METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL TASK GALLERY COMPUTER INTERFACE

• US 20110167379A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Czerwinski, Mary P., Robbins, Daniel C., Hinckley, Kenneth P., Robertson, George G., Risden, Kirsten C., van Dantzich, Maarten R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/782
• 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 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a processor displaying a three-dimensional space having a ceiling, a floor and at least one wall;

the processor moving a task comprising a snap shot of a collection of windows to the ceiling; and

changing the appearance of the task when the task reaches the ceiling such that the task appears to hang from the ceiling.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving a task to the ceiling comprises moving a task along the wall.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein changing the appearance of the task comprises removing a stand from beneath the task.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a three-dimensional space further comprises displaying a stage area at an end of the floor, ceiling and wall.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein changing the appearance of the task further comprises leaning a bottom of the task toward the stage.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the processor moving the task back toward the wall;

changing the appearance of the task when it reaches the wall so that a stand appears below the task.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein changing the appearance when the task reaches the wall further comprises making the task more vertical than when it was on the ceiling.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions that cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

displaying a task comprising a snap shot of a plurality of windows as they appeared at a stage area;

displaying movement of the task toward a ceiling in a three-dimensional space; and

displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the ceiling such that a bottom of the task leans toward the stage area.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task further comprises making the task look as if it is hanging from the ceiling.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task further comprises removing a stand from beneath the task.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein displaying movement of the task toward the ceiling comprises moving the task vertically along a wall.

12. The computer-readable storage medium 11 wherein the steps further comprise:

displaying movement of the task toward the wall; and

displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the wall.

13. The computer-storage medium of claim 12 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the wall comprises adding a stand beneath the task.

14. The computer-storage medium of claim 12 wherein the steps further comprise:

displaying movement of the task along the wall toward a floor;

displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the floor.

15. The computer-storage medium of claim 14 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the floor comprises showing legs grow beneath the task.

16. A method comprising:

displaying a snap shot of one or more windows;

moving the snap shot down a wall toward a floor;

displaying legs that grow beneath the snap shot when the snap shot reaches the floor.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, before the snap shot reaches the floor:

moving the snap shot up the wall toward a ceiling;

changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling comprises leaning a bottom of the snap shot toward a displayed stage.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling comprises changing the appearance of the snap shot so that it looks like the snap shot is hanging from the ceiling.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling comprises removing a stand from beneath the snap shot.