Dynamic controls for use in computing applications

• US 6,819,343 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Post, Lisa G., Cohen, Jules S., Sobeski, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US09/565,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 345/848, 345/762, 345/763, 345/853, 345/854, 345/779, 345/835, 345/840, 345/811, 345/825
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and process for providing adaptable controls to computing applications to facilitate interaction by an operator with computing application content is provided. The present invention provides a system to update the control parameters remote to the computing application to reflect changes in operator'"'"'s preferences. In an illustrative implementation, these dynamic controls may take the form of an add-on toolbar having drop down menus that have the form of panes. In operation, the computing application launches and retrieves the parameters of these controls through messaging from a remote server computer. When launched, the computing application will display the add-on toolbar, maintaining Web-in-Web panes, having the latest update parameters (i.e. content, look, and feel of the toolbar and panes) as found on the remote server computer. These parameters may be changed by the operator to reflect changes in their content or feature preference.

Claims

1. In a computer system having at least one client computer hosting at least one computing application, electronically coupled to at least one server computer hosting parameter and content information specific to the creation and function of adaptable panes, a method for providing adaptable controls comprising:

launching said computing application;

processing information relevant to the creation of adaptable controls during said launch of said computing application, wherein the controls are customizable for each instance of the computing application;

retrieving said parameter and content information specific to said adaptable controls from said server computer by said computing application during said launch of said computing application; and

creating said adaptable controls by said computing application using said parameter and content information retrieved from said server computer, wherein if said client computer is not connected to said server computer, said computing application retrieves parameters and content for said adaptable controls from cache of said computing application or from storage space local to said computing application.