and a non-live document image, wherein the expanded ribbon includes non-authoring features.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein selecting the document image redisplays the in-space user interface.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the in-space user interface does not include non-authoring features.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the out-space user interface does not include authoring features.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the document editor includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a word processing editor, a spreadsheet editor, an email editor, a webpage editor, and a slide presentation editor.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the non-authoring features include at least one member of a group comprising:

document information features, document log features, print features, getting started features, and application information features.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the authoring features includes at least one member of a group comprising:

home features, insert features, page layout features, reference features, mailing features, review features, and view features.

18. A system for accessing an out-space user interface for a program, the instructions comprising:

a processor;

a display; and

a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to;

display an in-space user interface having an out-space actuator associated with the in-space user interface, wherein the in-space user interface includes an information display area and an in-space feature selection surface;

receive a selection of the out-space actuator; and

in response to receiving the selection of the out-space actuator, display an out-space user interface, wherein the out-space user interface includes an in-space image and an out-space feature selection surface that has a larger area than the in-space feature selection surface, wherein selecting the in-space image redisplays the in-space user interface.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the in-space user interface does not include non-authoring features.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the out-space user interface does not include authoring features.