Application launchpad

• US 6,971,067 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sentillion Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fusari, David, Seliger, Elaine, Karson, Tom, Fitzpatrick, Gail
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong, Truc T
• Application Number:
  US09/645,051
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 345/711, 345/712, 345/717, 345/733, 345/734, 345736-743, 345/746, 345/748, 345/760, 345/763, 345/781, 345/784, 345/786, 345/777, 345/787, 345/837, 345/847, 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/229, 715/777, 715/778, 715/784, 715/787, 715/837, 715/845, 715/847, 715/779, 715/780, 715/789, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A software program provides a unified, ever-present user interface which manages a user'"'"'s interaction with other software programs. The software program includes an executable portion and a dynamic linked library (DLL). The software program uses hooking and subclassing in a Windows environment to gain control over when and where display of the user interface occurs.

Claims

1. A software program stored on a computer-readable medium, the software program comprising instructions for execution on a computer comprising a display, at least one input device, a plurality of application programs and an operating system that, when two or more of the plurality of application programs are executing simultaneously, moves a focus among the simultaneously executing application programs so that only one of the simultaneously executing application programs has the focus and receives input from the at least one input device at a time, the plurality of application programs sharing a context which is managed in accordance with a Clinical Context Object Workgroup (CCOW) standard, the plurality of application programs including a first application program and a second application program, the display presenting first and second user interface elements associated with the respective first and second application programs, the instructions when executed, performing a sequence of steps, comprising:

identifying that the first application program has the focus;

in response to identifying that the first application program has the focus, visually attaching to the first user interface element of the first application program a user interface element of the software program, the user interface element of the software program enabling a user to change information defining the context shared by the plurality of applications, the information identifying a patient and a user;

moving and resizing, on the display, the user interface element of the software program together with the first user interface element while the first application program has the focus, so the user interface element of the software program and the first user interface element of the first application program together give a visual impression on the display of one user interface;

identifying that the focus has switched from the first application program to the second application program; and

in response to identifying that the focus has switched from the first application program to the second application program, detaching the user interface element of the software program from the first user interface element of the first application program and attaching the user interface element of the software program to the second user interface element of the second application program.

2. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

displaying a control for a user to enter context information used by the plurality of application programs.

3. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

displaying a control which when activated displays context information.

4. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

displaying a scrollable set of tabs by means of which at least one of the plurality of applications programs can be launched.

5. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

displaying a control which when activated, invokes an instantiation of a web browser pointed to a predetermined web site.

6. The software program of claim 5, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

defining the predetermined web site.

7. The software program of claim 5, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

defining a visual image for the control which invokes the web browser including a corporate logo.

8. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises:

defining controls on the user interface element of the software program which are dependent on an identified user.

9. The software program of claim 8, wherein the step of defining controls further comprises:

displaying a scrollable set of tabs representing those application programs, which, of the plurality of applications programs, the identified user has permission to launch.

10. The software program of claim 8, wherein the step of defining controls further comprises:

displaying a set of controls defined for the identified user at a particular workstation.

11. The software program of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps further comprises steps of:

moving, and resizing, on the display, the user interface element of the software program together with the second user interface element while the second application program has the focus, so the user interface element of the software program and the second user interface element of the second application program together give a visual impression on the display of one user interface.

12. A method of controlling a computer comprising a display, at least one input device, a plurality of application programs, and an operating system that, when two or more of the plurality of applications are executing simultaneously, moves a focus among the simultaneously executing application programs so that only one of the simultaneously executing application programs has the focus and receives input from the at least one input device at a time, the plurality of application programs sharing a context which is managed in accordance with a Clinical Context Object Workgroup (CCOW) standard, the plurality of application programs including a first application program and a second application program, the display presenting first and second user interface elements associated with the respective first and second application programs the method comprising computer-implemented steps of:

identifying that the first application program has the focus;

in response to identifying that the first application program has the focus, visually attaching to the first user interface element of the first application program a user interface element of a software program, the user interface element of the software program enabling a user to change information defining the context shared by the plurality of applications, the information identifying a patient and a user;

moving and resizing, on the display, the user interface element of the software program together with the first user interface element while the first application program has the focus, so the user interface element of the software program and the first user interface element of the first application program having the focus together give a visual impression on the display of one user interface;

identifying that the focus has switched from the first application program to the second application program, and

in response to the step of identifying that the focus has switched from the first application program to the second application program, detaching the user interface element of the software program from the first user interface element of the first application program and attaching the user interface element of the software program to the second user interface element of the second application program.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a control for a user to enter context information used by the plurality of application programs.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a control which when activated displays context information.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a scrollable set of tabs by means of which at least one of the plurality of applications programs can be launched.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a control which when activated, invokes an instantiation of a web browser pointed to a predetermined web site.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

defining the predetermined web site.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

defining a visual image for the control which invokes the web browser including a corporate logo.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

defining controls on the user interface element of the software program which are dependent on an identified user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of defining controls further comprises:

displaying a scrollable set of tabs representing those application programs, which, of the plurality of applications programs, the identified user has permission to launch.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of defining controls further comprises:

displaying a set of controls defined for the identified user at a particular workstation.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer-implemented steps are performed by the software program.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises computer-implemented steps of:

moving and resizing, on the display, the user interface element of the software program together with the second user interface element while the second application program has the focus, so the user interface element of the software program and the second user interface element of the second application program together give a visual impression on the display of one user interface.