OPERATING SYSTEM PROGRAM LAUNCH MENU SEARCH
First Claim
1. A method for locating selectable items stored on a computer system, the method comprising displaying a search text input interface within a program launch menu displayed on a computer display device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An operating system program launch menu, such as a Start menu, provides various mechanisms for a user to quickly and efficiently locate and launch desired data items such as programs, data files, storage locations, and the like. A search box within the program launch menu may be used to quickly locate programs, documents, communications, and other data items. An auto-complete feature may be used, e.g., when the user restricts the locations searched for the user-entered search text. A most commonly used program list may include programs based on various criteria including both frequency of use and recent use, thereby always including a most recently used item. An all programs view may display programs and documents in a hosted-tree view within the original confines of the program launch menu, thereby negating the need to open sub-menus on top of a large portion of the desktop displayed on the display device.
10 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A method for locating selectable items stored on a computer system, the method comprising displaying a search text input interface within a program launch menu displayed on a computer display device.
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16. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method for providing a keyboard shortcut for launching an item stored on a computer system, said method comprising steps of:
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(a) upon detection that a user has pressed a program launch menu key on a keyboard directly or indirectly connected to the computer system, displaying a program launch menu on a display device directly or indirectly connected to the computer system; (b) upon displaying the program launch menu, automatically providing an input focus to a search text input box within the program launch menu displayed on the computer display device, (c) displaying search results within a predefined area of the program launch menu, wherein the search results comprise selectable items matching text input received from the user via the search text input box, (d) automatically providing selection focus to a top search result, and (e) launching the selectable item corresponding to the top search result when receiving predefined user input while the top search result has selection focus. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. One or more computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for providing a program launch menu, the method comprising steps of:
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(a) displaying a program launch menu on a display device of a computer system, said program launch menu capable of displaying at least three views; i) a first view for displaying all application programs in a user-navigable structure, ii) a second view for displaying most commonly used selectable items including a most recently viewed item and a most recently used item, and iii) a third view for displaying search results comprising selectable items matching text input received from a user via a search text input interface displayed within the program launch menu; (b) upon receiving user input via a toggle control, toggling between the first and second views when no text input is in the search text input interface; and (c) automatically displaying the third view whenever text input is received via the search text input interface. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification