Taskbar with start menu
First Claim
1. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, and a plurality of applications, a method comprising the steps of:
- outputting a user interface element on the video display, the user interface element including a taskbar sub-element and a non-overlapping sub-element identifying each application having an active window of the plurality of applications so as to simultaneously indicate to a user each application having an active window;
displaying a cursor on the video display; and
displaying a context menu in response to positioning the cursor over the taskbar sub-element, the menu having a mode for arranging the display of the windows.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A taskbar is provided that supplies visual cues, such as buttons, for each application having an active window. These visual cues inform a user of the currently active windows and may be used to display the active windows. The taskbar may also include a start menu button that enables a user to gain access to a menu for launching programs, opening documents and controlling system settings. The taskbar is resizable and may be anchored to different locations on a video display. The taskbar may operate in a mode where it is not obscurable by other windows. The taskbar may also be displayed in a mode where it is not displayed when another window is in a non-minimized state.
202 Citations
27 Claims
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1. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, and a plurality of applications, a method comprising the steps of:
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outputting a user interface element on the video display, the user interface element including a taskbar sub-element and a non-overlapping sub-element identifying each application having an active window of the plurality of applications so as to simultaneously indicate to a user each application having an active window; displaying a cursor on the video display; and displaying a context menu in response to positioning the cursor over the taskbar sub-element, the menu having a mode for arranging the display of the windows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, and a plurality of applications, a method comprising the steps of:
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outputting a user interface element on the video display, the user interface element including a non-overlapping sub-element for each application having an active window of the plurality of applications so as to simultaneously indicate to a user the applications having an active window; displaying a cursor on the video display; and displaying a menu of context-sensitive items associated with a first application in response to positioning the cursor over the sub-element for the first application. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, and a plurality of applications, a method comprising the steps of:
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outputting a user interface element on the video display, the user interface element including a non-overlapping sub-element for each application having an active window of the plurality of applications so as to simultaneously indicate to a user the applications having an active window; outputting a visual indicator corresponding to the input device; manipulating the input device in accordance with a predetermined sequence such that the visual indicator interacts with at least one of the sub-elements to thereby request one of the plurality of applications to display a non-minimized window; and hiding the user interface element while the non-minimized window is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, and a plurality of applications, a method comprising the steps of:
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outputting a user interface element on the video display, the user interface element including a non-overlapping sub-element for each application having an active window of the plurality of applications so as to simultaneously indicate to a user each application having an active window; displaying a cursor on the video display; unhiding the user interface element in response to the cursor being positioned in a first predefined area of the video display; displaying a menu in response to positioning the cursor over the user interface element when the user interface element is exposed; and hiding the user interface element in response to the cursor being positioned in a second predefined area of the video display. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. In a computer system having an input device, a video display, a method comprising the steps of:
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outputting on the video display a user interface element containing a non-overlapping sub-element for each of a plurality of applications having active windows so as to simultaneously visually indicate to a user the plurality of applications, said sub-elements providing context-sensitive information in response to interaction with a user input indicator displayed on the display; displaying a first sub-element corresponding to a first application having an active window; determining the available space within the user interface element; and resizing the first sub-element and displaying a second sub-element corresponding to a second application in response to the running of the second application such that the first and second sub-elements do not overlap. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification