Zooming Task Management

• US 20110107256A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robbins, Daniel Chaim, Robertson, George G.
• Application Number:
  US12/941,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

Abstract

A user interface is provided that includes a focused view of a task and a user interface object for a second task. If the object is selected, the user interface is fluidly zoomed into the object and then out from the object to focus on the second task. A user interface is also provided that includes a display area having a focus area and a periphery. If a task represented in the periphery is selected, the display area fluidly zooms into the task. The display area may be fluidly zoomed out of the task to show the focus area and periphery. A user interface is also provided that includes a 3D gallery with tasks represented in the gallery. If one of the tasks is selected, the user interface fluidly zooms into focus on the selected task. The user interface may fluidly zooms out of a task to reveal the gallery.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for visually managing two or more tasks, the method comprising:

displaying a three-dimensional representation of a gallery, the gallery including visual representations of one or more tasks;

receiving a request to focus on a selected task represented in the gallery; and

in response to receiving the request to focus on a task in the gallery, fluidly zooming into the visual representation of the selected task in the gallery to thereby display a focused view of the task.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to remove focus from the selected task; and

in response to receiving the request to remove focus from the selected task, fluidly zooming out of the visual representation of the selected task to thereby display the gallery.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the gallery comprises one or more walls, a floor, and a ceiling.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the visual representations of the tasks are displayed within frames on one or more walls of the gallery.

5. A computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

display a three-dimensional representation of a gallery, the gallery including visual representations of one or more tasks;

receive a request to focus on a selected task represented in the gallery; and

in response to receiving the request to focus on a task in the gallery, to fluidly and continuously zoom into the visual representation of the selected task in the gallery to thereby display a focused view of the task.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 5, having further computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the computer, will cause the computer to:

receive a request to remove focus from the selected task; and

in response to receiving the request to remove focus from the selected task, to fluidly zoom out of the visual representation of the selected task to thereby display the gallery.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the gallery comprises one or more walls, a floor, and a ceiling.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the visual representations of the tasks are displayed within frames on one or more walls of the gallery.