Operating system program launch menu search

• US 7,340,686 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lerner, Matthew R., Matthews, David A., Stabb, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US11/085,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 715/708, 715/779
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

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.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions executing to cause a computer to provide a graphical user interface comprising:

selection of a start button which, causes the computer to display a program launch menu,

wherein the program launch menu comprises an initial display of a plurality of selectable items, each selectable item corresponding to an application program, and further comprising within a search text input box, and

wherein the program launch menu comprises a predefined area for displaying search results of searches conducted from a user inputting text within the search text input box, wherein the search results comprise selectable items based on the user input;

based on search text entered into the search text input box

Subject matter wherein information is entered at a particular location.

2. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the user interface to provide a selection focus to a first search result having a top relevance to the user input.

3. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface dynamically updates the search results based on each additional text character input by the user into the search text input interface without clearing contents of the search text input interface.

4. The computer readable media of claim 3, wherein the dynamic update comprises detecting that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a last received text input character.

5. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface displays the search results by arranging the search results into one or more groups according to a type of each matching selectable item.

6. The computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the groups comprise at least two groups from a set of groups comprising programs, files. Internet locations, and communications.

7. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the selectable items match the user input when metadata of the selectable item contains the user input.

8. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein the metadata comprises an item name.

9. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein the metadata comprises an item author.

10. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the selectable items match the user input when contents of the selectable item contain the user input.

11. The computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface orders items within each group based on a modification date or time of each item.

12. The computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface orders items within each group based on how each item matches the user input.

13. A method for locating selectable items stored on a computer system, said method comprising steps of:

displaying on a computer display device a graphical user interface comprising a start button;

responsive to detecting a selection of the start button, displaying a program launch menu comprising a plurality of selectable items, each corresponding to an application program, and the program launch menu comprising a search text input box, and

wherein the program launch menu comprises, subsequent to a user inputting text in the search text input box, search results displayed within a predefined area of the program launch menu, wherein the search results comprise selectable items based on the user input.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a selection focus to a first search result having a top relevance to the user input.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying search results comprises arranging the search results into one or more groups. according to a type of each matching selectable item.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the groups comprise at least two groups from a set of groups comprising programs, files, Internet locations, and communications.

19. The computer readable media of claim 13, wherein displaying search results comprises arranging the search results into one or more groups according to a type of each matching selectable item.

20. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein the groups comprise at least two groups from a set of groups comprising programs, files, Internet locations, and communications.

17. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions executing to perform a method for locating selectable items stored on a computer system, said method comprising steps of:

displaying on a computer display device a graphical user interface comprising a start button;

responsive to detecting a selection of the start button, displaying a program launch menu comprising a plurality of selectable items, each corresponding to an application program, and the program launch menu comprising a search text input box, and

wherein the program launch menu comprises a predefined area for displaying search results of searches conducted from a user inputting text within the search text input box, wherein the search results comprise selectable items based on the user input.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17, said method further comprising providing a selection focus to a first search result having a top relevance to the user input.