DOCKING AND UNDOCKING DYNAMIC NAVIGATION BAR FOR EXPANDED COMMUNICATION SERVICE
First Claim
1. A method executed at least in part in a computing device for providing a dynamic navigation bar with preview docking and undocking capability within an expanded communication application, the method comprising:
- displaying the navigation bar comprising a plurality of items representing individual modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application;
in response to detecting a hover action on one of the navigation bar items, temporarily displaying a preview pane presenting content associated with a module represented by the navigation bar item;
in response to receiving a docking request, docking the preview pane to one of a predefined and dynamically determined location on the user interface for permanent display; and
in response to receiving an undocking request, undocking the preview pane from the user interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation bar is provided for switching between modules within an expanded communication service such as email, calendar, contacts, tasks, etc. and for providing preview peeks associated with each module to a user. A temporary preview of a module may be provided upon a hover action over predefined navigation bar locations such as icons and/or textual identifiers without actually needing to switch to a module. One or more preview panes may be docked or pinned to a dynamically selected or user defined location on the main user interface so that they are permanently displayed within the main user interface. Users may be enabled to undock one or more of the docked preview panes through a user interface control. New or interesting activity within each module may be highlighted by displaying an information badge next to a module name, for example.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method executed at least in part in a computing device for providing a dynamic navigation bar with preview docking and undocking capability within an expanded communication application, the method comprising:
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displaying the navigation bar comprising a plurality of items representing individual modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application; in response to detecting a hover action on one of the navigation bar items, temporarily displaying a preview pane presenting content associated with a module represented by the navigation bar item; in response to receiving a docking request, docking the preview pane to one of a predefined and dynamically determined location on the user interface for permanent display; and in response to receiving an undocking request, undocking the preview pane from the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computing device for providing an expanded communication application with a dynamic navigation bar capable of docking and undocking preview panes, the computing device comprising:
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an input device; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and the input device, the processor executing the communication application and causing a user interface associated with the communication application to be displayed on a screen, wherein the processor is configured to; display the navigation bar comprising a plurality of items representing individual modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application, wherein the modules are associated with at least one from a set of;
email exchange, scheduling, text messaging, contact management, and task management;in response to detecting a hover action on one of the navigation bar items, temporarily display a preview pane presenting content associated with a module represented by the navigation bar item; in response to receiving a docking request, dock the preview pane to one of a predefined and dynamically determined location on the user interface for permanent display; and in response to receiving an undocking request, undock the preview pane from the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon for providing a dynamic navigation bar with preview docking and undocking capability within an expanded communication application, the instructions containing:
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displaying the navigation bar comprising a plurality of items representing individual modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application, wherein the items in the navigation bar include one or more of;
text, graphics, images, and a combination of text and graphics;in response to detecting a hover action on one of the navigation bar items, temporarily displaying a preview pane presenting content associated with a module represented by the navigation bar item; displaying a number of items of interest in respective modules associated with one or more modules through information badges adjacent to respective items representing the one or more modules; in response to receiving a docking request, docking the preview pane to one of a predefined and dynamically determined location on the user interface for permanent display;
in response to receiving an undocking request, undocking the preview pane from the user interface; andin response to detecting selection of one of the navigation bar items, modifying the user interface to display content associated with a module represented by the navigation bar item. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification