Content Transfer to Non-Running Targets

• US 20160139776A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fauchere, Clement Basile, Donahue, Tyler J., Sappington, Emily Grace, Frederickson, Steven J., Mattox, Gregory T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/482 Application
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/543 User-generated data transfer, e.g. clipboards, dynamic data exchange [DDE], object linking and embedding [OLE]

Abstract

Techniques and apparatuses for content transfers to non-running targets in a multi-application environment are described herein. In one or more implementations, input is detected to relocate a content item exposed within a graphical user interface for the multi-application environment. The relocation may be performed to associate the content item with a target element that is configured to initiate one or more designated actions with respect to the content item by invoking a corresponding application currently in a non-running state. The target element may be configured as an application window, an icon, an application launch element, or other visual representation of the corresponding application. In response to the detected input, the content item is associated with the target element and the corresponding application is launched to cause a switch from the non-running state to an active state in which the one or more designated actions are performed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting input to relocate a content item exposed within a graphical user interface for a multi-application environment to associate the content item with a target element configured to initiate one or more designated actions with respect to the content item by invoking a corresponding application currently in a non-running state; and

responsive to the input;

associating the content item with the target element; and

launching the corresponding application to cause a switch from the non-running state to an active state in which the one or more designated actions are performed.

2. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the input, visually representing in the graphical user interface movement of the content item from a location within an application window for a source application that is a source of the content item to the target element.

3. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the target element comprises a visual representation of the corresponding application that is selectable to launch the corresponding application into the active state.

4. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the target element comprises a captured image of an application window for the corresponding application, the corresponding application being launchable into the active state responsive to the input to relocate the content item to within boundaries of the captured image.

5. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the target element is a window for the corresponding application that is displayed within the graphical user interface for the multi-application environment.

6. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the target element is an application launch element displayed via an application picker accessible via the graphical user interface for the multi-application environment, the application launch element selectable to launch the corresponding application.

7. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 6, wherein the input comprises a drag and drop operation applied to select the content item, move the content item to a position within the graphical user interface at which the target element is located, and drop the content item within boundaries associated with the target element.

8. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the input to relocate comprises input to identify the content item, activate a relocation mode, and pick the target element.

9. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the input to relocate the content item includes:

input to place the content item within a basket element configured to act as an intermediate holding place;

navigation to arrange the target element within the graphical user interface; and

input to move the content item from the basket element to the target element as arranged in the graphical user interface.

10. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the target element represents an entity and the corresponding application is a system component launched responsive to association of the content item with the target element to perform a brokered action defined for the entity.

11. The computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the input is received via touch input, mouse input, touchpad input, keyboard input, voice input, or stylus input.

12. A system comprising:

a processing system;

one or more computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by the processing system, perform operations comprising;

exposing a content item in connection with an application window of a source application within a graphical user interface for a multi-application environment;

recognizing a drop and drag operation applied to the content item to relocate the content item from the application window of the source application to a visual representation associated with a target application currently in a non-running state accessible via the graphical user interface; and

responsive to recognition of the drop and drag operation, activating the target application to enable one or more actions performable by the target application with respect to the content item.

13. The system as described in claim 12, wherein activating the target application includes:

causing transfer of data for the content item from the source application to the target application;

switching the target application from the non-running state to an active state; and

arranging an application window for the target application in accordance with the active state.

14. The system as described in claim 12, wherein visual the representation associated with a target application comprises a captured image of an application window for the target application displayed within the graphical user interface, the captured image captured when the target application was previously in an active state.

15. The system as described in claim 12, wherein the visual representation associated with a target application comprises an application launch element for the target application displayed via application picker accessible via the graphical user interface.

16. The system as described in claim 12, wherein recognizing the drag and drop operation includes detecting multiple inputs to arrange the visual representation within the graphical user interface in a selected location and move the content item to the selected location.

17. The system as described in claim 12, wherein:

exposing the content item comprises rendering the content item in connection with a full display view of the application window for the source application; and

activating the target application comprises replacing the full display view of the application window for the source application with a full display view of an application window for the target application.

18. One or more computer-readable storage media storing processor-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by a processing system of a computing device, implement an operating system to perform operations comprising:

receiving input to initiate transfer of a content item exposed in an application window for a source application that is in an active state from the source application to a target application that is in a non-running state;

causing transfer of data for the content item from the source application to the target application responsive to receiving the input;

switching the target application from the non-running state to an active state; and

exposing an application window for the target application effective to enable interaction with the content item via the target application.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media as described in claim 18, wherein the input comprises a drag and drop operation applied to select the content item, drag the content item from a position within the application window for the source application, and drop the content item within boundaries of a visual representation of the target application, dropping of the content item within the boundaries of visual representation effective to trigger the causing, switching, and exposing.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media as described in claim 18, the input to initiate the transfer comprises relocation of the content item to a visual representation of the target application exposed within an a graphical user interface for the operating system, the visual representation selectable to launch the target application.